Thirukoteeswarar Temple / Sri Kodeeswarar Temple, திருக்கோடிக்காவல் கோடீசுவரர் கோயில் Thirukodikaval, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 91^st Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 37^th Sthalam on the north side of the Kaveri River in Chozha Nadu. During the 6^th to 7^th Century, this place was called Kodika and is now called Thirukodikaval.

 

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar mentions that  Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruthuruthi (Kuthalam) and Thiruvelvikudi.

திருக்கோடிக்காவில் அமர்ந்த தேவர் சிகாமணி தன்னை

எருக்கொடு இதழியும் பாம்பும் இசைந்து அணிந்தானை வெள்ஏனப்

பருக்கோடு பூண்ட பிரானைப் பணிந்து சொல்மாலைகள் பாடிக்

கருக்கோடி நீப்பார்கள் சேரும் கஞ்சனூர் கைத்தொழச் சென்றார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, Aiyadikal Kadavarkon, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of the temple. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung 3 hymns on this temple.

இன்று நன்று நாளைநன் றென்று நின்ற இச்சையால்

பொன்றுகின்ற வாழ்க்கையைப் போகவிட்டும் போதுமின்

மின்தயங்கு சோதியான் வெண்மதி விரிபுனல்

கொன்றை துன்று சென்னியான் கோடிகாவு சேர்மினே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

நெற்றிமேற் கண்ணினானே நீறுமெய் பூசினானே

கற்றைப்புன் சடையினானே கடல்விடம் பருகினானே

செற்றவர் புரங்கள் மூன்றும் செவ்வழல் செலுத்தினானே

குற்றமில் குணத்தினானே கோடிக்காவுடைய கோவே

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

காலைக் கலையிழையாற் கட்டித்தாங் கையார்த்து

மாலை தலைக்கணிந்து மைஎழுதி – மேலோர்

பருக்கோடி மூடிப் பலர் அழா முன்னம்

திருக்கோடிக்கா அடைநீ சென்று

.......... ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன்

                                    --“அஞ்சுகங்கள்

நாடிக்காவுள்ளே நமச்சிவாயம் புகலுங்

கோடிக்காமேவுங் குளிர்மதியே

........ திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Kodeeswarar, Sri  Kodinathar

Consort    : Sri Thripurasundari, Sri Vadivambigai

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

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Kodimarathu Vinayagar, balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in a mukha mandapam abutting the 2nd-level Rajagopuram of 2 tiers. The sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum, Antarala, and Artha mandapam. The artha mandapam is of Vavvaknethi style. Moolavar is on a square avudayar and a little taller. In the koshtam, Narthana Vinayagar, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Ashtabhuja Durgai, Pichadanar, and Agasthiyar. A moat formation is around the sanctum sanctorum, which may be due to the rise of the ground level.

In the inner praharam, Karaiyetrum Vinayagar, Mayil Vahanar (Murugan), Shiva Lingas, Gajalakshmi, Jyeshta Devi with Manthan and Manthi, Kala Bhairava, Suryan, Chandran, Saneeswarar (As a Bala Saneeswarar, holding a Shiva Linga in his hand and seated on an eagle against a crow), and Durvasa.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Appar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original brick temple existed before the 7^th Century, built by the Pallavas. There were about 50 inscriptions recorded from this temple. The inscriptions belong to the Early and Later Pallavas, Chozha Kings Rajendra Chozha-I, Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga Chozha-I, Kulothunga Chozha-III, and Pandya King Maran Sadayan.

The Pallava King Nandivarman III’s 19^th reign year, 865 CE, inscription on the south wall of the central shrine in the Tirukkōdīśvara temple, states that this is a copy of an old stone (record). Registers a gift of 100 kalam of paddy to god Mahādēva in the temple of Sirunangai-Iśvaragaram at Tirukkōdikkā for a sacred lamp by Alisiriyan. The temple priests, viz. Attiraiyan Nārāyanan Eran and his younger brothers (four in all) agreed to burn a perpetual lamp daily with one ulakku of ghee out of the interest on the (gifted) paddy. Also states that since this (record) is engraved to be on the śri-vimāna, the separate stone on which the record had been engraved earlier, now being useless, is discarded (tavindadu). In case of default of this (supply), the Panmaheśvarar are authorised to collect the same (kadai-kūtta-perrār).

