KALABHAIRAVAR TEMPLE - ATHIYAMAAN KOTTAI

 KALABHAIRAVAR TEMPLE - ATHIYAMAAN KOTTAI - DHARMAPURI - TAMILNADU

The Adhiyaman kottai or fort was built by King Adhiyaman around the 9th Century AD. He is also known as one of the seven greatest Kings of Tamilnadu "Kadaiyazhu Vallals” He got an Amla fruit which when eaten would ensure a very long life for the eater. Instead of eating the fruit himself, he gifted the same to Avvaiar, the famous lady Poet saint of Tamilnadu . 

The Athiyamaan fort was built in an Oval shape and contained towns and a large lake in order to protect the people from invasion. The fort now appears like a circular mud wall and can be seen in the map. The King belonged to one of the four contemporary dynasties of Tamilnadu namely Athiyamaan, the others being the Chola’s,Chera’s and the Pandya’s. The dynasty has mention in the Purana’s & other Tamilnadu Literature also by the name of Adigamaan.

King Adiyaman must have been a great King, whose annals are lost in history books and needs much more attention. The King ruled from a place called Thagadoor, which is the modern day Dharmapuri in Tamilnadu, but his residence was in Adhiyamaan Fort about 8 Kms from Dharmapuri. The Athiyamaan dynasty ruled from Thagadoor atleast from the 3rd Century CE. The dynasty is also known as “Satyaputra’s”, the Clan of Truth. Rock inscriptions of the Sangam period, The Ashoka Edicts, the inscriptions of Jambai, modern day Tirukoilur mention about their sovereignty starting from 1st century CE.

In ancient times, Kalabhairava was prayed to for removal of fear by the Rishi’s. About 100 villages surrounding Athiyamaan Kottai has Kalabhairava as the diety of Protection.Kalabhairava is the Guru or teacher of Saturn.According to scriptures Saturn prayed to Kalabhairava in Varanasi and attained Moksha. Kalabhairava dislodged the fifth head of Bramha with his Nails to remove the Aham or ego in Lord Brahma.

Beseiged by wars and invasion, a sage advised King Athiyamaan to Pray to Lord Shiva in the form of Kalabhairava. The King built a temple for Kalabhairava inside the fort. The temple is about 2 KM’s from the highway connecting Bangaluru and Coimbatore and about seven Km’s from Dharmapuri in tamilnadu.

The Kalabhairava temple as built by King Athiyamaan around the 9th century is about 1200 years old and was a small but two hall’ed complex facing west. The temple has the deity of Lord Shiva in the form of Kalabhairava Standing and is bereft of goddess Parvathi. The unique part is, it has both a Dog and Nandi as the Vahana or vehicle of Lord Kalabhairava.

The modern construction apart, the real stone structure consists of a small Mukhamandapa with nine Octogonal “Ashtakonam” spheres created on the ceiling indicating the Navagrahas. Through the Mukhamandapa you come to the Garbhagriha, where stands the Lord Kalabhairava with a Trident in his hand.The Lord stands with chaturbhuja or four hands holding a severed head of Bramha, Trshul or Trident, Pashangucha (the rope of death) and Damaru (the two headed drum) and wearing a snake as his Punal (Sacred thread). There are Two kalabhairava idols in the temple.

The upper walls surrounding the Temple complex is decorated with sculptures of the Art of Warfare, weapons, elephants and horses signifying the turmoils of invasion during the period.

Temple timings ; 6 AM to 11 AM & 4 PM to 8 PM.

Contact Details : Gurukkal R.Krubakaran : 9443272066.

Things to See in Athiyamaan Kottai.

1. Kalabhairava Temple.
2. Someshwara Temple.
3. Narasimha Temple
4. Chennaraya Perumal Temple.