Kalaiyishvarar Temple

Overview : Kalayiarkoil or kaleeswarar temple is Lord Shiva temple located in Villianallur city,Tamil Nadu. Kalaiyarkoil was the base of the kings since very initial days.Kalayar is a corrupt form of the word kaleeswaran. For the period of sangam, this place was called kaanappair as is depicted in the 21st verse of the puranannooru sung by a poet of the sangam period ,iyur moolakizhar. King Vengai Marban was the ruler of this region during Sangam period.During 9th century saint Sundara Moorthy Nayanar described the chief deity in his religious songs as kaalai. Thus the deity got its name kalaiyar and the temple kalayarkoil. This region had a strong hold of Sivangangai rulers. Freedom fighters like Maruthu brothers , Natha Thevar , Muthu Vaduga,etc. also belong to this place. The invading English forces robbed Kalaiarkovil and collected ornaments worth 50,000 pagodas. Thus the temple was locked and prayers clogged for a while. Later it re-opened and considerable repairs and improvement were completed by Devakottai Zamindar. Now Devakottai Zamindars remain to be the temple trustees and move on the family custom initiated by their forefathers by organising the daily temple ceremonies and pujas. The chief deity has various names like Someswarar,Kaaleeswarar, Ambal, Sundareswarar etc., his partner Parvathy is called as Soundara Nayagi, Swarnambikai and Meenakshi. Maravarman Kulasekara Pandian I reign’s stone inscriptions along with those of Veerapandian, Jadavarma Sundara Pandian II and Vanaathirayan are seen here. A huge Rajagopuram which is 150 feet along with an impressive Teppakkulam tank (with a mandapam) decorate this monument. This tank is said to have created by the elephant of Indra (Airavatam). Three shrines connected with the three functions of creation, completion and preservation are set up here. Some stone inscriptions date back to 1530 and 1532 A.D., representing gifts of lands by Sundara Tholudayar Mavali Vandarayar. Kilavan Sethupathy’s stone statues together with Rani Velu Nachiar and Maruthu brothers are found here. One elephant is also preserved by the Devasthanam authorities. In front of the Arulmigu Someeswarar Sannathi ,the statue of the Sivaganga King Muthuvaduganatha Thevar is present. This temple upholds numerous Kattalais.