Kumarakovil
Kumarakoil or Kumarakovil is a small village in Kanyakumari district. Here is the famous Subrahmanya Temple by the name of Velimalai Kumaraswamy Temple. The temple was built on a hill named 'Velimalai'. The name "Veli" was named from the Malayalam word "veli" means marriage.It is the place where marriage of Murugan and Valli was done. Koravans used to come to the temple for marriage of Valli, since Valli Devi belongs to Koravan community. Lord Muruga and his consort Goddess Valli are the main deities. It is believed that they married here. It is built on a rocky terrain about 200 feet in height.
The rock cut temple has stone carvings, and a large water body is seen in the surrounding. The majority of the devotees are from Kerala state. A police party and band from Kerala state is present on certain celebrations of this temple. Many children get their first feed in this temple. There is a shed for holy animals- cow, bull, peacock in the temple courtyard. Kuramakoil is one of the holiest places for Hindus. It is about 34 kilometers from Kanyakumari and around 50 km from Trivandrum airport. Around 5 kilometers from Thakkallay town bus stand, many buses are available to Kumarakovil. A new landmark nearby is the Noorul Islam University.
Kumarakovil, the Murugan Temple
Kumarakoil is one of the important and renowned among the Murugan temples in the district of Kanyakumari Tamil Nadu. It is located near Thuckalay, 15 km from Nagercoil. Kumara Koil, also called "Kumara Shethram" and "Subramania Sthala" in Malayalam language, and "CHERA NATTU AERAGAM" in ancient Tamil script is at the foot hills of the Velimalai Hills also known as "Velvi Malai", and Merkada malai means the southern end of the western ghats. Prior to 1950, Kanyakumari District was first with Chera Kingdom and later with Trivancore samasthanam and then with present-day Kerala State. During Tamil Sangam period, Kumara Koil was known as Thiruveragam as evidenced from Thirumurugattupadai, the sangam literature written by poet Nakkeerar. The name of the temple has changed since Tamil Sangam period, under the successive rulers of the area. Thus, Kumara koil is also known as Thiruveragam, Malai Nattu Oru Thiruppathi, Subramania Sthala, Kumara Shethra etc.The temple is built on the foot hills of Veli Malai where, according to legends, Lord Muruga enacted a drama to win the heart of Valli the divine child found in the hillock by Nambi Arasan, a chieftain ruled over the place with Thirukurangudi as his capital. The temple faces east and can be reached by a flight of thirty eight steps. Beyond the comparatively small but beautiful rajagopuram, Veerabagu and Veeramagendra stand guard of the Lord. The statue of Muruga in the Moolasthanam is in standing posture. It is eight feet eight inches height in varadha hastham. The height of the statue of Valli amman is to the left side of the Lord in standing porture and is six feet two inches height. Apart from Valli sametha Murugan sannithanam, sannithanams are dedicated to Lord Shiva, Parvathy, Kalyana Vinayagar, Shree Dharma Sastha, Ilaya Naynar, and Arumuga Nayinar. A Sannithanam has been dedicated to Dhakshan. This is considered to be a unique feature. This may be perhaps Dhaksha Prajapathi, one of the first creations of Lord Brahma and father in law of Lord Shiva might have attended the divine marriage of Lord Muruga in his capacity as maternal grandfather. The sacred tree is Vengai Tree. The tree has died long ago and the trunk could be found now in a separate enclosure. The Theppakulam where the devotees take bath before darshan of the Lord, bears fresh stream water sourced from the hill top, all the time. There are separate enclosures for the sacred cows, bulls, pecock etc., in the temple enclosure. Devotees feed them and also the fish in the theppakulam. Anna Thanam is being done on a daily basis. It is believed auspicious to feed the first feed to the children in the precincts of the Lord. Marriages, ear boring ceremonies etc., are held there and offering like head trouncing, Palkudam, Kavadi etc., are being fulfilled there by devotees.
During Navarathri Pooja, Annai Adi Parasakthi leave Sushintharam temple situate in Nagercoil, and perform a yatra in Pallakku to Trivandrum, the headquarters of the Kerala State, to participate in the Navarathiri Pooja celebrations at the Devi Koil in the vicinity of the Trivandrum Palace. Lord Muruga from Kumarakoil also accompany Annai in a procession, riding a horse. This practice has been in vogue since 1840 when the rulers of the erstwhile Trivancore Samasthanam changed their headquarters from Padmanabhapuram in Thuckalay to Trivandrum. This practice exemplifies the strong connection between the erstwhile Malai Nattu rulers and Kumarakoil.
