Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #88: Kalamegaperumal Temple, Thirumohur

காளமேகப்பெருமாள் திருக்கோயில், திருமோகூர்

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

Thirumohur

As a Divya Desam temple, this is a very important Vishnu temple. It is located close to Madurai. The Divya Desam temples are one of 108 ancient temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu that were celebrated by the Vaishnavite Tamil poet saints, the Azhwar, in the Nalayira Divya Prabantham compiled between the eighth and tenth centuries. As such the temple is more than 1200 years old.

Legends tell us that Lord Vishnu appeared here as the divine enchantress Mohini and thus the place came to be known as Thirumohur. There are many legends. One describes Lord Vishnu appearing as Mohini to seduce an Asura who had cast a spell on Lord Siva. In another he appears as Mohini to aid the Devas in a battle with the Asuras.

The place finds mention in the ancient Tamil literature of the Sangam era such as the Agananooru and Pathitrupathu. The Tamil epic Silappadikaram also mentions the place. There is an inscription in the temple itself dated to 1259 that identities a man named Kalamegam or Kangeyan who donated a large parcel of land to the temple during the reign of the Later Pandian king Sadaiyavarman Sundarapandian. The temple was later renovated by Nayakkan kings. The temple served as a fortress during the Carnatic Wars. The Marudhu brothers Chinna Marudhu and Periya Marudhu also contributed to this temple and they are commemorated with life-size sculptures in the temple. In modern times the Nattukkottai Chettiar community and the Sourashtra community of Madurai have undertaken renovation work.

There is an interesting story about a British army unit that ransacked this temple during the Carnatic Wars and was moving away with the loot when a group of men from the Kallar community waylaid them and retrieved the temple jewels and idols. Due to this the Kallar community is given pride of place during temple festivals.

The temple sports a 5 tier rajagopuram. At 2.5 acres, it is a moderate sized temple. The Vimanam here is called a Kethaki Vimanam and is beautiful. It is an east facing temple and the presiding deity is Lord Vishnu in standing posture in panchayudha kolam. There is a separate shrine for Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture and is called the prarthanasayana form and is very special. There is a large Sudharshana Chakra in one corner that has the idol of Chakrathazhwar on one side and Yoga Narasimhar on the other. Chakrathazhwar is depicted with sixteen hands holding a variety of weapons. This is also a rare sculpture found in few other Vishnu temples.

Nammazhvar sang thus in his Mangalasasanam on the temple in the 8th century:

மற்றிலம் அரண் வான்பெரும் பாழ் தனி முதலா

சுற்றும் நீர்படைத் ததன்வழித் தொல்முனி முதலா

முற்றும் தேவரோ டுலகுசெய் வாந்திரு மோகூர்

சுற்றி நாம்வலஞ் செய்ய நம் துயர்கெடும் கடிதே

(By circumambulating (surrendering to) Kalamegha‑Perumal at Thirumogur

who is the sole protector (aran) and heaven’s great destroyer of pain

and by venerating him along with the celestial beings, all our sufferings will vanish)

-From the Nalayira Divya Prabandham

The temple is located about 18 km or 30 minutes by car to the northeast of Madurai. We visited in June 2025. We were based in Madurai.

Sources: "Enchanting Mokur, The Alvar's Vivigraphy RKK Rajan Indian Place Names Vol 40(89) March 2020

Madurai District Inscriptions Volume1 Page 229 P. Rajendran,V. Vedachalam,C.Santhalingam 2005 (Tamil)

Credits: Google Maps