This is the 185th Thevara
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 68th Sthalam on the south side
of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called SAKKOTTAI. Sundarar
records in hymns that this place is on the south banks of river Arasalar, with
a fort and moat around the temple. Still, the remains of the fort can be seen. 
In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records
that Sundarar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of
Thirunageswaram and Sivapuram.
செம்மை மறையோர் திருக்கலய நல்லூர் இறைவர் சேவடிக்கீழ்மும்மை வணக்கம் பெறஇறைஞ்சி முன்பு
பரவித் தொழுது எழுவார்கொம்மை மருவு குரும்பை முலை உமையாள்
என்னும் திருப்பதிகம்மெய்மைப் புராணம் பலவும் மிகச் சிறப்பித்து
இசையின் விளம்பினார்
Sundarar and Vallalar has sung hymns
in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Sundarar mentions that the Shiva Linga
was made of Sand.
குரும்பைமுலை மலர்க்குழலி கொண்டதவம்
கண்டு குறிப்பினொடும் சென்றவள்தன்
குணத்தினைநன் கறிந்துவிரும்பும்வரங் கொடுத்தவளை
வேட்டருளிச் செய்த விண்ணவர்கோன் கண்ணுதலோன் மேவியஊர்
வினவில்அரும்பருகே கரும்பருவ அறுபதம்பண் பாட அணிமயில்கள் நடமாடும் அணிபொழில்சூழ்
அயலின்கரும்பருகே கருங்குவளை கண்வளரும்
கழனிக் கமலங்கள் முகமலரும் கலயநல்லூர் காணே....... சுந்தரர் -“மாலுங்கொள்வெப்புங்கலைய நல்லோர் மென்மதுரச்
சொன்மாலைசெப்புங்கலைய
நல்லூர்ச்சிமயனே”...... திரு அருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Amirthakalasanathar, Sri AmithakalesarConsort : Sri Amirthavalli.
Some of the salient features of this
temple are..........The temple is facing east with a 3
tier Rajagopuram. In addition to this, there is an entrance arch on the roadside. Rishabam and Balipeedam are in front of the Rajagopuram. A Rishabam with
Balipeedam is also in the artha mandapam. Moolavar is of Swayambhu made of
sand as per Sundarar hymns. Vinayagar
and Murugan are at the entrance of antarala.
In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy ( with
Rudraksham, Agni, Chin Mudra, Suvadi, Head hair like Surya Prabha – special to
see ), Lingothbavar. Lingothbavar is made of green stone with Maan and Mazhu
with Brahma and Maha Vishnu on both sides, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In Prakaram, Vinayagar, Sri Valli
Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar, Navagrahas, Vayu Lingam Prithvi Lingam, Theyu Lingam, Murugan with his consorts, Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar,
Chandran, Suriyan, Shaniswarar, Rahu, Sakkiya Nayanar and Saptamatrikas panel ( in a single stone.)
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing
south but skewed a certain angle towards Lord Shiva. Ambal as Dhabasvi Ammai, a
bas-relief Standing on the right leg folding the left leg and right hand on the
head and left hand on the stomach.
ARCHITECTUREStucco image of Siva Parvathi
kalyana kolam is in vavval nethi mandapam. The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta Kumudam. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and Tharanga pothyal. The prastaram consists of Valapi, Kapotam and Viyyalavari. An ekathala vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Ashtadikpalakas are in the greevam
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince Thirugnanasambandar has sung
hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have
existed before the 7th Century. Later the same was reconstructed as a
stone temple during the Chozha period, before Rajarajan. Further extended during the Thanjavur
Nayakas / Maratha Period and maintained by Nattukottai nagarathars.
The temple was again reconstructed
during the Kulothunga Chozha-III, period, again in the 16th to 17th Century
during Thanjavur Nayak’s period. It is believed that the bas relief on the
madanda pillar belongs to Kulothunga Chozha-III.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 09th February 2992 and 22nd
October 2015.
