KUMARAKOTTAM, KANCHIPURAM

KUMARAKOTTAM, KANCHIPURAM   

Kumarakottam, the Balasubramanya Swamy temple, is just a km away from the Bus Stand and is in the West Raja Street and is in the part known Periya Kanchi.  The northern end of the road is the Kanchi Mutt and the Southern end Kachabeswarar temple.  The temple initially built by Pallavas in the 9th Century and later the Chozhas and Vijayanagara Samrajya kings contributed for rebuilding the same.  The temple in its present form came up in 1915.  It is a coincidence that Kumarakottam is in between Ekambareswara temple and Sree Kamakshi temple resembling the principle of Somaskandar.

Kachiappa Sivachariar, a saintly scholar, composed Skanda Puranam in praise of Lord Murugan.  Each day he would write a part of the life of Lord Muruga and would keep it in the moolastham of the Lord.  It is said that the Lord himself would correct from these and thus ihe Kandapuranam was a corrected Manuscript by none other than the Lord Himself.

                                       kandapurana Arangetra Mandapam
                       (Initiation of Kandapuranam in Tamil - mandapam built in honour)

Legend has it that Lord Murugan imprisoned Brahama for his ignorance on the Pranava Mantra OM and assumed the role of Brahma himself thus manifested as Brahma Shasta here with the Kamantala and Rudraksha beads.  Lord Muruga later repented for not adhering to his father Lord Siva's command not to imprison Brahma and released Brahma and also did penance here by installing a Siva linga called Devasenapateeswarar.  The Lord here is seen with Deer skin as his dress, Dharbai as Arignan (அரைநாணும்) and with Kamandala and Rudraksha Beads in his hands and the sannidhi of Valli and Devayanai are by the side.

                              View of inside of the temple - Thulabaram can be seem

Arunagirinathar in his Tirupugazh has sung about the Lord at Kumarakottam starting with the word - 'Arivilappittar'.  

அறிவிலாப் பித்த ருன்ற னடிதொழாக் கெட்ட வஞ்சர்
     அசடர்பேய்க் கத்தர் நன்றி ...... யறியாத

அவலர்மேற் சொற்கள் கொண்டு கவிகளாக் கிப்பு கழ்ந்து
     அவரைவாழ்த் தித்தி ரிந்து ...... பொருள்தேடிச்

சிறிதுகூட் டிக்கொ ணர்ந்து தெருவுலாத் தித்தி ரிந்து
     தெரிவைமார்க் குச்சொ ரிந்து ...... அவமேயான்

திரியுமார்க் கத்து நிந்தை யதனைமாற் றிப்ப ரிந்து
     தெளியமோ க்ஷத்தை யென்று ...... அருள்வாயே

இறைவர்மாற் றற்ற செம்பொன் வடிவம்வேற் றுப்பி ரிந்து
     இடபமேற் கச்சி வந்த ...... உமையாள்தன்

இருளைநீக் கத்த வஞ்செய் தருளநோக் கிக்கு ழைந்த
     இறைவர்கேட் கத்த குஞ்சொ ...... லுடையோனே

குறவர்கூட் டத்தில் வந்து கிழவனாய்ப் புக்கு நின்று
     குருவியோட் டித்தி ரிந்த ...... தவமானைக்

குணமதாக் கிச்சி றந்த வடிவுகாட் டிப்பு ணர்ந்த
     குமரகோட் டத்த மர்ந்த ...... பெருமாளே.

In the 20th Century, Pamban Swamigal was shown the way to Kumarakottam by none other than the Lord himself assuming the form of a small boy.

There is a sannidhi for Lord Vishnu and he is known as Urugum Ulla Perumal. (உருகும் உள்ளப் பெருமாள்).    This sannidhi is next to the Palliyarai of Lord Murugan and the Perumal is seen with Sridevi and Bhoodevi and Markandeya Munivar.   Markandeya Munivar also was swept away in the Pralaya and  he asked Thirumal where all the earthily things have gone in the Pralaya and the Lord replied they are in his stomach.  The Munivar ridiculed the Lord. Lord painful of the fact he had been insulted by the Munivar worshipped the Pilakasa Ambal and came here.  Hence the Lord's name became Urugum Ulla Perumal.

Temple Timings:
05.00 AM - 12.00 noon
04.30 PM - 08.30 PM