Kumarakovil - Velimala Kumaraya Namo Nama..

Kumarakovil, also called as Velimalai(also called as Manamalai or Kalyanamalai), is located at Padmanabhapuram, home to the Maharaja of Travancore and their Thripappoor Swaroopam, on the slopes of the Veli hills and is 4 km from Thauckalai and 12 km from Nagercoil and is the abode of Lord Muruga, dearly called as Kumaraswami, and he is seen as newly wed in the disposition of Valli's husband in all prowess and majesty. 

In this ancient temple, the presiding deity is Lord Muruga and is seen with his consort Valli. It is believed that the wedding of Lord Muruga (also called as Kumara) and Valli took place here and hence the place is called as Velimala as Veli means wedding in Malayalam. Some are also of the opinion that it is actually Vallimalai, the birth place of Valli and Lord Muruga married Valli at Thiruthani where one of the Aarupadai veedu of Lord Muruga is located. It is also believed that Valli malai is the place now at Vellore near Tamilnadu - Andhra Pradesh border which is the birth place of Valli. The idol is majestic and is 10 feet tall, with long ears. It appears that the idol is very old and is one of the major shrines of Lord Muruga in Tamilnadu and erstwhile Kerala.

Six places in Tamilnadu are revered as 'Aarupadai Veedu' (Palani as Dandayudhapani, Swamimalai as Swaminathan, Tiruchendur as Senthil Aandavan, Thiruppuramkundram as Devasenapathi, Pazhamuthircholai as Avvayar Ayya and Thiruthani as Vallimanala) of Lord Muruga and Velimalai is considered as the Seventh. This is the place where Nambirajan, Valli’s father, who was a forest-king, lived. There are many other ancient and prominent places in Tamilnadu associated with Lord Muruga. These include Marudamalai where Pambatti Siddhar lived, Vayalur where saint Arunagiri Nathar was blessed, Ettukudi, Ennkann as Aarumughaswami, Viralimalai etc.

From my personal experience itself I know that Velimala Murugan is all blissful to his devotees granting them their needs in marriage, children, education, mental and physical strength, growth and we feel the divine presence of Lord Muruga even in each sand particle in that divine hillock. Those trekking the mount to have the view of the Lord will surely get their needs fulfilled. 

Shaving off the head, offering coins equal to one's weight, decorating the deity with sandal wood paste, bathing the deity in Panchamritham, lighting ghee lamps, carrying Kavadi and milk pots are the various offerings undertaken by the devotees.

The festival image of Lord Muruga here is Manavaalakumaran and this image is taken in procession every year during Navarathri to Thiruvananthapuram, along with Saraswathi and Bhagavathi from the Padmanabapuram Palace. Manavaalakumaran is also taken in procession to take part in the annual festival of the Suchindram Sthanumalaya Perumal temple. The temple pond is seen on one side of the hillock.

Fridays, especially the last fridays of every tamil month are considered to be very sacred here. The Kanji which is distributed here on fridays as prasadam is believed to have miraculous healing properties.

Murugan's marriage with Valli is celebrated with great splendor in the month of Panguni(Meenam). 'Thirukkalyanam' is an enactment of the divine wedding and is attended by thousands of pilgrims from all over the state. The seven-day festival begin in the star of Anizha/Anuradha in the month of Panguni/Meenam. 

Vaikasi(Edavam) Visakam is celebrated for 10 days and as in other Murugan temples Skanda Sashti is celebrated for six days. Pushpabishekam is performed on the last Friday in the month of Aavani(Chingam) when the image of deity is completely covered with hundreds of baskets of flowers contributed by the congregating pilgrims.