RASIPURAM

KAILASANADHAR TEMPLE

Distance: 28kms from Salem and 28kms from Namakkal

Shiva: Kailasanadhar

Amman: Aramvalartha Nayaki.

Sthala Viruksham: Vilva tree

In early days Rasipuram was very fertile and rich and many rich people were living here.

The idol of Valvil Ori is seen in this temple.

Ori created an underground passage from his palace to the temple. Now only the entrance can be seen and the whole passage has been blocked.

Invisible sidhdhars who are believed to live in Kollimalai come here to worship Kailasanadhar. People in this village say that they had felt the movement of the sidhdhars in the temple. 

The Kailasanadhar Linga has been existing for 4 Yugas.

The place Rasipuram had also different name in the 4 Yugas. 

• In the Kritha Yuga Indiran worshipped the Linga which was called Neelakanta Murthy and the place was called Indhirapuram.
• In the Dwapara Yuga the linga was worshipped by Sidhdhars and the place was called Vichithrapuram and Shiva Sidhdheeswarar.
• In the Thretha Yuga the linga was worshipped by Navagrahas and the place was called Dhevapuram and the Linga Chandrasekarar.
• In the Kali Yuga the Linga was worshipped by Ori and the place was called Rajamapuram (Rasipuram) and the Linga Kailasanadhar.

The Ambaal of this temple is called Aramvalarthanayaki in tamil and Dharmasamvarthini in Sanskrit.

The Amman holds 'Sengol' in one hand and flowers in the other. In the other 2 hands she shows the pose of Abayavaradham. 

The Rajagopuram is 5 tired.

The Dakshinamurthy of this temple is in the pose of Preaching the Sanagadhi Munivars - Sanagar, Sanandhar, Sanaadhanar and Sanathkumarar. This is a very rare feature 

The Arumugar of this temple is Large in size. 

Arunagirinathar has sung about this Muruga in his Thirupugazh as "Kongu Raja Pura Thurai Perumanae". This Muruga is present with his consort. 

There is a Bala Dhandayudhapani Sannidhi in this temple which is considered equal to Pazhani. 

The Nandhi of this temple is carved with Garlands, Jewels and the figures of flowers and wearing a Rathna Kambalam (a scarf studded with Garnet stones) and with his ears lifted. This sculpture in very unique.

All the Sannidhis in this temple are very special. There are Sidhi Vinayaka, Gaja Lakshmi, Ekambaranathar and Kamakshi, Viswanadhar and Visalakshi and Sarvalingaeswarar sannidhis in the temple.

In early days the temple was inside a fort. In the north east portion of the temple we can see the remains of the fort entrance. There is an inscription in a pillar that Veera Ragavayyan has built the fort entrance. Another inscription in the entrance of the Artha mnadapam states Raasapurathu Thalaivasal. There is a nearby temple called Kottai Muniyappa Temple. The fort must have existed upto the 16th century. The inscriptions found in the temple state this.

All the other Sannidhis found in other temples are also found here.

In the northern side of the Deepa Sthambam there is a sculpture of a staunch Shiva devotee Kaalamugar.

In the eastern side of the Deepa Sthambam a Shiva devotee is seen carrying a Shiva Linga on his head.

In the western side of the Deepa Sthambam an image of a cow showering milk on a linga is seen.

In the Southern side of the Deepa Sthambam there is a soldier with a sword and shield in his hand.

There is a 16 pillared Mandapam in front of the Gopuram.

In 1443AD, Vera Prathapadevan has done renovations and Moroor Kangeyan has built the Gopuram.

The carpentry skill is seen in the doors of the temple.

The Raja Ganapathy sannidhi of this temple was built by a rich person called Kumaravel Gounder.

The Mandapam before the Arumugar Sannidhi was built by Chinappa Gounder.

The Mahamandapam was built by Thulukkathirumalai Seeyalanadhar.

The other specialities in the temple are Kilimandapam, Three small musical pillars and four deers with 1 face. All these are full of Artistic touch.

A Shiva Devotee Kariyaperumal gave his large property in Athanur village for the temple.

There are inscriptions of Raja Raja Chola III, Vikrama Pandiya Thondaiman has been found.

Colonel Mckenzie has written in his records that Seeyala Chetti Mudhaliyar hid in this temple when the Mysore King attacked this place.

Vidankazhanai Amarakon has given his lands opposite to the temple for the temple.

The 63 Nayanmar Mandapam of this temple is a special feature. Normally the Nayanmars are in a straight line but here they stand in the shape of half a rectangle.

In the western corner of the temple we find the Vanni and the Aathi trees growing together. Under the tree is the idol of Valvil Ori. He stands in a position of praying to the Lord Kailasanadhar. He is seen with a Kondai, many ornaments all over his body, a Katari on both sides of his hip, a Metti on his toes and Veera Kazhal (anklet) on his left leg (Metti and Veera Kazhal was a symbol worn by a warrior). He is wearing slippers on his feet which shows the workmanship of cobblers.

King Ori was a great bestower. He was one of the Bestowers of Kadaichangam. Since he was an expert in archery he was called as Valvil Ori. He was also called as Aadhan Ori. He had the habit of hunting. 

One day when he started for hunting to the forest he saw an white pig but it was not like normal pigs. He wanted to hunt the pig and so he went chasing behind it. After a long travel the pig hid somewhere. He was tired. He sat on a big stone. At that time he saw the pig hiding in a bush near the stone. Immediately he beat the pig with his arrow. Suddenly the pig disappeared and in the place where the pig was standing he saw a Shiva Lingam. The Shiva Linga was bleeding. He did not know how to stop the flowing blood. He was astonished and he repented for his deed. The blood stopped bleeding. He immediately brought some water from nearby pond and performed abhisheka; he brought some flowers from the forest and made a garland for the Lord and pleaded the Lord to forgive him. The Lord appeared before him and told him not to worry and this incident happened to declare his bakthi to the world. He could not believe his eyes. He built a temple for the Shiva Linga and named the lord as Kailasanadhar. He sent his men to clean the whole place and called it Rajamapuram which is now called Rasipuram. Even now we can see the mark of the arrow which king Ori beat the pig on the Shiva Linga. The mark is about 2 feet in a curved form. The mark can be seen during Abhisheka on the Suyambhu Linga Murthy. The idol of Valvil Ori is seen in this temple.