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Kali — calm and compassionate
KAVAIYAKALIAMMAN TEMPLE in Koilpalayam, on the road dividing the Nilgiris from the one leading to Sathiamangalam and Mysore, was a wilderness in olden days. Once considered to be part of Vadaparisaranadu, the present Koilpalayam in Sarkarsamakkulam village, was on the northern bank of river Kausika that originated from the Kurudi hill.
Hearsay reports affirm the existence of the shrine even before that of the Kaalalaesar Siva temple nearby. The Devi here was the family deity of a large majority of the Kongu Vellala community in Tamil Nadu besides being the Oordevathai. The hymns composed by one Rajagopala pulavar in adoration of the deity speaks of her glory. An ancient palm-leaf manuscript — "Cholanpoorva pattayam" — refers to King Karikaala's renovation of a chain of temples in Kongunadu, to absolve himself of a curse. In the course of his thiruppani, the king came to Kavayanputhur whose chieftain was an Irula.
When the king wanted to destroy the forest, the goddess demanded that the ruler build a temple. Acceding to her demand, Karikaala not only built the temple but also assigned lands generously towards its maintenance. A square stone slab with the Amman carved on it and worshipped by the Irula is found at the entrance to the temple on the left. The Kali idol presently existing in the sanctum sanctorum was not there earlier.
Located a kilometre away from the Kaalakaaleswara temple, the Kali shrine faces east with a huge mandapam in the front. The beautifully carved goddess in a sitting posture shedding compassion and grace is tangentially opposite to the normal ferocity associated with Kali. The divine mother with her right foot on the Asura's head and left foot on his back and with agni, kalasam, trident and the sword in her hands, is a picture of miraculous rapture.
Buses ply frequently to the temple at Koilpalayam from the Gandhipuram bus stand.
T. K. GANAPATHY
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