Kottaiyur Kodeeswarar Temple / Sri Koteeswaraswamy Temple / கொட்டையூர் கோடீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Kottaiyur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 98^th Thevara Paadal petra Shiva Sthalam and 44^th Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu.  Now this place is called CHOZHICHURAM, BABURAJAPURAM. This is one of the Saptasthana temples associated with the Adhi Kumbeswarar Temple of Kumbakonam. This is one of the 12 temples, which participates in the Theerthavari festival in Kumbakonam Mahamaham ( Happens once in 12 years ).

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar mentions that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvalanchuzhi. He has sung the hymns combining both Thiruvalanchuzhi and this place Kottaiyur.

நல்லூரில் நம்பர் அருள் பெற்றுப்போய்ப் பழையாறை

பல் ஊர் வெண் தலைக்கரத்தார் பயிலும் இடம் பல பணிந்து

சொல் ஊர்வண் தமிழ்பாடி வலஞ்சுழியைத் தொழுது ஏத்தி

அல்ஊர் வெண்பிறை அணிந்தார் திருக்குடமூக்கு அணைந்து இறைஞ்சி

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Ramalinga Adigalar have sung hymns praising Lord Shiva of this temple.

கருமணி போல்கண்டத்து அழகன் கண்டாய்

        கல்லால நிழற்கீழ் இருந்தான் கண்டாய்

பருமணி மாநாகம் பூண்டான் கண்டாய்

        பவளக் குன்றன்ன பரமன் கண்டாய்

வருமணிநீர்ப் பொன்னி வலஞ் சுழியான் கண்டாய்

        மாதேவன் கண்டாய் வரதன் கண்டாய்

குருமணிபோல அழகமரும் கொட்டையூரில்

        கோடீச்சரத்து உறையும் கோமான்தானே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                                --:அயலாம்பன்

மட்டையூர் வண்டினங்கள் வாய்ந்து விருந்துகொளுங்

கொட்டையூர் உட்கிளருங் கோமளமே

.........திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Kodeeswarar

Consort    : Sri Kanthuga greedambal, Sri Bandhadu nayagi

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

The temple faces east and has a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Kottai Kottaiyaga like Castor oil seeds, is seen on Swayambu Shiva Lingam. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam Navagrahs ( with their respective vahanas and enthiram on the back beautifully chiseled ), Bairavar, Chandikeswarar With Jadamudi, Brahma Sastha, Eranda munivar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Chandran and Suriyan are with chariot & horses. Ashtabhuja Durgai is seen with the right leg in front is worth watching.  Vishnu Durgai in outer prakaram. It was learned that Kodi Vinayagar is swayambhu, when it was tried to take out for renovation even after digging 20 feet they could not find the end of the base. Eranda Munivar in meditating posture is in the front mandapam.

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar Sang Hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

சுட்டபொருட் கட்டியின்மெய்ச் செக்கமலப் பொற்கொடியைத்

                துக்கமுறச் சொர்க்கமுறக்                                              கொடியாழார்

        சுத்தரதத் திற்கொடுபுக் குக்கடிகித் தெற்கடைசிச்

                சுற்றுவனத் திற்சிறைவைத்                                            திடுதீரன்

கொட்டமறப் புற்றரவச் செற்றமறச் சத்தமறக்

                குற்றமறச் சுற்றமறப்                                                          பலதோளின்

        கொற்றமறப் பத்துமுடிக் கொத்துமறுத் திட்டதிறர்

                கொற்றர்பணிக் கொட்டைநகர்ப்                                 பெருமாளே                  

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha  Adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam, and prativari. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. The Pilasters are Vishnukantha pilasters with square bases, and kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and Poomottu pothyal.  Prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, Kapotam with Nasi kudus and Viyyalavari. The temple was constructed with stone from Adhistanam to Prastaram. The Vimanam on the Bhumidesam was built with bricks. Vimanam is of Eka tala Dwavida vimanam. The Maha Nasi on the east side is extended. Stucco images of Shiva, Parvati, Vinayagar, and Murugan are in the extended Nasi. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam. 

Ambal Temple

Ambal Temple

Ambal Temple - in a different angle

Ambal Temple ( a miniature sculpture )

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th century as a brick structure. Five stone inscriptions were recorded from this temple. The inscriptions belong to Rajathi Rajan and Kulothunga-III. It is believed that the original brick temple built during the Pallava period was reconstructed as a Stone temple by the Chozhas.

Rajathirajan-II’s 3^rdyear reign ( 1166 CE ), inscription records Purana Linga Sannadhi was established and donated for Naivedyam by Innambur Nattu Eair village Araiyan Por Chozhan’s wife  Arulmozhinangaiyar. 

