Kumara coil

The Kumara coil(Template:Lang-ta Kumāra Kōvil) is the important and renowned among the Murugan temples in the district of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. It is located at the foot of velimalai 15 km from Nagercoil.

Kumaracoil, also called "Kumara Shethram" and "Subramania Sthala" in Malayalam language "Thiruvergam" in ancient Tamil scripts is at the foot of the Velimalai Hills also known as "Velvi Malai". The temple there is dedicated to Lord Muruga also known as Lord Subramania. Legends have it that Lord Muruga is the cosmic son of Lord Shiva. created by Shivas third eye. He was created to destroy three demons who were a source of misery to the Devas. Lord Muruga has two consorts, Devanai and Valli. Devanai the first consort was married at Thiruparankuntrum near Madurai. There the Lord is with Devanai alone. Valli the second consort of the Lord was married at Velimalai or Velvi Malai. The Lord is with Valli alone at Kumara Shethram or Kumara Koil. The temple there is considered to be one of the six "Padai veedu" of Lord Muruga. The ancient poetry "Thirumurugattu Padai" written by poet Nakkeerar refesrs to the place unique in the sense that the devotees there wear only wet clothes only in the lower part of their body and enter the temple with flowers to have a darshan. This unique feature of worship is being followed there at Kumaran Koil till date. The Tamil epic "Silappathykaram" written by Illangovadigal refers four shetras as Padai veedu of Lors Murugan. They are Senthil, Kongu Nattu Shengodu, Chola Nattu Venguntu and Chera Nattu Eragam (Thiru Eragam). These evidences and the Places connected with Valli viz, Valliyoor. Valli Aaru (river), Valli Kugai, in the hill top. Kilavan Cholai, connected with the disguised form as a old man enacted by Lord Muruga, Valli Cholai, Valli Chunai, the sacred stream where Valli is believed to have taken bath, Uravar Padukalam, connected with the war waged by the relatives of Valli against Lord Muruga, the Vengai tree etc. are in and around Veli Malai are evidences that the marriage of Lord Muruga with Valli took place at Valli Malai. The Valli marriage function is being re-enacted every year in the Tamil month of Painkuni (March-April). Therefore it is natural that the two marriage places are within the ambit of the Padai Veedu (foremost important places of worship) of Lord Muruga. Therefore Kumaran Koil is a religious important place for the Hindus. The temple is built on the foot hills of Veli Malai where Lord Muruga enactead a drama to win the heart of Valli the daughter of Nambi Arasan, a chieftain ruled over the place. The temple faces east and can be reached by a flight of Thirty eight steps. The statue of Muruga is eight feet eight inches height. Apart from Valli sametha Murugan sannithanam, sannithanams are dedicated to Lord Shiva (Mahadevar). Parvathy (Shivakami Ammai), Kalyana Vinayagar, Shree Dharma Sastha, Ilaya Naynar, Arumuga Nayinar, etc. The unique feature is that there is a Sannithanam dedicated to the maternal grand faather of Lord Muruga, Dhakshan. The place could be reached by road from Nagercoil (15 kilameters) and Thuckalay (3 Kilometers), Trivandrum (about forty five kilometers). Bus facilities are available.

    The other places of historical importance around Thickalay are, Padmanabhapuram Palace from where the Trivancore Kings ruled the erstwhile Trivancore State. The Puliyurkurichi Fort where many a battle had been fought in the past.