Kalaiyar Kovil

Kalaiyar Kovil is a Town and a Panchayat Union in Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu, India.

[citation needed] The famous sorna Kaleeswara temple is in kalayarkoil, Sivaganga District, 18 km (11 mi) east of Sivagangai.NH-85 thondi- madurai-cochin National Highways connects kalayarkoil with other major towns.SH 29 connects kalaiyarkoil with paramakudi, Ilayangudi, karaikudi.

[citation needed] Kalaiyarkoil well connected with major towns through Buses.Direct bus to trichy, madurai, sivaganga, karaikudi, tanjore, kumbakonam, paramakudi, pattukottai is available.Nearest airport is Madurai Airport (63 km).Nearest Railway station Sivaganga railway station 18 km and kallal railway station 16 km[citation needed] Kalayarkoil has an average elevation of 94 metres (308 feet).

In the ninth century A.D. Saint Sundara moorthy nayanar described the presiding deity in his devotional songs as Kaalai.

[2] Traditional A lofty Rajagopuram (150 feet [46 m]) and an imposing Teppakkulam tank (with a mandapam) named Aanai madu adorn this shrine.

Maruthu Pandiyars built a big wall like a place around the temple to safe guard the temple but it was demolished by the Britishers during the war, Colonel James Welsh wrote all the details and drawing of the castle in his book Military Reminiscences 2.

King Vengai Marban ruled over this area Sangam period It was the stronghold of rulers of Sivangangai.

Dhakshinakalaipuram, jothiwanam, mandharavanam, mokshapradam, kaandhaaram, dhavasthikaram, vedhaaruvanam, bhoologakailaayam, makaakaalapuram, akashathiyapuram are other names of the kalayarkoil[3] 700 years old.

The three lingathrumenis are separate sanctums and the three Shivalayams are composed of parivar sculptural sila murthas with rising thirumenis in Agama style.

The fort of Khanap Barreil has a deep moat, a sky-high wall, nyails that lurk in the sky like fishes and attack the enemy, dark forests around which the sun cannot penetrate, and chitturs where valiant citizens live.

Thirukanapper Udayan, a small land king, came in the 13th century under the rule of Tribhuvana Emperor Maravarman Sundara Pandya with this town as his capital.

Rajah Muthu Vaduganatha Thevar in anticipation of the English invasion made preparations for defence.

A statue of the Fourth King of sivaganga Maruthu Pandiyar and their chief commander Udhaya Perumal Gounder who died in the war is also installed in the temple premises.

People from various parts visit kalayarkovil by cars, buses and bikes to get dharshan from god maruthiruvars.