Mrrajrumel: started a place basic info

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started a place basic info

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{{Short description|Vishnu temple in Madurai}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Tirumogoor Kalamegaperumal Temple
| image = Tirumohur(21).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Kalamegaperumal
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|9|57|3.69|N|78|12|25.56|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name = Thirumohoor Chakaratalvar Temple
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Madurai district|Madurai]]
| location = [[Madurai]]
| elevation_m =
| primary_deity_Godess =
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Vimanam =
| Prathyaksham =
| deity = {{Plainlist|
* Kalamegaperumal ([[Vishnu]])
* Mohanavalli Thayar ([[Lakshmi]])
}}
| festivals = {{Plainlist|
* Brahmotsavam
* [[Vaikunta Ekadasi]]
* [[Gajendra Moksha|Gajendra Moksham]]
* Thirukalyanam
* [[Krishna Jayanthi]]
}}
| tower = Kethaki Vimanam
|temple_tank = Kshirabtha Pushkarini
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website ={{url|http://kalamegaperumaltemple.tnhrce.in/}}
}}

The '''Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal Temple''' (also known as '''Thirumohoor''' or '''Tirumogoor''' temple) is a [[Hindu temple]] near [[Melur]], [[Madurai district]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Vishnu]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha|Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R.K.K.|date=2019|title=Linking the ancient with the modern: Rāma-Lakṣmaṇa and the Marutu Brothers analogy|url=https://www.academia.edu/40072636|journal=The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society|publisher=The Mythic Society, Bengaluru|volume=110|issue=2|pages=41–49}}</ref> It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desams]]'' dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Kalamega Perumal and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Mohanavalli Thayar. As per Hindu legend, the presiding deity is believed to have appeared as the divine enchantress [[Mohini]] to allure the [[asura]]s to support the [[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s, the celestial deities. The temple is also known as ''Mohanapuram'' and ''Mohanakshetram''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R. K. K.|title=Enchanting Mōkūr the Āḻvārs vivigraphy|url=https://www.academia.edu/43711229/Enchanting_M%C5%8Dk%C5%ABr_the_%C4%80%E1%B8%BBv%C4%81rs_vivigraphy|journal=Studies in Indian Place Names|language=en}}</ref>

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and three of its four bodies of water. The temple has a five-tiered ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'', the temple's gateway tower and a huge temple tank in front of it. The temple is believed to have been built by the [[Pandyas]], with later additions from the [[Madurai Nayaks]].

Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Brahmotsavam, celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Vaikasi'' (April–May), being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Tirumohur (1).jpg|250px|thumb|left|Temple tank]]
As per Hindu legend, once, an [[asura]] by the name of [[Bhasmasura]] did penance. [[Shiva]] granted him a boon that when he touched anyone's head, that person would turn to ashes. Bhasmasura wanted to test the boon and wanted to touch the head of Shiva. A bewildered Shiva ran to seek the favour of [[Vishnu]], who took the form of the damsel [[Mohini]]. She lured Bhasmasura with her dance and made Bhasmasura touch his head with his hand. The asura Bhasmasura was thus defeated. The place where Mohini lured (meaning ''Moham'') came to be known as Thirumohur.

According to another legend, there was a war between the [[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s (gods) and [[asura]]s (demons) before the churning of the [[Kshira Sagara|Ocean of Milk]] for [[amrita]] (elixir of eternal life). The asuras were able to overpower the devas, and thus the devas sought Vishnu's help. During the [[Samudra Manthana|Samudra Manthanam]], Vishnu appeared as Mohini to lure the asuras and denied them the elixir, allowing the devas to gain the upper hand. It is believed that [[Thirumohur]] is the place of the event.<ref name=M>{{cite book|title=15 Vaishnava Temples of Tamil Nadu|last=M.|first=Rajagopalan|pages=57–65|publisher=Govindaswamy Printers|location=Chennai, India|year=1993}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Tirumohur (13).jpg|250px|thumb|[[Andal|Sri Andal]] shrine]]
[[Sangam literature]] details about this place being prosperous during the time. The documentation from [[Ptolemy]] (c. CE 100 – c. 170) also makes reference to this place. Inscription from the temple - South Outer wall's inside - Archaeological report on Epigraphy - 330 of 1918 - and Tamil Nadu State Archaeology's Madurai District Inscriptions - Vol. I - page no. 229 - Sl. no. 141 of 2003 - identifies the builder of the temple as sri Kaala Maegam alias Kaangaeyan during the reign of Sadaiya Varman Sundhara Pandiyan (Later Pandiya king) in his regnal year 7 + 1 (i.e. after the 7th year was over and the eighth year was in progress) which is identified as CE 1259. This inscription besides identifying the above speaks of an endowment of ponds and adjoining areas duly specifying the boundaries of the land. The current structure is believed to have been built by the [[Madurai Nayaks]]. During the later part, there were additions made by the [[Marudu brothers]], whose images are also housed in the temple. Thirumohur was an impregnable fort during the period of British. During the [[Carnatic Wars]], there was an attempt made by a Muslim general, but it was repulsed by the local devotees. The inscriptions from the period of Nayaks have been recorded by the Archaeological survey.<ref name=M/><ref>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st}}</ref>

During [[Carnatic Wars]] in 1755, British general colonel heron looted the idols and treasures from this temple. When he was moving away with all treasures with camels, british force was attacked by [[Kallar (caste)|Kallar]]s, who took back the idols and temple treasures.