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 32^nd year reign inscription endowment of a Kuththu Vilakku ( brass Standing Lamp ) by Mangalavan Periya Thevan and Nachchinarkiniyan.

Kulothunga Chozha-II’s other inscription of 27^th year reign gifted Thiruvilai thattu / plate, Conch, Plate /vattil, Pasmathaligai by Ponnaarambudayan Abhayan Pukkan’s wife Uthayanjayal. 

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 36^th year reign (1214 CE ) inscription, records Thiruppukazhur Mummeliranathaala Nayakan gifted for Nandavanam.

Amman Temple inscription records that Amman temple was constructed by Ezhupaththonpathu Vala Nadu, Nagars, Pathinonnee Vishayathar ( the required fund was collected through Various sources/people ).

Kaliyuga 5014, year Parithabi, Thai month 4^th day,  donated 3 acres and 85 cent land  by Kottaiyur Venkatachalam Pillai towards Morning pooja, Somavara Pooja, Shivaratri  Pooja

This place was called Innambur Nattu Brahmadeya and called different names during different Kings rule, such as Rajendra Singa Valanadu ( Rajarajan period ), Ulaguyyavantha Chozhavala nadu  ( Kulothunga Chozha-I ) and Vikrama Chozha vala nadu ( Vikrama Chozha, Rajathi Rajan – II  and Kulothunga-III ).

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 09^th February 1992 and 26^th October 2015.

LEGENDS

Since Lord Shiva came under the Amanakku Kottai plant/ Castor oil seed, this place is called Kottaiyur. This place was also called Vilvaranyam and Erandapuram ( erandam - kottai / Castor plant ) during ancient times. 

Lord Shiva gave darshan in the form of crore Lingas for Chozha King and Eranda Muni, Lord Shiva is called Kodeeswarar. Since A muni did a penance under the Kottai plant/ Castor plant, he was called Eranda Munivar.

Lord Shiva gave darshan  Pathra Yogi Muni as Kodi Vinayagar, Kodi Ambal, Kodi Murugan, and Kodi Shiva, ( Kodi – one crore ) hence called Kodeeswarar.

It is believed that If anybody does both Sin and Good things, the same will multiply to a crore times, hence there is no way to get rid of the sins. It is also believed that Ram,  Brahma, Indra, Sage Narathar, and Sage Markandeya worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

As per the sthala purana of Thiruvalanchuzhi, when Adhiseshan came out from patala loka, the Kaveri river went to patala loka through the hole in which Adhiseshan came out. The Chozha king was very much worried and prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva in the form of divine voice/asariri, told that either a King or a Maharishi go into the hole and give their life, and the Kaveri would flow in the usual route. The Chozha King came to Kottaiyur, where a sage Eranda Maharishi was doing penance under an erandam plant. The King told the problem and sought his advice. The Eranda Maharishi went to Thiruvalanchuzhi and went inside the hole. The Kaveri River came out and flowed in its original direction. Later the Eranda Muni came out at Thiruvalampuram and attained Jeeva samadhi. His jeeva Samadhi temple is at Thiruvalampuram. 

Eranda Maharishi

One of the miracles in the temple is, that water comes out from Shiva Lingam, and from where it comes couldn't identified. 

 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular Poojas, Special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – September ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct - November ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi  ( November - Dec ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April ) and every month Pradosham. 

This Sri Kodeeswarar Temple is one of the 12 Shiva Temples, that participates in the Mahamaham Theerthavari festival, which occurs once in 12 Years. In addition to the Shiva temples, 5 Maha Vishnu temples of Kumbakonam also join with the Mahamaham festival.

Shiva Temples are…

1.          Kasi Viswanathar Temple,

2.          Adi Kumbeswarar Temple,

3.          Someswarar Temple,

4.          Nageswaraswamy Temple,

5.          Kalahasteeswarar Temple,

6.          Gauthameswarar Temple,

7.          Kodeeswarar Temple,

8.          Amirthakadeswarar Temple,

9.          Banapuriswarar Temple,

10.      Abhi Mukheswarar Temple,

11.      Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and

12.      EkambareswararTemple.

The Maha Vishnu Temples are…

1.          Sarangapani Temple,

2.          Chakrapani Temple, 

3.          Ramaswamy Temple,

4.          Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and

5.          Varaha Perumal Temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS : 

The mobile number of Karthikeyan Gurukkal is +91 9150174502 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

This temple is on Kumbakonam to Thiruvaiyaru bus route and is 4 km from Kumbakonam. City Service bus from Kumbakonam to Swamimalai passes through this place.

The temple is 4.5 KM from Kumbakonam, 38 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 40 KM from Thanjavur, and 282 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 

Ashtabhuja Durgai 

The King - in the niche of the Rajagopuram

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---