Lord Shiva with Parvati -- Ambal as Thapaswini
LEGENDS It was believed that when the
Amirtha Kalayam, was broken the center portion of the Kalayam fell in this
place hence this place is called Thirukkalayanallur. In the olden days, Agazhi was
there around the temple. It was also believed that due to water in the agazhi
people worshiped Lord Shiva from a distance. Hence the temple was also called “Kottai Shiva Temple”. Sundarar also mentions the fort in his hymns.
This is one of the 12 temples that participates in the Mahamaham theerthavari festival at Kumbakonam. At the end of each yuga, Lord Shiva destroys
the living things on the whole earth through Pralaya. Brahma asked Lord Shiva where to create new lives and the procedure to be adopted. Lord Shiva told
Brahma to create a magical pot and fill it with the seeds of all living things, the soil of various holy places, and the amirtha in the pot. At the end of the yuga, Lord Shiva asked Brahma to leave the pot to float in the pralaya flood water.
When the pot reached Kumbakonam Lord Shiva in the form of Kirathamoorthy shot the pot with an arrow. The pot had broken, and the amrita mixed with soil spilled
and spread on this place Kumbakonam. The soil with amrita formed a Shiva
Linga. Hence Lord Shiva is called “Adi
Kumbeswarar”, The temple is called Adi Kumbeswarar Temple and this place is
called Kumbakonam.
The arrow shot by Lord Shiva creates
nostrils around the post. The amirtha flowed through the nostril. Hence this
place is called “Kudamooku” ( Kudam – pot, mooku – nostrils ). The Mango
leaves, the sacred grass ( Tharpai ), hoop ( uri ), bell tree leaves ( bilva ),
Coconut, and the sacred thread ( poonool ) that adorns the pot had thrown out
and fallen in different places due to the swirl of the pralaya wind. They formed
Shiva Lingas and later as temples around this place. As per the Puranas, the
life of living things started from this place and this is treated as one of
the Thiruvilaiyadal of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the 12 parts of the pot
had fallen on 12 places and Kalayanallur is one of that. This is the place
where the mid-portion of the Kalasa fell. Hence this place is called Thirukalayanallur.
As per the legend, Ma Parvati did a
penance in this place on Lord Shiva to marry him. Satisfied with the penance
Lord Shiva gave darshan to Ma Parvati and married her. There is a separate
shrine for Sri Thapas Amman. The same was mentioned in Sundarar’s hymns.
குரும்பை மலர்க்குழலி கொண்டதவம் கண்டுகுறிப்பினொடும் சென்றவள்தன் குணத்தினைநன்
கறிந்துவிரும்பும் வரங்கொடுத்தவளை
வேட்டருளிச் செய்தவிண்ணவர்கோன் கண்ணுதலோன் மேவியஊர்
வினவில்
Sakkiya Nayanar as a Buddhist used
to throw stones of Lord Shiva – Shiva Linga. Lord Shiva gave darshan to him and
Sakkiya Nayanar followed Saivam. He was included as one of the 63 Nayanmar by
Sundarar.
It is believed that Brahma,
Sundaramurthy Nayanar, and Sakkiya Nayanar, worshiped Lord Shiva of this
temple.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas special
poojas are conducted on, Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month of Aavani ( Aug – Sept
), Navaratri in the month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti and
Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiru karthigai in the month
of Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ),
Makar Sankranti in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month
Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradosham days.
This Sri Amirthakadeshwarar 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 joins in the Mahamaham festival.
Shiva Temples are…11. Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and
The Maha Vishnu Temples are…4. Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept open between 09.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS Dinesh Gurukkal’s mobile number +91 9445889861 may be contacted
for further details.
HOW TO REACH :Sakkottai is 5 KM from Kumbakonam on the Mannargudi route and the temple is near Kottai bus stop.
Lord Shiva with Parvati -- Ambal as Thapaswini
Shiva Temples are…
11. Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and
The Maha Vishnu Temples are…
4. Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and
The Place Sakkottai is 7 KM from
Thirunaraiyur, 10 KM from Thirupandurai,
8 KM from Nachiyarkoil, 4.3 KM from Kumbakonam, 39 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 36 KM from
Thiruvarur and 298 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is
Kumbakonam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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