According to the tradition, the temple owes its origin to Jnana Varodaya
(ஞான வரோதயர்), who belonged to Vayalur (வயலூர்), ten km west of Tiruchi. He
induced a Perambur (பேராம்பூர்) chief, Azhagiya-manavaalan (அழகிய மனவாளன்),
to build it. This was in the 15th century. In later times, other chiefs
expanded the temple.
Arunagiri, the great saint who is believed to have lived in the middle of
the 15th century, visited Viralimalai and sang in praise of the God here,
expressing some of his mystic experiences.
The deity presiding over this temple is offered by way of neyvedhya every
evening at the day's last puja, the most curious of objects: a country cigar
(சுருட்டுக் களஞ்சி) suruttu kalanji).
The Temple Architecture:
The ascent to the top of the hill is made by a series of flights
commencing at an entrance close to the vahana-mandapam (வாகன மண்டபம்). To
the north of the first landing, about half-way up, there is a natural cavern
in which there is now a shrine containing a lingam, an Amman, Ganesa, etc.
At the top is mandapam, from which one enters the main gopuram facing south.
More steps lead to the northern prakaram. The idol of Sri Subrahmanya has
six faces and twelve hands. The God is seated on a peacock, with the two
Amman-s, Valli and Devasena, standing on either side
The mandapam-s are of the Madurai style, and the one on the extreme east
affords a panoramic view of the country round as far as the Tiruchirappalli
rock. Some panels containing dancing figures in bas-relief, evidently
belonging to a ruined early Chozha temple at
Kodumbalur (கொடும்பாளூர்), have
been built into the walls of the northern prakaram. The two lion-pillars in
the vahana-mandapam at the foot of the hill are of the Pallava type, and
probably belonged to the
Ainthali (ஐந்தளி) or Aivar-koil (ஐவர் கோயில்) at
Kodumbalur.
The Festivals:
Ther (தேர்) festival
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The principal festivals are the Thai Poosam (தைப்பூசம்) held in
January-February, Masi-mahabhisekam (மாசி மஹாபிஷேகம்) held in
February-March, Panguni-uththiram (பங்குனி உத்திரம்) in March-April,
Vaisakham (விசாகம்) in May-June, Nava-rathri (நவராத்திரி) in
September-October, and the Sura-samharam (சூரசம்ஹாரம்) in November-December,
and are attended by great crowds from other parts of the State and from the
Tiruchirappalli district. Many of the pilgrims bring kavadi-s (காவடி),
containing the milk and sugar, which are poured over the idol. The place is
a favourite spot for the performance of vows, especially shaving of the
head.
Saint Arunagiri-nathar (அருணகிரிநாதர்) and Viralimalai:
Tradition holds that the deity of Viralimalai Murugan (விராலிமலை முருகன்),
appeared before a pilgrim at the temple-town of Vayalur and so overwhelmed
him, as to bring him to Viralimalai, where he composed a set of sixteen
songs of great metrical skill, included in the anthology known as the
Thirup-pugazh (திருப்புகழ்). The author, who belonged to the 15th century
and who had earlier led the life of a libertine, thence became famous as
Arunagiri-nathar, the great saint and exponent of Saiva-siddhantha. Whatever
be the truth the tradition, Arunagiri-nathar's songs are one of the precious
legacies of Tamil literature.
Apart from their devotion, Arunagiri-nathar's songs contain a vivid
description of Viralimalai and it's surrounding. A stanza from one of these
may be translated as: " In konadu (கோநாடு), where beetles haunt the
kadappai (கடப்பை) and surap-punnai (சூரப்புன்னை) flowers for their nectar
crowding the woods, and where the hum of their flight suggests the ragas desi (தேசி)
and namakriyai (நாமக்கிரியை); and where herons hunt in the stream-fed lakes
for the aaral fish find where agricultural fields
abound, lies Viralimalai".
The following are the immortal songs of the Saint, sung in praise of the
God Murugan of Viralimalai:
1.aindhu boothamu
2.edhiredhirkaN dOdi
3.idhamuRu viraipunal
4.ilaabamil polaavurai
5.kaamaaththira maahi
6.karadhala munguRi
7.karipu raari
8.kodaadhavanai yEpu
9.maalaasai kOpa
10.maayaa soroopa
11.mEha menunguzhal
12.niraamaya puraadhana
13.paadhaaLa maadhi
14.seeraana kola
15.uruvERa vEjem
16.Odhi yiRugivada
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