Kadambavaneswarar Temple / Kadambar Koil / Kulittalai Kadambavaneswarar Temple / கடம்பவனேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் / கடம்பந்துறை / குளித்தலை / Kulithalai, Karur District, Tamil Nadu.

This temple is 119^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 2^nd Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. During the 6^th to 7^th Century, this place was called Kadambathurai and is now called Kulithalai/Kuzhithalai and the inscriptions mention, Kulirthandalai. This place is on the way to Karur from Tiruchirappalli. It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship "Morning Kadambar at Kulithalai, after noon Rathnagiriswarar at Thiruvatpokki and Evening Sri Maragadachaleswarar at Thiru Engoyi malai". Since the temple faces North similar to Kashi, hence called Dakshina Kashi.

In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupparaithurai. But he didn’t mention this temple in particular.

சிலந்திக்கு அருளும் கழல்வணங்கக் செஞ்சொல் மாலை பலபாடி

இலங்கு சடையார் எறும்பியூர் மாலையும் இறைஞ்சிப் பாடியபின்

மலர்ந்த சோதித் திருச்சிராப் பள்ளி மலையும் கற்குடியும்

நலங்கொள் செல்வத் திருப்பராய்த் துறையும் தொழுவான் நண்ணினார்

……… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Ayadigal Kadavarkon, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.  

பூமென் கோதையுமை யொருபாகனை

ஓமம் செய்தும் உணர்மின்கள் உள்ளத்தால்

காமற் காய்ந்த பிரான் கடம்பந்துறை

நாம மேத்த நந்தீவினை நாசமே

……… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

அழகு திரிகுரம்பை ஆங்கது விட்டாவி

ஒழுகும் பொழுதறிய ஒண்ணா – கழுகு

கழித்துண்ட லையாமுன் காவிரியின் தென்பால்

குழித் தண்டலை யானைக்கூறு

……….. ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன்

                                           --- கோட் போக்கி

நில்லுங்கடம்ப நெறிபோல் எனப்பூவ

சொல்லுங் கடம்பந்துறை நிறைவே

………. திரு அருட்பா

சிற்றிடையும் இருகரமும் சேவடியும் மலர்முகமும்’

பற்றிடுவோர் வினையொழிக்கும் பரங்கருணைத் திருநோக்கும்

உற்றடியார் பணிகடம்ப வனமேவும் ஒருதேவி

முற்றிலா முலையம்மை முளரிலமலை அடிபோற்றி

……… கடம்பவனமான்மியம் . அம்பாள் துதி

Moolavar  : Sri  Kadambavaneswarar, Sri Kadambavana Nathar.

Consort    : Sri Bala Kujalambal, Sri Mutrillamulayal.

Sthala Viruksham : Kadamba Tree.

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

The Kadambar temple is at the center of Kulithalai and faces north with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. A mandapam is in front of Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Lord Shiva with Murugan and Parvathi  as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the mandapam. The Dwajasthambam passes through the hole made in the roof. Balipeedam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram.

In the sanctum, Moolavar is of Swayambhu. Saptamatrikas (most of the websites wrongly mentioned as Saptakannis ) are on the back side wall of Moolavar sannadhi in the form of bas- relief. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. The Dwarapalakas. Sri Dindi and Sri Mundi are beautifully chiseled.

Sri Chandikeswarar is in a small pillar mandapam. Shaniswarar and Vinayagar are not in the usual place. There are two Natarajar, of one is with muyalagan and other without muyalagan. In prakaram Chandikeswarar, Agora Veerabhadra, Pancha Lingas, Jyeshta Devi, Nalvar, 63 var, Sekkizhar, Vishwanathar, Vinayagar, Subramaniyar with Valli Devasena, Somaskandar, Gajalakshmi and Bhairavar.

Ambal is in a separate temple like sannadhi immediately after the Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are in front of Ambal sannadhi. Ambal temple is facing east.

The 15^th Century sage Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Murugan of this temple.

கணபணபு யங்கமுங் கங்கையுந் திங்களுங்

        குரவுமறு குங்குறுந் தும்பையுங் கொன்றையுங்

        கமழ்சடில சம்புவுங் கும்பிடும் பண்புடைக்         குருநாதா

    கனகுடகில் நின்றகுன் றந்தருஞ் சங்கரன்

        குறுமுனிக மண்டலங் கொண்டு முன் கண்டுங்

        கதிசெய்நதி வந்துறுந் தென்கடம் பந்துறைப்       பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.  A Vesara Vimana is on the sanctum. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Lord Shiva of this temple was praised by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, the original temple might have existed before the 6^th Century. The same was reconstructed as a stone Temple during the Chozha period and further extended during the Vijayanagaras period.  

Though the temple is very old, there are no inscriptions found in this temple to ascertain the age /antiquity of the temple.

LEGENDS

This temple is considered equivalent to Madurai temple, since the presence of the Kadamba tree as sthala vruksham, Lord Shiva in this temple is called Sundarar and Lord Shiva showed Madurai Thirumana Kolam / Marriage posture,  to Devasharma. Maha Vishnu, Lord Muruga, Brahma, Saptamatrikas, Deva Sharma, Kannuva Muni, and Agasthiyar Worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.  

As per the Legend, Ma Durga had a fierce fight with the demon Doomalochana. Since he was very Strong Lord Shiva sent all the Saptamatrikas to fight against him. Couldn’t face the Saptamatrikas he ran out of the battlefield and hid in Kathyayana Maharishi’s ashram. Saptamatrikas mistook Kathyayana Maharishi as the demon, killed him. Due to this, the Saptamatrikas incurred the Brahmahathi dosha. To get rid of the dosa they visited many temples and Finally reached this temple.  They prayed to Lord Shiva to relieve them from the dosha. Lord Shiva blessed them and relieved them from the sin. Lord Shiva is believed to be the protector of the Saptamatrikas. It is also believed that Chamundi is considered a Durga. Rahu kala pooja is done for both Durga and Lord Shiva. Remembering the protection of Lord Shiva extended to Saptamatrikas, Lord Shiva and ma Parvati visit river Kaveri. During that occasion, Urchavars of 7 Shiva temples around this place will also participate in Theerthavari. It will be a rare opportunity for the Devotees to have the darshan of all 8 temples Urchavars simultaneously.

Paramanathar is the guarding deity of this temple. The right hand is in the saluting posture. Devotees perform abhishek with honey offer porridge made of Pasi corn and pray to protect their houses also.

In another legend, Somugasuran stole all 4 Vedas and hid deep in the ocean. Maha Vishnu came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva before getting back the 4 Vedas. With the blessings of Lord Shiva, Maha Vishnu took the Macha avathara and retrieved back the 4 Vedas after killing Somugan.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on 13 days Brahmotsavam in the month Masi (Feb – March), Thai Poosam in the month Thai (Jan – Feb), Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi (May – June), Skanda Sashti in the month Aippasi (October – November), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni (March – April), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline number +91 4323 225 228 may be contacted for further details.

Temple Website: http://www.kadambartemple.tnhrce.in/

HOW TO REACH : 

Town buses are available from the Chatram bus stand. Buses From Tiruchirapalli to Karur, Namakkal, and Manaparai pass through Kulithalai.

The temple is 9 km from Iyermalai/Ayyarmalai, 18.1 km from Thirupparaithurai, 41 km from Tiruchirapalli & Karur, 93 km from Thanjavur and 355 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Kulithalai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Maha Vishnu Stucco image 

Temple Car

Temple car wooden sculptures 

Temple car wooden sculptures 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---