In memory of this event, even today god in this temple used to come like a Kallar man. Also the rights for pulling temple car given to Kallars of Tirumokur, Poolampatti, Kodikkulam, Chittampatti, Vovaal Thottam and Aalinangarai.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Great Kings Maruthu Pandiyarsl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UxHmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT46&dq=thirumohoor+kalamegaperumal+temple+kallar|year=2020|isbn = 9781648506338|last1 = Manaiselvi Rajaraman|first1 = M.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Yusuf Kahan, the rebel commandant|url=https://archive.org/details/yusufkahanrebelc00hill/page/40/mode/1up?q=|year=1914|pages=[https://archive.org/details/yusufkahanrebelc00hill/page/40/mode/1up?q= 40]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=South Indian Rebellion|url=https://archive.org/details/southindianrebellion_201910/page/n43/mode/1up?q=|year=1971|pages=[https://archive.org/details/southindianrebellion_201910/page/n43/mode/1up?q= 36]}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Tirumohur (16).jpg|250px|thumb|left|Shrines]]
The temple is located in Tirumohur, a village located {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Madurai]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Top Ten Temple Towns of India|publisher=Mark Age Publication|first=S.C.|last=Karkar|location=Kolkota|isbn=978-81-87952-12-1|year=2009|page=21}}</ref> The temple is situated on a {{convert|2.5|acre|m2|adj=on}} land area, and has a 5 tier [[gopuram|rajagopuram]]. The temple is more than 2000 years old and has been referred to in [[akanaṉūṟu]], Padhitrupathu, maduraikanchi and also in one of the [[The Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature|five great epics of Tamil literature]], [[silappatikaram]]. There are four ''[[prakarams]]'' (closed precincts of a temple) inside the temple. The main deity ([[Moolavar|mulavar]]) is Kalamegaperumal in panchayudha kolam and in a standing posture, Thayar - Mogavalli, [[Utsavar]] - Thirumogur Aabthan, [[Theertham]] - Kshirabtha [[Pushkarini]], Thala Viruksham - Vilvam and [[Vimanam (tower)|Vimanam]] - Kethaki Vimanam. The Prathanasayana appearance of the main deity is not found anywhere in 108 Divya Desam temples. The temple has a five-tiered ''raja[[gopuram]]'' (gateway tower). There are columned pillars in the hall leading to the Garuda hall, which also has a small gopuram. The sanctum houses the shrine of Kalamegha and also has the images of [[Bhūmi|Bhudevi]] and Sridevi. The major feature is that the unlike other temples, the goddesses do not touch the feet of the presiding deity. A separate shrine accommodates the image of Anantasayi Vishnu. The consort of the presiding deity, Tirumohurvalli (also called Mohanavalli) is housed in a separate shrine.<ref name=M/>

To the front of the image of the [[Sudarshana Chakra]] stands the deity Chakratalvar, and present on the back is [[Narasimha|Narasingha Perumal]], situated amidst 48 [[Apsara|apsaras]]. Inside the six circles that are present, there are 16 weapons with 154 letters present. The letters are believed to be text from the ''Bhijakshara Mantra''.<ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|page=17}}</ref> Perumal is depicted with 16 hands and three eyes glowing like fire.<ref name=Madhavan>{{cite book|title=Vishnu Temples of South India Volume 1 (Tamil Nadu)|first=Chithra|publisher=Chithra Madhavan|last=Madhavan|isbn=978-81-908445-0-5|year=2007|pages=87–88}}</ref>

==Festivals and religious practices==
[[File:Tirumohur (17).jpg|250px|thumb|[[Marudu brothers]]]]
The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis based on Pancharatra Agama. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] community, from the Brahmin class. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 7 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandamkalam'' at 7:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Kalamega Perumal and Mohanavalli. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram|nadasvaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the ''[[Vedas]]'' (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the [[Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu#Dvajasthamba and Pali Peedam|temple mast]]. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The major festival is the ten-day Vaikasi Brammotsavam celebrated during May–June. The other festivals are [[Vaikunta Ekadasi|Vaikunta Ekadashi]] (December–January), Gajendra Moksham during the Masi Poornima day in February – March, two day Panguni Thirukalyanam (March–April) and Krishna Jayanthi.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Kalamegaperumal temple|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=86|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215024131/http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=86|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 February 2014|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref>

==Literary mention==
The temple is glorified in the verses of ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'' by [[Tirumangai Azhwar|Tirumangai Alvar]] and [[Nammazhwar|Nammalvar]]. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. [[Manavala Mamunigal]], Kalamegha Pulavar, Tiruninravur Tirumalai and Pillai Perumal Iyengar have composed verses on the deity. Out of the eighteen Puranas, ''[[Brahmanda Purana]]'' and ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' make specific mention about Thirumohur.<ref name=M/><ref>{{cite book|title=108 Vaishnavite Divya Desam Volume 1|publisher=Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams |location=Tirupati|year=1993|last=M.S.|first=Ramesh|ref=MS}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|20em}}

==External links==
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}
{{commons|Category:Kalamegaperumal Temple}}
[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Madurai district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Madurai]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Madurai]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Madurai]]

Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal temple - Revision history

Mrrajrumel: started a place basic info