The visit to this Sri Kathalivaneshwarar Temple at Thirukalambur
was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2nd and
3rd September 2026.
Moolavar : Sri Kathalivaneswarar, Sri Vaithiyanatha
Swamy
Consort : Sri Kamakshi Amman, Sri Soundarya Nayaki
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram with a mandapam in front.
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are in the mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at
the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avidaiyar with a
horse hoof mark on the top. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,
Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In
the praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, 63
var, Alwar, Maha Vishnu / Krishna with Rukmani & Satyabhama, Meenakshi
Sundareswarar, Meenakshi Amman, Ayyanar, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Kala
Bairavar, Chandran, Suryan, and Navagrahas.
KAMAKODEESWARI TEMPLE
Kamakodeeswari
is in a separate temple on the north side of the main temple with a separate
entrance. A rishabam with balipeedam is in front of the temple. Ambal is in a standing
posture with 2 hands. The right hand holds a lotus flower, and the left hand is
in dola hastam. The temple has a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The mukha mandapam is with mangalore tiled roof.
The mukha mandapam pillars have images of donors in Anjali hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastram. The temple
consists of sanctum sanctorum, antrala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The
sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with Jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and
pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha
pilasters with kalasam, kudam, veera kandam, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram
consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus, and Vyyalavari.
The
vimanam above the bhumi desam was constructed with bricks. The vimanam consists
of 1 tala, greevam, and vesara sigaram. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and
Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams. Stucco images of Shiva’s various
forms, Shiva and Parvati’s wedding, Gajasamhara Murthy, Bairava, Sankara
Narayanar, etc., are on the vimanam.
The
mandapa in front of the Rajagopuram ceiling and the utharam walls are painted
with Shiva leelas, Thirukalyanam, sthala puranas, etc.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that the temple belongs to the 12th to 13th centuries of the Pandya period. This place was in Kerala, Singa Valanadu, Thirukkurumbur, also
called Vikrama Pandiya Nallar. 12 inscriptions have been found in this
temple. The earliest among these belongs to the period of Maravarman Sundara
Pandyan I, Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan I, & II and Kulothunga Chozha I,
Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan II, Immadi Narasingarayar, and Narasappa Nayaka.
Fish
with the chendu emblem on the ceiling of the Rajagopuram indicates that it was built
during the Pandya period.
Thirubhuvana
Chakravarthikal Kulasekaradevar’s 9th year of reign partially
damaged inscription on the south praharam north wall of the utsava idols room
records the gift of land with well and trees to this temple by Puramalai
nattuPonna vathithirukodu kundRamudaiyan Keralan….
Sri
Kochadaiyabanmar Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal Sri Veerapandya Devar’s 5th
year of reign inscription on the west side wall of the sanctum sanctorum
records the gift of land after sale, by the Vikrapandyanallur Villagers and
Ponnamarapathi Mudalis to Irunchaludaiyan’s son Periyathevar.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Konerimaikondan, reign inscription (Sl. No.388) on the south
wall of the sanctum sanctorum records that a land of 8 ma, a common land of the
village, was gifted to the Thirukurambanda nayanar. The gift was done as per the
verbal instruction of the king.
Kobarmarana
Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Emmandalamum kondaruliya Sri Kulasekaradevar’s 3+1
year of reign inscription (Sl. No. 392) on the south wall of the sanctum
sanctorum records the gift of land to this Thirukula…panda nayanar temple’s
Sri Rudra Maheswarar as irayili, by the villagers.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Sri Sundara Pandyadevar’s 2nd year of reign
inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the gift of
thevadhanam (?) by Veeramazhagiya nadalvan for Kuththikolkira pothu..?
Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal Sundara Pandyadevar’s
9th year of reign, a much-damaged inscription on the south side wall of
the sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp.
Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal Sundara Pandyadevar’s
8+2 year of reign inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of naivedyam to Kamakotta Nachiyar by Kalliyur Singam
Alwan. For the same, allowing the taking of water for 10 ma land from the
Thirukurumpur tank.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthy Emmandalamum kondaruliya Sri Kulasekaradevar’s 32nd year of reign
inscription (Sl. No. 579) on the north wall of the sanctum sanctorum records
the endowment of burning two perpetual lamps by Aviyur alias
Kulasekarapattinathu Irunjeraiyudaiyan Petran Thiruvenkadu Sevan and his brother
for the land which they got from their father.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Konerimaikondan’s incomplete inscription (Sl. No. 662) on the
south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records that the poojas are conducted from
taxes collected and kept as capital. The tax collection will be stopped……
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Konerimaikondan’s incomplete and damaged inscription (Sl. No.
663) on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the conversion of the land as
irayili and stopping the tax collection.
The
Vijayanagara King Narasa Nayakar’s reign inscription on the south wall of the
temple records the endowment of supplying oil for burning lamps from the oil
extractors/ Chekku. The oil was to be supplied in place of taxes instead.
Reference
Inscriptions
(Texts) of the Pudukkottai State arranged according to the dynasties.
LEGENDS
It
is believed that Shiva will cure chronic diseases and eye-related problems,
hence called Sri Vaithiyanatha Swamy. Since Shiva blessed us from the Kathali banana farm, called Kathalivaneswarar.
There is a “Horse Hoof” mark that can
be found on the Shiva Linga. The legend connected to this goes like this…
During Pandya rule, the king rode on a horse in the Kathali Vanam. At one point, the horse stopped at a place due to hitting an unidentified object. When
searched, the King found blood oozing out from a Shiva Lingam. At the same
time, the King also lost his eyesight. He prayed to Shiva and asked for pardon.
Suddenly, the King heard a divine voice, which asked the King to construct a temple
at this place. The King also constructed a temple and consecrated and has got
the eye sight back. Hence Shiva is called Sri Vaithiyanatha Swamy.
In another legend, Valmiki’s mutt was at this
place, and Sita also stayed here. It is believed that Sita gave birth to Lava
and Kusa at this place. Lava and Kusa fought with their father Rama for
abducting the horse sent for the Ashvamedha yagna. Later, Lava and Kusa realised and
begged pardon. Lava and Kusa installed a Vinayagar and worshipped in this
temple to get rid of the sin.
When Adi Shankarar visited this temple, he found
that the temple was without Ambal. So, he built the Sri Thiruvalar Oli Nayaki
and Soundara Nayaki Ambal temples. Hence, Ambal is also called Sri
Kamakoteeswari.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from 6 kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Tamil New Year day, Adi perukku, 10 days Vaikasi Visagam,
Chithirai, Navaratri, Thai Poosam,
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be open from 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
mobile number +919751130438 may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
village Thirukalambur is 11 km from Ponnamaravathi, 26 km
from Pillayarpatti, 42 km from Karaikudi, and 49 km from Pudukkottai.
The nearest railway station is Karaikudi.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