The Nrpatungavarman’s 22^nd reign year 891 CE inscription, on the south wall of the central shrine in the Tirukkōdīśvara temple, is stated to be a copy of an old stone (inscription). It mentions that Vīra-Mahādēviyār, the queen of Nrpatunga-Mahārāja, performed hiranyagarbha and tulābhāra ceremonies (at Tirukkōdikkāvu) and presented 50 kalañcu of gold from the wealth so weighed to the temple of Mahādēva in the village. The sabha of Tirukkōdikkāvu alias Kannamangalam received the whole amount and agreed to supply to the worshipping priest of the temple instead of the interest on 25 kalañcu of gold only, daily two nāli of rice and one pidi of ghee (for food offerings) and one ulakku of ghee for a lamp. (The earlier stone), now being useless, is discarded (tavindadu). In case of default of this (supply), the Panmāyēśvarar are authorised to collect the same (Kadaikkütta-perrār).

NOTE

1. This letter is superfluous.

2. The inscription is built in at the right end.

The Nrpatungavarman’s 24^th reign year 893 CE inscription on the west wall of the central shrine in the Tirukkōdiśvara temple States that this is also according to an old record. Registers an agreement made by the sabhaiyār of Nāraņakkacaturvēdimangalam in respect of the gift of 15 kalañcu of gold received by them from Vettuvadi-Araiyan alias Mallan Vengadavan, for a perpetual lamp in the temple of Mahadeva at Tirukkōdi-kāvu, that they would supply one ulakku of ghee to the priest instead of the interest (on the gift-gold). Also states that since this (record) is engraved to be on the śri-vimāna, the separate stone on which the record had been engraved earlier, now being useless, is discarded (tavindadu). In case of default of this (supply), the Panmāhēśvaras are authorised to collect the same. 

NOTE

1. The letter n in pon is engraved below the line.

2. The inscription is engraved in continuation of a record of the Pandya king Mārañjadaiyan and followed by an inscription of the Cola king Rājakēsarivarman. (ARE, 1930-1, no. 21; Ibid., no. 22).

 

Kovilango Mutharaiyar's 17th-year reign inscription (9^th Century) records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 15 Chempon was gifted by Kandan Pirati of Karaikkattu Kallatrur.

Uthama Chozha’s 11th-year reign inscription  (982 CE) records that the present temple was reconstructed as a Katrali/Stone temple by Kandaraditha Chozha’s wife and Queen and Mother of Uthama Chozha, Chembian Mahadevi. She instructed that the old inscriptions on the walls (earlier to the Uthama Chozha period, and later will be of original inscriptions). Old inscriptions are again reproduced (padi eduthu) on new stones during the renovation as a Katrali by Chembiyan Mahadevi. The inscription reads as...

"ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ கோப்பரகேசரி பன்மர்க்கு

யாண்டு 11 ஆவது வடகரை நல்லூற்றூர்

நாட்டு திருக்கோடிக்காவில்

மஹாதேவர்க்கு ஸ்ரீஉத்தமசோழ

தேவரை திருவயிறு வாய்த்த

மழவரையர் மகளார் ப்ராந்தகன்

மாதேவடிகளாராந செம்பியந்

மஹாதேவியார் இத்தேவர்க்கு

முன்னிட்டிகைப் படையாலுள்ள

ஸ்ரீகோயிலைத் தவிர்த்து கல்லாலே

ஸ்ரீவிமானமமைப்பித்து இதேவருடைய

படிகள் முன்பு தம்மத்துக்கு வைத்து

கற்களில் வெட்டி கிடந்த அவை

வெவ்வேறு கல்லாய் பலவிடத்திலாய்க்

கிடந்த அவை எல்லாம் இந்த

ஸ்ரீவிமானத்தின் மேலே முன் ஏற

வெட்டிக் கொள்க என்று அருளிச் செய

வெட்டினபடி முன் கிடந்த படிகளில்...

