Alagar Kovil, also known as Azhagar Kovil, is a village in Madurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The history and living of the village revolve around the Kallazhagar Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu.
The temple is believed to have been built in the 6th to 9th century AD and is considered older than the Meenakshi Temple.
Historical Significance
Alagar Kovil and its surrounding villages have a rich historical past with traces of a 2,000-year-old history.
A second-century B.C. Jain monument with a Tamil Brahmi inscription is found in the area, and the hill is also credited with accommodating Vishnu and Muruga temples.
These temples were established during the closing decades of the Sangam period.
Kallazhagar Temple
The Kallazhagar Temple, also known as Vasantha Mandapa, is a 17th-century structure built on the southwest side of Alagar Kovil.
The temple is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and features a central mandapa surrounded by a moat made of stone.
The moat is filled with water and floating lotuses during the summer, and a circumambulatory passage surrounds the temple.
Festivals and Celebrations
The village of Alagar Kovil celebrates several festivals, including the Vasanthotchavam festival, which is held in the Kallazhagar Temple for ten days every year.
The Chitra festival is celebrated on Pournami (full moon day) and reenacts the visitation of Kallazhagar to Madurai from Azhagar Koyil.
The Aadi Brahmmorchavam festival is celebrated for ten days during July and August within the precincts of the shrine, attracting devotees from different parts of Tamil Nadu.
The great Chitra festival is celebrated on Pournami (full moon day) and reenacts the visitation of Kallazhagar to Madurai from Azhagar Koyil.
Lakhs of devotees flock to the river Vaigai to witness the event of Lord Azhagar stepping on the earth.
what is the significance of the kallalagar temple in alagar kovil:
The Kallalagar Temple in Alagar Kovil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu.
The temple is revered in the Naalayira Divya Prabandam, the 7th-9th century Vaishnava canon, by Periyalvar and Peyalvar.
The temple is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and has a seven-tiered gopuram.
The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity in standing posture, and the images of Sridevi and Bhudevi are also housed in the sanctum.
The temple is surrounded by a rectangular enclosure with huge granite walls and has six corridors.
The temple is also famous for its festivals, including the Vasanthotchavam festival, which is held in the Kallalagar Temple for ten days every year.
The Chithirai festival is celebrated on Pournami (full moon day) and reenacts the visitation of Kallazhagar to Madurai from Azhagar Koyil.
Architecture of the kallalagar temple in alagar kovil:
The Kallalagar Temple in Alagar Kovil is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture.
The temple has a seven-tiered gopuram and is enclosed in a rectangular enclosure with huge granite walls.
The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity in standing posture, and the images of Sridevi and Bhudevi are also housed in the sanctum
The temple also has a mandapa called Vasantha Mandapa, which is a 17th-century structure built on the southwest side of Alagar Kovil
The mandapa has a central mandapa surrounded by a moat made of stone, which is filled with water and floating lotuses during the summer.
The temple also has six corridors surrounded by fort walls
The temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu and is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.
In conclusion, Alagar Kovil is a historical and religious site in Madurai, with a rich past and a vibrant present.
The Kallazhagar Temple and its surrounding areas host various festivals and celebrations, attracting devotees and visitors from far and wide.
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