Arulmigu Kolanjiappar Temple, located in Manavalanallur near Virudhachalam in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Built in Dravidian architecture, it is situated along the Virudhachalam-Manavalanallur Road. The temple’s legend is linked to the 8th-century Saivite saint Sundarar and the Vriddhagiriswarar temple. The temple’s primary deity is believed to have blessed Sundarar during his travels, leading to Murugan residing in the Kolanji forest as Kolanjiappar.
The temple boasts a five-tiered gopuram leading to a sanctum and pillared hall. Unlike many temples, the presiding deity’s altar is a simple 3-foot structure. The temple also has shrines for Idumban, Kadamban, and Siddhi Vinayakar. During its 2010 consecration, new facilities like a northern tower, marriage hall, shopping complex, and guesthouse were added. The temple has been recognized as a key tourist attraction by the Cuddalore district administration.
Arulmigu Kolanjiappar Temple hosts numerous rituals and festivals, with four daily rituals including Kalasandhi and Arthajama Pooja. Prominent festivals include Panguni Uthiram during March-April, Vasantha Utsavam in May-June, and the Adi festival. During Panguni Uthiram, deities are paraded around the temple. The Adi festival features devotees carrying milk pots and kavadi, followed by a grand feast for thousands of attendees.
Devotees perform various offerings, including hens, cattle, and sheep. They also offer facsimiles of body parts in tin, equal weights of objects or money, and engage in rituals like tonsuring and piercing with Vel. An Annadanam scheme provides daily lunch to devotees, starting from 2002, further enhancing the temple’s religious significance and community involvement.