This re-inscribed inscription of Ko Maran Sadayan 4+9 = 13th-year reign records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 120 Kalanju Gold was gifted by the Pandya King Varaguna Maharaja.  இதுவும் ஒருபடி.......

கோமாறன் சடையர்க்கு யாண்டு 4 ஆவதி

னெதிர் ஒன்பதாவது ஆ......

திருக்கோடிக்காவில் மஹாதேவர்க்கு

நொந்தாவிளக்கினுக்கு வரகுண

மஹாராஜர் குடுத்த பொன்

னூற்றிருபதின்"...........................

.............

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Vadakarai Nallatrur Nattu Brahmadesam NaraNakka Chathurvedi Mangalam, Kannamangalam Neriyudaya Chozha Chathurvedi Mangalam,  and Lord Shiva was called Thirukodikavudayar. Most of the inscriptions record the endowment of burning perpetual lamps and daylight lamps, and Naivedyam for which land, Gold, kasu, Goat, and money Kasu (Money) were gifted to this temple. 

A Chozha period (12th or 13th Century) inscription in the form of a poem (kali vrutham) records praising the Chithra mezhi and the Chozha king, as they live long. (Pulavar Rasu)

ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ  வாழிகற்ப கோடிவாழி ஆழிசூழி வைய்யமே

வாழிகற்ப கோடிவாழி சோழதுங்கன் வல்லியம்

வாழிகற்ப கோடிவாழி சித்திரலேகை மன்னரே

வாழிகற்ப கோடிவாழி சித்திரமேழி வாழ்கவே.

Parakesarivarman’s 4th-year reign (9^th to 10^th Century) inscription records that Mahendravarman Chuthurvedimangala Sabha sold 10 seivinai land at Kallakudi and donated it to this temple as irayili.

Parantaka Chozha 4^th year reign (909 CE) inscription records the blowing of two conches for which land was donated by KoRRakkurumburudayan Mayan Kosadayan.

Rajakesari’s 11th-year reign (9^th to 10^th Century) inscription records the endowment of naivedyam and burning of a lamp, for which Merkanattu Sirukattoorudayan Maasenanmathan gave 360 kalam of paddy, Nallatrurnattu Narasingamangalathu sabha, and from the interest of 360 kalam paddy, the Sabha agreed to supply 2 nazhi rice for naivedyam and one ulakku ghee to burn the lamp.

Parantaka Chozha-I’s 28th-year reign inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 96 sheep/goats were gifted. 38th-year reign inscription records the endowment of naivedyam for the artha jama pooja for the same 1/8 sei (measure) land and ¾ kalanju gold. From the interest, Ghee rice, Porikai Amuthu, and Curd rice are to be arranged by the temple sabha.

Kovi Rajakesari’s 13th-year reign inscription records the endowment of creating a Nandhavanam for which 3 ma land was gifted by Perumpidugu Vanchavathyaraian, alias Nakkan Cheruvidai. Another 11th-year reign inscription records the endowment of annadhanam to ladies and gentlemen for which land was donated by Arur Udayan Arulakki Senthan of Vadakarai Nallatrur nadu.

The Rajarajan-I’s 13th-year reign inscription records that during her visit to this temple, the land was donated to three temple people (servants) to cultivate the land to grow crops. Rajaraja-I’s 16th-year reign inscription records that the sabha received 50 kasu from the temple and sold land as irayili.

Parakesarivarman’s 4th-year reign inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp from the interest earned, for which 13 kalanju gold was gifted by Manimangalamudayanchri Paramayogi. During his 11th-year reign, he recorded that a small temple was constructed for Suryan by Adhitha Pidaran of Thenkarai Panayur Nattu Kotravayil Kotravayiludayan’s brother and gifted 10 kasu  and the interest earned to be utilized for the morning pooja.

Pandya King Maran Sadayan's 11th-year reign inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps at the Saraswati and Vinayagar sannidhi, for which 180 kalanju gold was gifted by the Pandya King Varaguna Maharajar.

Rajendra Chozha-I’s 33^rd year (1047 CE) reign inscription records only his meikeerthi.

