Kodumudi Magudeswarar Temple / Mahudeshwarar Temple / Kodumudi / Thirupandikodumudi, Erode District District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 264^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 6^th in Kongu Nadu on the banks of River Cauvery/Kaveri, where the river changes its course from North-South to West–East at this place. Since there are shrines for Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, this temple is called Mummoorthy Kshetra. Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. In all the Thevara hymns, this place was mentioned as Pandikodumudi, and now this place is called Kodumudi. Moovar’s thevara hymns are as follows.....

Ambal - Vishnu - Shiva Temple's Rajagopurams

மற்றுப் பற்றெனக் கின்றி நின்திருப்பாத மேமனம் பாவித்தேன்

பெற்ற லும்பிறந் தேன் இனிப்பிறவாத தன்மைவந் தெய்தினேன்

கற்றவர்தொழு தேத்தும் சீர்க்கறையூரில் பாண்டிக் கொடுமுடி

நற்ற வாஉனை நான்ம றக்கினும்சொல்லும்நா நமச்சி வாயவே

... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

சிட்ட னைச்சிவ னைச்செழுஞ் சோதியை

அட்ட மூர்த்தியை ஆல நிழலமர்

பட்ட னைத்திருப்  பாண்டிக் கொடுமுடி

நட்டனைத்தொழ நம்வினை நாசமே

... திருநாவுக்கரசு தேவாரம்

பொண்ணமர் மேனியி னாரும் பிறைபுல்கு செஞ்சடையாரும்

கண்ணமர் நெற்றியி னாரும் காதம ருங்குழை யாரும்

எண்ணம ருங்குணத் தாரும் இமையவர் ஏத்தநின் றாரும்

பண்ணமர் பாடலினாரும் பாண்டிக் கொடுமுடியாரே

... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்

The sthala purana of this temple was written by Karmega Pulavar in his Kongu Mandala Sathagam.

விரிதிரைப் பொன்னி போக வினையமுற் றினம்என்று இன்னோன்

பரிவுறப் போது கின்றான் பாதலத்து அடைதும் என்றே

இருநிலத்து இழிதல் காணாமுனிவரன்  ஏங்கி மாழ்கி

பிரிவுறா வகைசெங் கையால்  பிடித்தனன் பிடிக்குள் நின்றான்

.....கொடுமுடிப் புராணம்

Moolavar  : Sri Mahudeswarar, Kodumudinathar, Malaikozhuntheesar.

Consort    : Sri Mathurabhashini, Thiripurasundari, Panmozhinayagi,

                 Vadivudai Nayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Sakthi Vinayagar sannidhi is just opposite the Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam, which are immediately after the Rajagopuram under the recent period, built a mukha mandapa. The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapa, and a maha mandapa. Dakshinamurthy is installed separately and not in the koshtam.  A small Brahma sannidhi is just behind the Ambal Temple.

In the inner prakaram, Suryan, Chandran, Uma Maheswar, Agastheeswarar, Gajalakshmi, Sabhapathy, Shaniswar (in a small shrine), 63 var, Urchavars, Kaveri kanda Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, and Chandikeswarar. The Sthala Vruksha Vanni tree is believed to be 3000 years old. Vyakra Vinayaga keeps the leg on the Tiger.

Ambal Sri Vadivudai Nayagi is in a separate temple on the south side of the temple premises with a separate 5-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam and Balipeedam are in front of the mukha mandapa. Vallabha Ganapati, Choleswarar, Vishweshwar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Saraswati, and Palliyarai are in the inner prakara.

In between the Shiva and Ambal temple, a shrine for Vishnu as Veera Narayana Perumal with his consort Thirumangai Nachiyar (Mahalakshmi).  Moolavar is in the sayana posture. Alwars are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. A small 3-tier Rajagopuram is just opposite the shrine. Balipedam and Garuda are before the sanctum sanctorum. Hanuman sannadhi is on the southwest corner of the temple premises. Thirumangai Nachiyar is in a separate sannidhi on the right side of Sri Veera Narayana Perumal.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this temple was built before the 7^th century by the Cheras, and all three Nayanmars visited this temple and sang hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

The inscriptions belong to 12th-century Kerala Veera Narayanaravivarman, 13th-century Kongu Chozha, 16th-century Vijayanagaras, 1288 CE Kongu Pandyas, and 1291 CE Kongu Pandya Sundara Pandyan period inscriptions are found in this temple and on the banks of the River Kaveri.

