Korukkai Veeratteswarar Temple / Sri Veeratteswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு வீரட்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில் கொருக்கை., Thiru Kurukkai – Korukkai, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 80^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 26^th sthalam on the north side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. During the 6^th to 7^th Century, this place was called Thiru Kurukkai and is now called Korukkai. This is one of the Atta Veeratta Sthalam, where Lord Shiva burnt Kaman / Manmadhan (The other places are Kandiyur, where Lord Shiva plucked his 5^th head, Thirukovilur, where the Andhakasura was vanquished, Thiruvathigai, where Thiripura was burnt out, Keezha Paluvur, where Daksha’s yagna was destroyed and killed, Thiruvirkudi, where Jalandharan was killed, Vazhuvur, where Gajasuran was vanquished, and Thirukadaiyur, where Lord Shiva kicked Yama to save Markandeya). 

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar Swamigal went to Kolakka Temple. After that, Appar alone went to 7 temples, which included Thiru Kurukkai / Korukkai. 

ஆண்ட அரசு எழுந்தருளக் கோலக் காவை

    அவரோடும் சென்று இறைஞ்சி அன்பு கொண்டு

மீண்டருளினார் அவரும் விடை கொண்டு இப்பால்

    வேத நாயகர் விரும்பும் பதிகள் ஆன

நீண்ட கருப்பறியலூர், புன்கூர், நீடூர்,

    நீடு திருக் குறுக்கை, திருநின்றியூரும்

காண்தகைய நனிபள்ளி முதலாய் நண்ணிக்

    கண்ணுதலார் கழல் தொழுது கலந்து செல்வார்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Ramalinga Adigalar have sung hymns in praise of lord Shiva of this temple. 

ஆதியிற் பிரம னார்தாம் அர்ச்சித்தார்  அடியி ணைக்கீழ்

ஓதிய வேத நாவர் உணருமாறு உணரலுற்றார்

சோதியுள் சுடராய்த் தோன்றிச் சொல்லினை யிறந்தார் பல்பூக்

கோதிவண்டு அறையும்சோலைக் குறுக்கைவீ ரட்டனாரே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                     -:மணஞ்சேர்ந்து

வாரட்ட கொங்கை மலையாளொடுங் கொறுக்கை

வீரட்டமேவும் வியனிறைவே

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Veeratteswarar

Consort    : Sri Gnanambigai

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

The Temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front. The sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. In koshtam  Durgai, Brahma, Rathi (Stucco), Lingothbavar, and Dakshinamurthy. 

In praharam Narthana Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar. Kurungai Vinayagar sitting on sa quare Avudayar/ peedam. Procession deities of Rathi and Manmathan are in the Maha mandapam along with Shiva and Parvati Urchava deities.

In praharam Valli Devasena sametha Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi,  Kamathakana Murthy (in folding the left leg,  hanging right leg, sitting posture), Rathi, Manmadhan, Maha Vishnu as Soha Hareswarar and Navagrahas.

Sanakatha Maunis idols are near the moolavar/ Lord Shiva. A Pig, an elephant, Narasimham, and a man's head, Moorthy, as stucco images.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. The temple was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during the Vijayanagara Nayaka period. During ancient times, this place was called Yogeesapuram, Kamathakanapuram, and Kampakaapuram.

As per the inscription, this place was called Virutharajabayangara ValaNattu Kurukkai Nattu Kurukkai, alias Vikrama Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam, and Lord Shiva was called Thiruveerattanamudayar, Kurukkai Udayar, Thirukukkaiudaya Veerattanam Udayar, etc.

