Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal Temple is a hindu temple near Melur, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is one of the “108 divya desams”, and is located 12 km north-east of Madurai. It is also known as Mohanapuram and Mohanakshetram. The temple is accessible by the town bus services available from Madurai.
The temple is situated on a 2.5-acre (10,000 m2) land area, and has a 5 tier rajagopuram. The temple is more than 2000 years old and has been referred to in akananuru, Padhitrupathu, maduraikanchi and also in one of the five great epics of Tamil literature, silappatikaram. There are four prakarams(closed precincts of a temple) inside the temple. The main deity (Moolavar) is Kalamegaperumal in panchayudha kolam and in a standing posture, Thayar – Mogavalli, Utsavar – Thirumogur Aabthan, Theertham – Kshirabtha Pushkarini, Thala Viruksham – Vilvam and Vimanam – Kethaki Vimanam. The Prathanasayana appearance of the main deity is not found anywhere in 108 divya desam temples. The Sudarshana Chakra of deity is famous.
As the legend goes, when the devas were churning the ocean for Amrut, a drop of that Amrut is believed to have fallen into this temple tank and the lord appeared to the south of this tank. The front of the Sudarshana Chakra is Chakrathazhvar and the back side is Narasingha Perumal, situated amidst 48 fairies and inside the six circles there are 16 aayuthams with 154 letters. Perumal is depicted with 16 hands and three eyes glowing like fire.
Nammazhvar and Thirumangaiazhvar have sung the mangalaasaasanams for the deity here.
About Temple
Kalamegha perumal kovil is among one of the pandiya naatu divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas. There are four prakarams to the temple. The moolavar is Kalaamegha perumal in nindra thirukolam and in same posture like Varadharaja perumal of kanchipuram with gadhe in left hand and right hand as if blessing the devotees. The utsavar is Thirumogur aapthan. The utsavar here is found with pancha aayudams. There are sculptures of Lord Kondanda Ramar, Sita, Lakshma, Kamadevan and Rathidevi in the Garuda mandapam of the temple.
The specialty of the temple is the presence of Chakratalwar with 16 hands and each hand holding a different weapon. There is Lord Narasimha behind chakratalwar with shanku chakra. There are 154 alphabets carved in the 6 circles and there are pictures of 48 gods. Chakratalwar is found in Prathyaaletha posture that implies that the readiness to help devotees at all times.
The place got its name as moghur due to the Mohini avatharam taken by Lord Vishnu to ensure that the devas got the amrutham that came out of the churning of the ocean rather than the asuras so that the devas get back the lost power. It is believed that a drop of amrutham fell into the temple tank and hence it is also known as periya thirupaarkadal and siriya thirupaarkadal.
There is one more perumal sannadhi with the lord giving darshan in Prathana Sayana thirukolam on adisheshan with Sridevi and Bhoomidevi thayaar praying at the Lord’s feet. An interesting feature is that adishesan has thanga kavacham and this form of the Lord was prior to the Lord taking Mohini avatharam.
Festivals:
- 10 day Vaikasi Brammotsavam (May-June)
- Vaikunta Ekadasi (December-January)
- Gajendra Moksham in the Masi Poornima day in February – March
- 2 day Panguni Thirukalyanam (March-April)
- Krishna Jayanthi are the main festival observed in the temple.
- both Tamil and English New Year days
- Deepavali and Pongal are the festival days in the temple.
Location
Arulmigu Kalamegaperumal Temple,
Thirumohur – 625 107,
Madurai North Taluk,
Madurai District.
Phone : 0452 – 2423227, 0452 – 2423444.
Executive Officer : 98422 – 69683
