Kongahalli Mallikarjuna

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Introduction

Kongalli is a small village or hamlet in Taalavaadi Block in Erode District of Tamil Nadu. It is located 103 km from Erode and about 98 km from Mysuru. The name of the village is after "konga" a bamboo woven device to separate grains from husk, on a windy day by the farmers of Tamil Nadu. Kongahalli Mallikarjuna temple is the only Mallikarjuna Temple where Bhramarambica, his consort is not there with him.

Festivals

Devotees from 18 villages around Kongahalli, collect together, for performing the Kongahalli Mallikarjuna Swamy Utsava. In the year 2020, it will be performed from 9th March to 11th March, with hundreds of devotees from surrounding villages,towns, cities of the Districts from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, who are expected to attend.

Legends

There is an anomaly and ambiguity. The people widely tell the name of "Kongalli Mahadeswara" or "Kongalli Maadappa" . But, the board in the temple says it is Kongalli Mallikarjuna. It is well known that Maadappa or Mahadeshwara was a bachelor god like Ayyappa. But, Malai Mahadeshwara Temple and other Mahadeshwara temples allow the entry of women. But, this Temple at Kongalli is the only unique one, where women devotees have "no entry". As already written above, this is the unique Mallikarjuna temple where the deity was a bachelor and was still performing penance, when he was already worshiped. He must have shown some pavaadaas or miracles, around that time and consequently, he had many devotees and natural disturbance from them. So, that final ruling from his side that ladies are not to enter the temple, might have come. There is no supporting sthala puraana history of his miracles.

As the "sthala puraana" tells, Mallikarjuna Swamy arrived at this hill to perform tapas and later became a deity here. He banned the entry of women of all ages as it would disturb his dhyan/tapas. (this might have been to prevent women becoming easy prey to wild animals of the region like tigers, leopards, and wild elephants who are there everyday and night) Since then, woman devotees have not entered this shrine. The deity here is Mallikarjuna Swamy, the contemporary of Mahadeshwara Swamy who is worshiped all over the border area . The "udbhava murthy" is in the form of a lingam. Unlike the "Sabari Malai" temple, with a lot of focus on the entry of women and Supreme Court rulings etc, an unwritten law of "No entry to women" is practiced in this temple, since times immemorial, and fortunately no group of women have ventured seeking entry so far.. Shri Sadashiva Murthy Swamyji of Daasoha Matha, said that , during the car festival of the deity held in Kongalli village, local women also participate. The ban is applicable on entering the shrine only.

Sai Baba Temple  Complex. (pictures shown above)

Kongahalli Daasoha Matha.(picture above)

Anjaneya Swamy near Forest  Checkpost (shown above)

Other Temples

On the way from Taalavaadi to Kongahalli, Shirdi Sai Temple complex is located where Shirdi Sai, Vinayaka and Subrhamanya deities are worshiped. All the three deities are made out of white marble. Kongahalli Daasoha Matha, is also located on the same road, where Shri Sadaashiva Muthy Swamyji resides. Further on the road, you will find to your right the small one room Maruthi/Anjaneya temple, after which the manned forest check post is located. Women devotees go only upto this temple and not beyond. This Temple of Kongahalli said to be 1200 years old, is at the road termination point, into the elephant populated forest, and entry to the area is under the control of the Forest Authorities of Tamil Nadu. Excepting during the festivities of the temple, no one is permitted to stay for the night in the area, which has a few rudimentary shelters and kitchen facilities, which are also attacked by elephants who come in the evening and night hours.

The worshiping of Lord Shiva in the forms of Mahadeshwara and Mallikarjuna, is typical in this border region of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Though there are many Mallikarjuna temples in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, very few exist in Tamil Nadu state and they are as follows:

1. Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Dravenderam, Tamil Nadu 635118

1. Mallikarjuna swamy Temple, Kadaladi Forest, Parvathiamalai R.F., Tamil Nadu 606901
2. Mallikarjuna Temple, Kilsathambur, Tamil Nadu 637207
3. Sri Guddada Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Theiginarai, Erode, Tamil Nadu
4. Sri Mallikarjuneswarar temple, Weavers Colony, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu 636701
5. Lord Malligarjuna Swamy Temple, Kondarangi Hills, Kondarangi Keeranur, Tamil Nadu 624616
6. Kongalli Temple, Kongahalli, Tamil Nadu 638461.