Rajarajan-III’s 19th-year reign inscription records the purchase of  100 slaves for the temple, which includes the Kulothungan period also. All the slaves are relatives, the relationship and the names are also recorded. (This shows that koththadimai – slaves existed in those periods... which is to be explored)

Rajathi Rajan-II’s 6th-year reign inscription records the 50 years of unregistered land as iraiyili, and the land to be reformed, and paddy can be raised and supply 100 Sengazhuneer flowers to the ardha jama pooja. For the same 160, kasu was deposited in the treasury. This arrangement was done by the Kurukkai Village sabha.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 32^nd Year reign inscription records the endowment of burning two perpetual lamps for which 420 Kasu was donated by two persons, Panayur Kaniyudayan Pathavoorudayan Thiruchitrambalam Udayan and .... Nayakan Mudikondan. The amount was received by Siva Brahmins, and acknowledgment was also given. The same king's 11th-year reign inscription records the endowment of burning Lamps for which land was gifted to this temple, by Paluzhan Periyan Thirugnanasambandar.

Rajathirajan-II’s 13^th year inscription records that, in Thiru Chamundeeswarar Temple, Palliyarai Nachiyar and Atkondanayakars were installed by A Lady called Arayan Umaiyazhvi. The paddy for the naivedyam was discontinued. Muppathu Vattathu Siva Brahmins received 120 kasu from her, and Naivedyam was continued.

Rajarajan-III’s period inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps for which 2000 kasu were gifted by Vellalan Kaduvangudayan’s wife, Thiruvenkadu Nangai Aramudayal. The received amount was also utilized for the growing Thengu, Iluppai, and mango trees in the temple land and for reforming other temple land.

Veerabukkarayan’s 14th-century inscription records that Chellapillai alias Chembiyan Konar sold the village called Kulothunga Chozhan Karuppur to Thiruvambalamudayar Thondaiman. Thiruvambalam Udayar Thondaiman, after being bought, arranged for the pooja of this temple.

Veera Pratapa Thevar’s period 15th-century inscription records that there was a different opinion of paying the taxes not based on the crops raised, between Valangai, Idangai 98 castes. This was settled and agreed to pay taxes based on the crops raised. Taxes are levied after measuring the land with 4 feet kol, and paddy and kasu were refixed based on the type of land, like wet, dry, tharisu, etc.

A fragmentary inscription records the donation for constructing the temple by Kurungai MahamuniRishi.   

The temple is under the administrative control of Dharmapura Adheenam. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 29^th April 1959.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the demons Surapadman and Dharakan were terrorizing the celestial deities. Unbearable Celestial gods wanted Lord Shiva to stop the demons' torture. Since Lord Shiva was in deep meditation, Manmathan woke Lord Shiva. Manmadhan shoots Lord Shiva 5 times with Lotus bud arrows from a sugarcane bow. Lord Shiva woke up and got angry at Manmadhan. The fire that came out of the third eye burnt Manmadhan. Rathi, Manmadhan’s wife, prayed to Lord Shiva to pardon him. Lord Shiva pardoned Manmathan and brought him back to life. Hence, Lord Shiva is praised as  “Sri Kama Anga Naasan“ or  “Kamathakana Murthy”.

 

It is believed that Brahma, Maha Vishnu, Mahalakshmi, Murugan, Rathi, and Kaman/ Manmadhan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular Poojas, Special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, and Masi Maham in Masi (Feb–March), 10 Days Kamathakana festival in the month Masi (Feb–March), Navaratri in Puratasi (Sep–Oct), Annabhishekam in the months Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi (Dec-Jan), Makar Sankranti in the month Thai (Jan–Feb).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Somasundaram Gurukkal's mobile number +919585449862 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

On the Mayiladuthurai to Manalmedu bus route –via  Nidur, reach Kondal, and turn left towards the “Korukkai” name board 3 km after the bridge, you can reach the temple.

This temple at Korukkai is 6.4 km from Nidur, 10.3 km from Mayiladuthurai, 22 km from Sirkazhi, 38 km from Kumbakonam, 42 km from Chidambaram, and 260 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Nidur, and the Junction is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Thanks to the Daylight Photos of Unknown Photographers.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---