I was in Madurai today (07.08.08) and had to visit Siva Ganga district. In the evening I decided to visit the nearby Shiva Temple at Kalaiyar Kovil. The tall gigantic temple gopuram is visible even as we enter the small hamlet.
The Swarna Kaleeswarar temple was built by Muthu Vaduga Thevar who died in the patriotic war against the British at this very place, Kalaiyar Kovil. His generals were the famous Maruth
u Brothers who also died then. The temple lives on in their memory. A huge sprawling campus it epitomizes, everything that South Indian Temples stand for i. e. Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. The Wisdom of the Kings who built them, The strength of the structures themselves which have stood the test of time and lastly the beauty of the carvings and intricate detail that has been brought out in the wall frescoes and pillar 
decorations.
The Theppa Kulam at Kalaiyarkovil is huge and full of water!
One only wishes that these symbols of our ancient glory were preserved well instead of being allowed to become dust through sheer neglect and insensitivity!
En route to Kalaiyar Kovil is Nattarasankottai where the author of the Tamil version of Ramayan, Kambar was laid to rest. The Kannathal temple is also at Nattarasankottai. Another famous temple nearby is the Vettudaiyar Kali temple at Kollankudi. We couldn’t see these places for want of time. Maybe next time…!
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