Description:
This ancient temple to
Murugan known as Kumaran Koyil is located at
Padmanabhapuram, home to the palace of the
erstwhile
Maharaja, on the slopes of the Veli hills. It
is located in a commanding position, visible for miles
around.
Legend has it that Murugan married Valli here and hence the name Velimalai, Manamalai or Kalyanamala.
Deities:
The
main deities worshipped here are Subramanyar
and Valli. A majestic ten feet high image of Subramanyar of
great workmanship adorns the sanctum. The festival image of
murugan here is Manavaalakumaran and this
image is taken in procession every year during Navaratri to
Thiruvananthapuram,
along with Saraswati and
Bhagavati from the Padmanabapuram Palace.
Manavaalakumaran is also taken in procession
to take part in the annual festival of the
Suchindram
temple.
Festivals:
Kerala
Tantram is a protocol of worship offered in this
temple along the lines of most other temples in Kanyakumari
district. Fridays, especially the last fridays of every tamil
month are considered to be very sacred here. The Kanji which
is distributed here on fridays as prasadam is believed to have
miraculous healing properties.
Murugan's and Valli's marriage is celebrated with great splendor in the month of panguni. This Tirukkalyanam is an enactment of the divine wedding and is attended by thousands of pilgrims from allover the state.
The seven-day festival begin in the star of Anuradha in the month of Panguni. Vaikasi Visakam is celebrated for 10 days and as in other Murugan temples Skanda Sashti is celebrated for six days.
Pushpabishekam is celebrated on the last Friday in the month of aavani when the image of Kumaran is completely covered with hundreds of baskets of flowers contributed by the congregating pilgrims.
Just one kilometre from Kumarakoil Temple on the same mountain road one finds Ramji Ashram.
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