Bala Murugan Temple, Rathnagiri – History
As the 14th century saint Arunagiri Nathar
has sung about Ratnagiri Bala Murugan temple, this temple should be at least
600 years old. However, it was not in a good shape. A devotee visited this
temple in 1968 and after looking at the bad state of the temple, he became a
saint and started living in this small hill. It was due to his devoted work and
sacrifice, this temple was reconstructed and standing as a great structure
today. The name of the saint who sacrificed his whole life just for the
upliftment of this temple is Bala Murugan Adimai.
Swami Balamurugan Adimai:
Bala Murugan Adimai Ratnagiri Swamigal, aged about
69 years, also has been living nearby for the past 50 years. He has many
disciples. Born on the 24th of January 1941 (in the Vikrama year of the
Tamil calendar on the 11th day of the month of Thai) in the small
village of Kilminnal adjacent to Rathinagiri, he was the fourth child born to Kandasamy
Mudaliar and Singarammal. He was named Dakshinamurthy and Sachidanandam, both
being names of Lord Shiva.
On completion of his schooling he entered the
services of the Electricity Department. Soon after, he entered into holy
matrimony with Sivakami and was blessed with two daughters and a son. One day
in his 27th year, on his way to work, he climbed the hill to offer
his prayers. There was neither camphor nor incense available at the temple. He
walked around the shrine with a heavy heart and was suddenly overcome with
divine awakening.
He fell in a faint to the ground and on waking up
was unable to remember his own self. He dressed himself in a loincloth. He took
a sacred vow not to leave until the temple was restored to its former glory. This
memorable event of Swami's spiritual awakening took place on 20th March
1968. Ever since then Swami's spiritual wellbeing of his devotees has continued
unabated.
