Mdraselsarker at 18:09, 27 September 2025

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{{short description|Hindu temple in Vallakottai, Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Vallakottai Subramaniyaswami temple
| image = Vallakottai Murugan temple.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|53|01|N|79|56|00|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kanchipuram district|Kanchipuram]]
| location = [[Vallakottai]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Subramaniyaswami ([[Murugan]])
| primary_deity_Godess =
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Tamil Hindu Style Of architecture]], Rock cut
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website = {{url|vallakottaimurugantemple.tnhrce.in/}}
}}

'''Vallakottai Subramaniyaswami temple''' (or '''Vallakottai Murugan temple''') in [[Vallakottai]], a panchayat town in [[Kanchipuram district]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Murugan]]. Constructed in the [[Tamil Hindu architecture|Tamil Hindu style of architecture]], the temple is located in the [[Sriperumbudur]] - [[Singaperumalkoil]] road.

The temple has a gateway leading to a pillared hall and the sanctum. The temple is open from 6:30 am – 12:00 pm and 5 - 8:30 pm. Five daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Adi Pooram festival 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:A peacock at The Subramaniya Swamy Temple.jpg|200px|left|thumb|A peacock in the temple enclosure]]
As per Hindu legend, there was a demon by name Vallan who was troubling the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]], the celestial deities. The Devas sought the help of Murugan. He informed them that the time had come to destroy the demon. He eventually waged a war and slayed the demon at the place. He established the place as Vallan Kottai, literally meaning the "Fort of Vallan". [[Indra]], the king of Devas, requested his Guru [[Brihaspathi]] to suggest a place for him to worship Murugan. He suggested going to Vallakottai, an abode of Murugan. Indra came to Vallakottai, pierced the earth with his weapon [[Vajrayudha]] to create a tank to extract water. He performed ablution to image of Murugan at this place and attained his needs. Since Indra created the tank with his Vajrayudha, the temple tank is named as Vajra Theertha.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

As per another legend, a king by name Bhagiratha was ruling the Elanji kingdom. He was very haughty to sage [[Narad|Naratha]] and to teach him a lesson for his behaviour, Naratha infuriated a demon king named Goran to attack Elanji kingdom. Goran was a powerful demon and he made a sudden attack. Bhagiratha was unable to control the forces and eventually lost the battle to Goran. Realising his mistake, he sought the advice of Naratha. The sage advised him to find sage [[Durvasa]], who could find a resolution. The king roamed around the forest for a long time and finally found Durvasa. The sage advised him to worship Murugan at Vallakottai to get back his kingdom. The king worshipped Murugan at this place for a long time and built the temple.<ref name=official>{{cite web|title=Arulmigu Subramaniyaswami Thirukoil,vallakottai|url=http://www.vallakottaimurugantemple.tnhrce.in/index.html|publisher= Hindu Religious and Endowment Board, [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|year=2015|accessdate=4 November 2015}}</ref>

==Architecture==
As per the [[Hagiography|hagiographical]] records from the region, the temple is believed to have been built during the 9th century.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Vallakottai transformation|publisher=22 March 2019|last=M.|first=Ramesh|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/india-interior/the-vallakottai-transformation/article26612302.ece|accessdate=2 August 2020}}</ref> The temple is located in [[Vallakottai]], in [[Kanchipuram district]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] on the road from [[Sriperumbudur]] to [[Singaperumalkoil]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1961: Madras Volume 9, Issue 1 of Census of India, 1961, India. Office of the Registrar General|last=India. Office of the Registrar General|publisher=Manager of Publications|year=1965}}</ref> The temple has a five tiered raja[[gopuram]], the gateway tower and pillared porch in front of it. The sanctum faces East and the image of the presiding deity is {{convert|7|ft|abbr=on}} tall in standing posture. There are twin images of peacock, the divine bird of Muruga, facing the presiding deity.<ref name="dinamalar"/> In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=HRCE>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|format=PDF|pages=244|access-date=2 August 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009010850/https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Religious significance==
Vallakottai temple is revered in ''[[Thirupugazh]]'' composed by [[Arunagirinathar]], a 15th-century saint.<ref name=Saiva5>{{cite book|title=Saiva Encyclopaedia volume 5 - Temples in Tamil Nadu (Later period)|editor-last=Dr. R.|editor-first=Selvaganapathy|publisher=Saint Sekkizhaar Human Resource Development Charitable Trust|location=Chennai, India|language=Tamil|year=2013|page=497}}</ref> The temple is revered in eight verses by the saint. As per a legend, the saint worshipped Murugan at Thiruporur temple and was on his way to [[Thiruthani Murugan Temple]]. During his sleep, a divine voice directed him to go to Vallakottai temple. He woke up to realise it was the order of Murugan and he visited the temple. The temple is considered equal in importance to the [[Arupadaiveedu]], the six abodes of Murugan.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

==Festival and religious practices==
[[File:Vallakottai_Temple_2.jpg|200px|thumb|Kodai Andavar temple tank]]
The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed five times a day: ''Gho Pooja'' at 6:30 a.m., ''Kalasandhi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikala poojai'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., and ''Arthajama Pooja'' at 8:15 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for the presiding deities.<ref name=pooja>{{cite web|title=Pooja Timing|url=http://www.vallakottaimurugantemple.tnhrce.in/pooja.html|publisher= Hindu Religious and Endowment Board, [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|year=2015|accessdate=4 November 2015}}</ref> There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 6:30 am – 12:00 pm and 5–8:30 pm on all days except during festive occasions when it has extended timings. The major festivals of the temple include the Adi Kiruthikai festival celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Adi'' (June - July).<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Subramaniyaswami temple|publisher=Dinamalar |url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/New.php?id=693|year=2011|access-date=4 November 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Murugan temples}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Kanchipuram district]]
[[Category:Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu]]

Vallakottai Subramaniyaswami temple - Revision history

Mdraselsarker at 18:09, 27 September 2025