Vikrama Chozha’s 3^rd year reign (1121 CE) inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam for the Cheppu Urchava murtis, for which land was sold to Adhi Chandeswar. This was decided after the Village Sabha assembled. This is a document. Vikrama Chozhan period, the second prakara was named after him as Vikrama Chozhan Thirumaligai.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 20th-year reign inscription (1197 CE) records the endowment of Thirumanjanam to Natarajar on Margazhi Thiruvathirai, for which land was gifted by Thillai Ambala Vizhuparayan. Another 13th-year reign inscription records the gift of Land for the endowment of offering  Chatti Choru to Thiruvenkadu Udayar at Thiruvaduthurai Temple and the functioning of the medical center as “Vaithya Viruthi – வைத்ய விருத்தி”  at Thirumadai Valakam.

The poem-form inscription (built upside down during renovations) in the Rajagopuram passage praises Pillai Perumal's son Puthuvai Sadaiyan alias Sethiban as a vallal and compares it with King Pari. The inscription reads as... (Pulavar Rasu)

பெரும்பார் தழைக்க வறியோர் பிழைக்கப் பெருங்கவிதை

வரும்பா வலரும் மறையா ரும்வாழ மனமகிழ்ந்து

தரும்பாரி பிள்ளைப் பெருமாள் குமாரன் சகம்பெறினும்

திரும்பா மொழிச்சடை யன்புது வாபுரிச் சேதிபனே". 

Ref:

1. A book on Padal Kalvettukal by Pulavar Rasu.

2. Inscription of Pallavas, South Indian Inscriptions Volume XII- 55, 74, 78, 136, and 222.

3. திருக்கோடிகா கல்வெட்டுக்கள், தமிழ்நாட்டு கல்வெட்டுகள்-16, தமிழ்நாடு அரசு தொல்பொருள் ஆய்வுதுறை.

4. ARE, 1930, 1930-31.

5. Inscriptions of the Pallavas by T V Mahalingam. 

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 05^th September 2001 and 17^th February 2014. 

Inscriptions on both sides of this image

Inscriptions on both sides of this image

Kulothunga Chozha's inscriptions

LEGENDS

As per legend, Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Mukkodi Rudras, Celestial deities, sages Durvasar, Agasthiyar, Rama, Balarama, Veerabhadra, Kali, etc, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. The Sthala Vruksham is the Vedhra–Perambu plant (Vedhra in Sanskrit), hence Lord Shiva is praised as “Vedhavaneswarar”.

It is believed that once this Temple was surrounded by beautiful gardens, hence Lord Shiva obtained the name of “Sri Koteeswarar” and the place “Kotikka”. This is one of the 5 Temples that end with the “Ka” garden. The other temples are Thiruvanaikka, Thirukodikka, Thirunellikka, and Thirukurakkuka.

In another legend, Yama, with Chitragupta, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Lord Shiva instructed Yama not to threaten/harm his devotees who pray to him at this temple. The Yama in this temple is with Chitragupta; hence, worshiping both will get rid of Yamabayam or fear of death.

It is believed that Surya worships Lord Shiva and Sun rays fall on moolavar from the 19^th to the 21^st of the Tamil month Aadi (July – Aug).

Rajendra Chozha Worshiped as Chitraguptha

Sivapatha Sekaran - Rajaraja worshiped as Yama

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani (Aug – Sep), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sep-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi (Dec- Jan), Makar Sankranti in the month Thai (Jan – Feb), Mahashivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March), and on all pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS: 

Thyagaraja Gurukkal may be contacted on his Mobile number +919159514727

HOW TO REACH :

The temple can be reached by the bus route from Kumbakonam to Kathiramangalam. It can also be reached through Mayiladuthurai to Kathiramangalam via Kuthalam. 

The temple is 5 km from Suriyanar Koil, 12 km from Thiruppanandal, 17 km from Mayiladuthurai, 20 km from Kumbakonam, 37 km from Sirkazhi, 58 km from Chidambaram, 60 km from Thanjavur, and 273 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Brahma

Saraswati

Avvayar

 Gajasamharamurthy

 Pichadanar

Jyeshta Devi

 Bairavar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---