Sri Kokileswarar Temple / Kozhambanathar Temple, Thirukozhambam, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 152^nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 35^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri. This place maintains the same name of Thiru Kozhambam from the 7^th century.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that after getting gold from Lord Shiva for his father’s velvi at Thiruvaduthurai, he came to this temple. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva Kuzhakar of Thirukodika. Sekkizhar didn’t mention this temple in particular, but mentioned other temples on the way to Kodika.

கொன்றைவார் சடைமுடியரைக் கோழம்பத்து இறைஞ்சி

என்றும்நீடிய இன் இசைப் பதிகம்முன் இயம்பி

மன்றுளார் மகிழ்வைகல் மாடக்கோயில் மருங்கு

சென்று சார்ந்தனர் திருவளர் சிரபுரச் செல்வர்

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

மேவுபுனல் பொன்னி இரு கரையும் சார்ந்து

        விடை உயர்ந்தார் திருச்செம்பொன் பள்ளி பாடிக்

காஉயரும் மயிலாடுதுறை நீள் பொன்னிக்

        கரைத்துருத்தி வேள்விக்குடி எதிர்கொள்பாடி

பாஉறு செந்தமிழ்மாலை பாடிப் போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருப்பதி பலவும் பணிந்து போந்தே

ஆஉறும் அஞ்சு ஆடுவார் கோடிகாவில்

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு புராணம்

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

நீற்றானை நீள்சடைமேல் நிறைவுள்ளதோர்

ஆற்றானை அழகமர்மென் முலையாளையோர்

கூற்றானைக் குளிர்பொழிற் கோழம்பமேவிய

ஏற்றானை யேத்துமின் நும்இடரேகவே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

வேழம் பத்தைவர் வேண்டிற்று வேண்டிப் போய்

ஆழம் பற்றிவீழ் வார்பல வாதர்கள்

கோழம் பத்துறை கூத்தன் குரைகழல்

தாழும் பத்தர்கள் சாலச் சதுரரே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                    -இல்லமயல்

ஆழம்பங் கென்ன அறிந்தோர் செறிந்தேத்துங்

கோழம்பம் வாழ்கருணைக் கொண்டலே’

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Kokileswarar, Sri Kozhambanathar.

Consort    : Sri Soundaranayagi.

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

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. There is a three-tier Rajagopuram in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Rishabam and balipeedam are after the Rajagopuram. In the sanctum of Moolavar‘s avudayar, a hoof mark of a cow is seen. In koshtam Vinayagar, Natarajar, Sattainathar, Pitchadanar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar with Brahma and Mahavishnu on both sides, Brahma, Arthanareeswarar as Rishabanthigar, and Durgai,

In the praharam, Kannimoola Vinayagar, Appar, Murugan, Chozha Lingas, Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar, Suriyan, and Chandikeswarar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The adhistanam is of prati banda adhistanam with vrudha kumudam. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with malai thongal, kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandi, palakai veerakandam, and taranga pothyal. The prastaram is of the kapotha style with valapi, kapotam, and viyyalavari. A vesara vimana is over the sanctum. The makara thorana above the koshtam has the bas-reliefs of Lord Shiva as Oorthuva Thandavam, Kuda koothu, etc. 

Nataraja -oorthuva Thandava

Makara torana - Kudakooththu

Makara torana - Lord Shiva

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal have sung hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might belong to the 6^th to 7^th Century. Later, this was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Prantaka Chola period and further extended during the medieval Chola and Vijayanagaras periods. Even though it is believed that the temple was re-constructed during the Parantaka Chozha period, the earliest inscription belongs to Uthama Chozha. Also found are the inscriptions of the Rajaraja-I, Rajendra Chozha-I, Rajathirajan, and Kulothunga Chozha periods.  

Ko Rajakesari Varmar’s 3^rd reign year inscription records that the remission of taxes due on the land of the temple Thirukkozhambam Udaya Mahadevar by the sabha of Duvedimangalam, a brahmadeya in Peravur nadu, in consideration of a lump sum of 14 Kasu received by them – evidently, from the temple.

Koparakesari Bramar’s 16^th reign year inscription records a gift of 7 ma and odd land at a Village of Kumaramangalam, of Peravur by Aruran Ponnambattadigal, Queen of Utama Chozha, as Tiruchchennadaipuram to the Goddess Uma Bhattarakiyar in the temple of Thirukkolambadevar devoutly called here “the daughter” of the Queen. The land is stated to have been purchased for the purpose from a lady by the name of Kadan Singam, to whom it belonged as Stridhana, through her son Mahamatran Gautaman Kesavan Srikanthan of Sattanur, a brahmadeya in Thiraimur nadu, on the southern bank, as mudhugan (Guardian – Caretaker – a representative), and was made tax-free by the assembly of Peravur in consideration of a lump sum payment of 50 Ielakkarungasu (ஈழக்கருங்காசு) by the donor.     

Renovation works were started on 24^th August 1998 in the presence of the mutts of  Thiruvaduthurai, Dharmapuram, Suriyanar Koil, and Thiruppanandal. On 22^nd March 2000, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after renovations carried out through Vasantha Kumar of Coimbatore.

Maybe a king with his wife worshiping Lord Shiva

LEGENDS

A scar Impression of a cow's (Sri Parvati in the form of a Cow) leg is found on the Avudayar  at Therazhundur. Lord Shiva cursed Ma Parvati to become a Cow, and Maha Vishnu played the role of shepherd. At Thirukozhambam, Ma Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the Curse of a Cow. At Thiruvaduthurai also Ma Parvati also worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of a Cow. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Kokileswarar. At Thiruthuruthi, Ma Parvati came out of the yagna conducted by the sage Bharata. Ma Parvati was brought up by the sage. At Ethirkolpadi, Lord Shiva was welcomed as bridegroom by his father-in-law sage Bharata. The marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati took place at Thiruvelvikudi and at Thirumananjeri; marriage darshan was given to all. 

In another legend, a contest happened between Maha Vishnu and Brahma regarding who is greater. It was decided that those who found out the start or end of Lord Shiva would be great.  Lord Shiva stood as a column of Jyothi / flame from earth to sky. Maha Vishnu took the form of Varaha and went inside the earth to find the start of Lord Shiva, and Brahma took the form of an Anna bird and flew to the top. After seeing a Thalampoo falling from Lord Shiva’s head, Brahma requests the Thalampoo to tell a lie that he had taken from the head of Lord Shiva. By cheating, Brahma was cursed that no temple would be built for him. To get rid of this curse, Brahma came to this temple and worshiped Lord  Shiva.

Ambal, as a Cow worshiping Lord Shiva with Milk abhishekam

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani (Aug–Sept), all Mondays (Somavaram) in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb–March), and Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni (March–April).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS : 

The mobile number of Thiru Vaidheeswara Sivachariyar +919381029050 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

On the bus route from Kumbakonam to Karaikal, get down at S. Pudur (near Melangalangan), and the temple is 1 km.

Can go from Thiruvidaimaruthur also.  

The temple is  5 km from Thiruvalangadu, 6 km from Konerirajapuram, 10 km from Thiruvidaimaruthur, 23 km from Mayiladuthurai, 20 km from Kumbakonam, 61 km from Thanjavur, and 278 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---