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 26^th sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. During 6^th to 7^th Century this place was called as Thiru Kurukkai and now called as 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 includes 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 has 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 is facing eat with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. In koshtam  Durgai, Brahma, Rathi ( Sudhai), Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy, In

Prakaram Narthana Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar. Kurungai Vinayagar sitting on square Avudayar/ peedam. Procession deities of Rathi and Manmathan are in Maha mandapam along with Shiva and Parvati Urchava deities.

In prakaram 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 munivars idols are near moolavar/ Lord Shiva. A Pig, elephant, Narasimham and a man head moorthy in 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 7^th Century. The temple was reconstructed as stone temple during Chozha period and further extended during Vijayanagara Nayaka period. During ancient times this place was called as Yogeesapuram, Kamathakanapuram and Kampakaapuram.

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

Rajarajan-III’s 19^th 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 were existed in those period itself... which is to be explored )

Rajathi Rajan-II’s 6^th 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 artha 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 acknowledgement was also given. The same kings 11^th year reign inscription records the endowment of burning Lamps for which a 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 a perpetual lamps for which 2000 kasu was gifted by Vellalan Kaduvangudayan’s wife Thiruvenkadu Nangai Aramudayal. The received amount also utilized for the growing Thengu, Iluppai and mango trees in the temple land and reforming other temple’s land.

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

Veera Pratapa Thevar’s period 15^th Century inscription records that there was difference opinion of paying the taxes not base 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 was refixed based on the type of lands 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 terrorising the celestial deities. Unbearable Celestial gods wanted Lord Shiva to stop the demons torture. Since Lord shiva was under deep meditation, asked Manmathan to wake Lord Shiva. Manmadhan shoots Lord Shiva 5 times with Lotus bud arrows from sugarcane bow. Lord Shiva woke up and got angry on Manmadhan. The fire which Came out from the third eye burnt Manmadhan. Rathi, Manmadhan’s wife prayed Lord Shiva to to pardon him. Lord Shiva pardoned Manmathan and brought 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 – October ), 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 opened between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 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 Mayiladuthurai to Manalmedu bus route –via  Nidur, reach Kondal, turn left towards “Korukkai” name board 3 KM  after 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.

Nearest Railway Station is Nidur and Junction is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Thanks to the Day Light Photos of Unknown Photographers.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---