Velimalai
Velimalai is the southern tip of western ghats and Kumarakoil is in the foothills of Velimalai There are ample evidence to show Kumarakoil is the Earagam referred to in Silappathigaram. The places connected with Valli viz, Thirukurangudi and Valliyoor, the capital from where Nambirajan the step father ruled over the place, Nambiyaru, Nambi Thalaivan pattayam, Valli Aaru, Valli Kalyana Mandapam in the hill top, Valli Kugai koil in the hill top, Valli Thinaipunam, Valli Cholai, Vatta Cholai, Kilavan Cholai,, Valli Chunai the sacred place where Valli used to take bath, Uravar Padukalam, connected with the war waged by the relatives of Valli against Lord Muruga, the Vengai tree, the disguised form of Lord Muruga etc., in and around Veli Malai are evidences that conforms to the story of the marriage of Lord Muruga with Valli at Valli Malai. The Valli marriage function is being re-enacted every year in the Tamil month of Painkuni. There is a temple dedicated to Nambirajan in the hill top of Thirukurangudi the then capital of the chieftain. After the birth of Valli, the name of the place was changed as Valliyur. In the thala varalaru, written by Shri Annalar Adigal, it has been mentioned that when Valli was found abandoned in the Velvi Malai by Nambirajan, his capital was Valliyur. Later he changed his capital to ‘Thenkattur’ near Velvi malai and Valli was brought up there.Puranas
Puranas refers to land mass, mountains and rivers beyond the present day Kanyakumari. As per Vishnu purana, the southern tip of Bharatavarsha was known as Kumarika. Beyond the boundaries of Bharatavarsha lived the disbelievers. Vishnu Purana further says ‘Godavari, Bheemrati and Krishnaveli rivers rise from Sahaya Mountains. Kritmala and Tamraparni rivers rise from Malayachal. Trisama and Aryakulya rivers rise from Mahendragiri. Rishikulya and Kumari rivers rise from Shuktiman Mountain. All these rivers have scores of other branches and tributaries.’ There are references to rivers running from Mahendragiri mountains situate in the present day Tirunelveli-Kanyakumari Districts. According to Puranas, Veera Mahendragiri was the citadel of the Asuras. The Asura Loga Chirpi Mayan has constructed a city for the Asuras there. The three Asuras, whom Lord Muruga annihilated at Tiruchendur ruled over the place from Mahendragiri. The rivers referred to in the Puranas are not there now, and might have dried out. There are references to Shaktiman ranges of mountains and rivers including Kumari river originating from them. These ranges and rivers are extinct and it might have been part of the Kumari Kandam where the first two Tamil sangams were reportedly held. Kumari Kandam was inundated probably by prayalaya . Present day Tamaraparani river running through the city of Tirunelveli is referred to in the Puranas. It is said to have originated from the Malayachal ranges. Therefore, Malayachal ranges are nothing but the southern tip of western ghats. Inference could be made that the words Malayan, Malayalam, Malai Nadu, etc., could have been sourced from the purana words Malaya, and Malayachal.Inference is being made by some people that Valli kalyanam was performed at Tiruttani. Valli kalyanam is love marriage and Devanai did not attend it. In Tiruttani, Muruga peruman is alone and his two consorts are in separate sannithanams. Kantha puranam lines read as "venki uritha paramparan ma magan vengai uru kolave" meaning, the great son of Lord Shiva disguised as Vengai tree. Therefore, Vengai tree is inseparable part of Valli Kalyanam. This evidence is present in Kumarakoil. Those being enough evidence to prove that the Kantharva kalyanam of Lord Muruga with Valli did take place at Kumara Koil. Enough evidence is available to show that Valli was born and brought up at Veli Malai where Kumarakoil situate. It is the Tamil tradition that the marriage ceremony is celebrated at the brides place and the bride, after marriage shall go and live with the grooms family. Veli Malai, or Velvi Malai or Thenkadu or Earagam is Valli’s place and therefore as per tradition, after the divine marriage, Valli amman and Lord Muruga would have moved to another place, probably Tiruttani, and settled there in disharmony with Devani, the first consort of the Lord, who was angry on hearing the news about the marriage of Muruga with Valli. Therefore, the two consorts are in two different sannithanams at Thiruttani. Later they sorted out their differences when it was revealed that they were sisters in their previous birth, and both are destined to marry the Lord as a reward for their severe penance, and lived in harmony.