Arulmigu Kalamega Perumal Temple
அருள்மிகு காளமேகப் பெருமாள் திருக்கோயில்
Lord Mahavishnu · Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Ancient
About the temple
The 47th Divya Desam of Vishnu; holy site where Lord Vishnu assumed the enchanting Mohini Avatara to distribute the divine nectar (Amrita) to the Devas and deny it to the Asuras; globally renowned for its supreme 16-armed Chakrathazhwar (Sudarshana) murti engraved with 154 sacred yantra letters (Beejaksharas) and 48 devatas, considered the most powerful Sudarshana parihara temple in India. Traditional belief: Absolute destruction of enemies, black magic, and evil spells (Sudarshana Kavacham); cure of psychiatric and chronic illnesses; grant of courage and liberation.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 06:00 – 20:30
- Established
- 8
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Lord MahavishnuLord Laxmi Narsimha Swamy
- Deity form
- Majestic standing stone vigraha of Lord Kalamegaperumal holding Shankha and Chakra; world-famous monolithic bronze/stone icon of 16-armed Chakrathazhwar with Narasimha on reverse
- Religious tradition
- Vedic Pancharatra Agamic Tradition & 108 Divya Desam Heritage
- Sanskrit name
- श्री कालमेघ पेरुमाल मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Thirumohur Divya Desam, Chakrathazhwar Temple Thirumogur, Mohana Kshetra Madurai
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM
- Break timings
- 12:00 PM - 04:30 PM (Monday to Thursday)
- Special days
- Vaikunta Ekadashi, Sudarshana Jayanthi, Chithirai Brahmotsavam: 04:30 AM - 11:00 PM
- Festival timings
- Open continuously till 11:00 PM on Vaikunta Ekadashi and Sudarshana Jayanthi
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 07:00 AM
- Midday aarti
- 11:45 AM
- Evening aarti
- 06:00 PM
- Night aarti
- 8:15 PM
- Special aarti days
- Saturdays, Ekadashi, Tuesdays for Chakrathazhwar, Purattasi Saturdays
- Ritual schedule
- Nitya Thiruvaradhana, Thulasi Archana, Sudarshana Maha Homam, Pradakshina of Chakrathazhwar, Sahasranamarchana, Mangala Harathi
- Pooja timings
- 06:30 AM - 11:45 AM, 04:30 PM - 08:15 PM
- Abhishek timings
- Thirumanjanam performed on Saturdays and festival days at 07:00 AM; special Sudarshana Thirumanjanam on Tuesdays
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Early Pandyas; expanded by Medieval Pandyas (Maravarman Sundara Pandya) and Madurai Nayakas
- Architect / builder
- Master traditional royal sthapathis of the Pandyan and Nayaka courts
- Construction materials
- Solid dressed dark granite stone blocks, brick-mortar soaring Rajagopuram, brass flagstaff
- Historical events
- Celebrated in 12 pasurams by Nammalvar who hailed Kalamegaperumal as his eternal guide; Alwar prayed here before attaining Vaikuntha Mukti
- Renovations
- Protected and renovated under Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department with new granite stone pathways, modernized queue corridors, and lighting
- Archaeological importance
- Crucial Divya Desam monument preserving ancient Pandyan epigraphs and rare Sudarshana yantra iconography
- Legends
- Lord Vishnu appeared as Mohini to enchant the demons and save Amrita; later, when demons attacked the Devas, Vishnu dispatched his Sudarshana Chakra to protect the cosmos
- Inscriptions
- More than 35 stone inscriptions in Tamil dating from the 10th to 16th century recording grants of land, gold coins, and irrigation tanks by Pandya kings
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- Circa 900 - 1580 CE
- Structure
- Spacious walled temple complex spanning 3 acres with seven-tiered entrance Rajagopuram, sculpted Mahamandapa, Meghavalli Thayar shrine, and Sudarshana Sannidhi
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Seven-tiered 80-foot entrance Rajagopuram embellished with stucco sculptures of Mohini Avatara, Dashavatara, and Garuda
- Mandapa
- Pillared Mahamandapa supported by carved granite columns depicting Vaishnava themes, yalis, and royal Nayaka donors
- Sculptural features
- Standing stone idol of Lord Kalamegaperumal; the world-famous 16-armed Chakrathazhwar holding 16 weapons with Yoga Narasimha on the reverse; standing Meghavalli Thayar
- Artistic elements
- Intricate stone ceiling medallions, embossed silver altar frames, gold-plated kalashas, and traditional brass lamps
- Construction technique
- Interlocking monolithic granite block masonry of durable Pandyan-Nayaka execution
- Unique features
- The peerless 16-armed Chakrathazhwar idol engraved with 154 sacred yantra letters (Beejaksharas) and 48 devatas, considered the most potent Sudarshana parihara shrine in India
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Aani Swati (Sudarshana Jayanthi), Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, Chaitra Rathotsava
- Special celebration days
- Every Saturday, Tuesday for Chakrathazhwar, Shukla Ekadashi, Purattasi Saturdays
- Cultural events
- Divya Prabandham goshti chanting, classical Carnatic concerts, and Harikatha during festivals
- Annual events
- Kalamegaperumal Maha Rathotsavam drawing over 100,000 devotees across South India
- Peak crowd season
- October to February, during Vaikunta Ekadashi, and on Sudarshana Jayanthi
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
- Parking capacity
- 50+ vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.