Located 65kms West of Tiruchirapalli and 35kms South East of Karur is the 550year old Kathir Narasinga Perumal temple in Devar Malai, a temple whose story dates back to Hiranya Samhara and who construction in its present form to the Nayak period.
The Story
After Hiranya Samhara, an angry Lord Narasimha came here to this forest area of Devar Malai, where he was intercepted by the Devas who had congregated here in large numbers. The Devas brought sacred water and performed Abhishekam on Narasimha in an effort to cool him down.
Pleased with their gesture, Lord Narasimha sat down at this place and provided darshan. Having cooled down by the Devas, He is seen here in a Jaya Veera King like majestic Posture with his right feet placed on the ground and the left leg in a folded position. His left hand is in a Posture inviting the devotees while his right hand is an Abhaya Hastham Posture blessing them. This is referred to as the Veerasana Kolam of Lord Narasimha.
The Sacred water here is believed to liberate those with Pitru Dosham.
The Structure
There is no Raja Gopuram at the entrance. Today, it is seen as a Mottai Gopuram. There is a separate Thaayar Sannidhi with a separate Deepasthambam where lamps are lit on special occasions
Inscriptions
There are centuries old inscriptions at the entrance of the Thaayar Sannidhi that tells the story of the temple. Nayaks, belonging to the Kurivarkothram in Bellary, came here to Palayam, 5kms West of this temple. They were the earliest of the Nayaks and their stay here marked their first entry into this region after capturing Puliyur through their killings of Vengals. Pandyas were very impressed with the Nayaks and presented them with lands.
Nayaks, who were adept at grazing cows, would bring the cows every day to this forest area of Devar Malai. Once, they witnessed a unique occurrence of a boy drinking the milk directly from the cow. Angered at this, the cow herd fought with the boy only to find the boy disappear. Stunned at this incident, he sat there near the banyan tree while the cows returned to Palayam.
When Vathipala Muthappa Nayak came there, he tapped the cow herd and instantly found a divine light. Digging this place, they found sacred water pouring out and realised that Lord Narasimha himself was present here and that the Lord had come there to enact the drama of drinking the milk from the cow.
The delighted Nayaks built this temple, and the grand granite structure that one sees today belongs to the Nayak period construction. While the temple itself is about 550years old, the moolavar deity is said to date back to over a 1000years.
The Nayaks who then went on to rule large parts of Tamil Nadu had many of those places named as palayam ( Palayam Kottai, Raja Palayam etc) but the Palayam near Devar Malai is said to be the first of the ‘Palayams’, marking their entry into this region.
Bairavar Sannidhi
The Swarna Bairavar Sannidhi at the Northern side is special at this temple similar to the archa-vigraha seen at Dhadi Kombu temple near Dindigul.
Festivals
Navarathri Kolu for Thaayar
Vaikasi 10day Brahmotsavam
Puratasi Saturday
Lakshmi Narayana – Chakra Pongal Thaligai on Mondays
There is a special Abhishekam on the Ashtami day at this temple
Pradosham and Amavasya days are also special at this temple
Quick Facts
Moolavar: Kathir Narasinga Perumal East Facing Sitting Posture
Goddess: Kamalavalli Thaayar (Separate Sannidhi)
Temple time: 7am-12noon and 5pm-7pm
Contact: Balaji Bhattar @ 99436 10705
How to reach Devar Malai ?
Devar Malai is 65kms West of Tiruchirapalli on the Thogamalai-Palayam route and 35kms South of Karur off the Karur-Dindgual Highway 5kms East of Palayam. Buses from Trichy every one hour on the Devar Malai route (buses going towards Palayam/Pallapatti) with the first bus at 4am. One should get down at Kuruni Kalathapatti and walk 1km North to reach the temple
One can also reach Devar Malai by taking the Karur – Dindigul bus (old Dindigul road) and getting down at Palayam. From Palayam, one can take an auto to Devar Malai temple
Source
http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/