The inscriptions record the donations of Rice, grams, Gold, and lands towards the burning of perpetual lamps in the main sanctum, Naivedyam, which includes Murugan (Ilaya Pillayar) and Periya Thiruvadi (Garudalwar) shrines.   

A 16th-century inscription records the donations made by the 8 Villages out of 16 Villages of Araiya Nadu (Nadu eddu, thanam eddu நாடு எட்டு – தானம் எட்டு) towards the celebration of Masimaham.

The 1291 CE Kongu Pandya  Sundara Pandyan’s period inscriptions record the donation of 20 ma of land as devadhanam, after rectification of yeri, which was breached /damaged due to flood.

The 12th-century Keralar Veeranarayanaravivarman period inscription records the gift of Unjalur (about 5 km from Kodumudi) village to this temple. Also, special Naivedyam to Lord Shiva and Annathanam to be served on the King’s birthday.

The 1287 CE Kongu Pandya, Sundara Pandya period inscription records the donation of village Vembari alias Kandiyadeva Nallur of Poonthurai Nadu to this temple, for Masimaham celebration. And 14^th year of the rule of the same king records the donation of  4.5 ma of land to this temple of the above village.   

LEGENDS

Sage Agastya and Sage Bharadwaja worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple, where Lord Shiva gave Bharadwaja dance darshan without Muyalagan. Hence, this place is called Bharadwaja Kshetra. Also, the sun's rays fall on Moolavar for four days in the Tamil Months of Panguni and Aani.

As per the sthala purana, there was a dispute about who was greater between Vayu and Adiseshan. During this process, Adiseshan covered Mount Meru with his hood. There were 5 precious stones that came out and fell on 5 places in small hills. The Diamond fell here, Red stone / Ruby (?) at Thiruvannamalai, Maragatham / Emerald at Engoi Malai, Manickam /Gem at Vatpokki (Iyyar Malai), and Neelam /sapphire at Pothigai. Hence, Lord Shiva is also called Malaikozhuntheesar.  This is a parihara sthalam for Naga dosha. 

Another legend of bringing Cauvery to Tamil Nadu, from Agasthiyar’s Kamandala, which contained Kaveri, by Vinayagar in the form of a crow, is also applicable to this temple. Hence, Vinayagar is called Kaveri Kanda Vinayagar.

Another legend of bringing Cauvery to Tamil Nadu, from Agasthiyar’s Kamandala, which contained Kaveri, by Vinayagar in the form of a crow, is also applicable to this temple. Hence Vinayagar is called as Kaveri kanda Vinayagar (காவிரி கண்ட விநாயகர்). The sthala purana of Karmega Pulavar’s  Kongu mandala Sathagam also mentions the same.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, Tamil New Year, an 11-day festival of Chithirai Pournami / full moon day (April–May), Aadi Perukku - Adi 18^th day (July–August), New moon day, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Karthigai Deepam are celebrated grandly. During festival days, the procession deities are taken out for people’s darshan.   

For a Longer life, people conduct Ayush Homam, Sathabhishekam, and Shasthapathapoorthi in this temple.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline +91 4204 222375 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

The temple is about 600 meters from the Bus stand and 1.0 km from the Railway station.

The Kodumudi is on the way to Karur from Erode, about 41 km from Erode, 27 km from Karur, 120 km from Coimbatore, and 430 km from Chennai.

The nearest railway station is Kodumudi, and the Railway Junction is Karur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:   CLICK HERE 

Vishnu Sannadhi Rajagopuram

Vinayagar bas-relief on the mandapa pillar

Brahma Sannadhi PC- Website

Chariot Festival PC- Website

Sri Veeranarayana Perumal - PC- Website

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---