Sri Kediliappar Temple / Aksharalingeswarar Swamy Temple / கேடிலியப்பர் கோயில், கீழ்வேளூர், Kizh Velur / Keezh Velur / Kilvelur, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 201^st Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 84^th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. This place Keevalur called locally is also called as Keezh Velur.

 

In periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva Vennaipiran of Sikkal. But Thirunavukkarasu swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva at Thiruvalivalam. He returned to Tiruvarur on the same day. 

கழிக்கானல் மருங்கு அணையும் கடல்நாகை அதுநீங்கிக் கங்கை ஆற்றுச்

சுழிக்கானல் வேணியர்தம் பதிபலவும் பரவிப்போய்த் தோகைமார்தம்

விழிக்காவி மலர்பழனக் கீழ்வேளூர் விமலர்கழல் வணங்கி ஏத்தி

மொழிக்காதல் தமிழ்மாலை புனைந்தருளி அங்கு அகன்றார் மூதூர் நின்றும்

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

நீர் ஆரும் சடை முடியார் நிலவுதிரு வலிவலமும் நினைந்து சென்று
வார் ஆரும் முலை மங்கை உமைபங்கர் கழல்பணிந்து மகிழ்ந்து பாடிக்
கார்ஆரும் கறைகண்டார் கீழ் வேளூர் கன்றாப்பூர் கலந்து பாடி
ஆராத காதலினால் திருவாரூர் தனில் மீண்டும் அணைந்தார் அன்றே

......... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

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

மின்னு லாவிய சடையினர் விடையினர் மிளிர்தரும் அரவோடும்
பன்னு லாவிய மறையொலி நாவினர் கறையணி கண்டத்தர்
பொன்னு லாவிய கொன்றையந் தாரினார் புகழ்மிகு கீழ்வேளூர்
உன்னு லாவியசிந்தையர் மேல்வினை ஓடிடவீடாமே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

ஆளான அடியவர்கட் கன்பன் தன்னை
        ஆனஞ்சும் ஆடியைநான் அபயம் புக்க
தாளானைத் தன்னொப்பா ரில்லா தானைச்
        சாந்தமுங் குங்குமமுஞ் சாந்துந் தோய்ந்த
தோளானைத் தோளாத முத்தொப் பானைத்
        தூவெளுத்த கோவணத்தை அரையி லார்ந்த
கீளானைக் கீழ்வேளூ ராளுங் கோவைக்
        கேடிலியை நாடுமவர் கேடி லாரே

..... திருநாவுக்காரசு சுவாமிகள்

 -“மிக்கமினார்
வாளூர் தடங்கண் வயல்காட்டி யோங்குங்கீழ்
வேளூரிற் செங்கண் விடையோனே”

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Kediliappar, Sri Akshayalingeswarar.
Consort    : Sri Sundara Kujambal, Sri Vanamulai Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are ………
It is one of the maada Koil built by Ko Chenkat Chozhan with Rajagopuram and a vasantha mandapam. Stucco Rishabam is very big under a mandapam. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam are near the stucco Rishabam. The vimanam was built with stone. On the Thiagarajar Sannathi Vimanam, Dakshinamurthy is Veena Dakshinamurthy in sitting posture. Moolavar is of swayambhu and banam is small and avudayar is big. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Veena Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Maha Vishnu and Natarajar.  In lower level / vetru thalam koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar brahma and Durgai.

In the outer prakaram Vinayagar, Agasthiyar, Aalungoveeswarar, Gajalakshmi, Jambukeswarar, Kailasanathar, Bragatheeswarar Annamalaiyar, Ekambareswarar, Chozheeswarar, Navagrahas ( All the Navagrahas are in a single row facing moolavar ), 63var, Anchu Vattammai, Kalahastheeswarar, Viswanathar, Ashta bhuja Bhairavar, Juradevar, Venkatachalapathi, Anjaneyar,  and Aalungoveswarar ( In the form of Balipeedam ). Kaali is in stucco, hence only punuku and sambrani thailam are applied. Ambal is in a separate temple.

Nataraja is unique in this temple has 10 hands and instead of resting right leg on Muyalagan, Nataraja is resting left leg like Madurai. It is believed that this Nataraja was sculptured during 18^th Century ( May be during Maratha period ).

ARCHITECTURE
The main temple is of mada Koil style, constructed on an elevated level of 21 feet high, like small hillock with 18 steps, called “Chithira Kooda Parvadam”.

The temple complex was built as mada Temple, consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.  The Vetru level / empty level is on a kapota bandha adhisthana with Padma jagathy Vrutha Kumudam and viyyalavari. The Bhitti starts with Vedigai and Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palagai and poo mottu pothyal. The prastram is with valapi, kapotham and Viyyalavari. The Kapotham has the Nasikoods with Lord Shiva's various forms, lotus medallion and kodipalai karukku. Salas are of padra salas protruding out side. Koshtams are of sala type. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai are in the koshtam.

The upper level is on the vetru floor / empty floor,  leaving some space about 2 feet with hand rails. The upper level is on a pratibandha / padabandha adhisthana with jagathy and Virutha kumudam/ kadaka  kumudam. The Bhitti starts with vedikai, and Vishnu kantha / and virutha pilasters with malaithongal, kalasam, thadi, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palagai, veera kandam and poo mottu pothyal. Kumbha panjaras are in aharai / saleelantharam ie the space between karnapathi and salaipathi.  The prastaram is of kapotha style with Valapi, Kapotam and Viyyalavari. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai are in the upper level koshtams. The Koshtas are of padra koshtas, like salai type in Salaipathi and karnapathi with images. A Jala is provided between sanctum sanctorum and ardha mandapam.

From adhistanam to sigaram was built with stone. In 1^st tier and 2^nd tier, Greeva koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma. Ashtadikpalakas are in the greevam. The sigaram is of Dravida style style with 4 maha nasis and 4 alpha nasis.  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple is as mada Koil was believed to be built by Ko Chengat Chozha. Latter the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha’s period and extended during Marathas period. Thirugnanasambandar refers this temple as “Perunthirukoil” in all his hymns.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Rajaraja-II, Thiribhuvana Chakravarti Rajaraja Chozha ( may be III), and Maratha king Thulajaji.

Rajarajan –II’s 18^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Nandavanam for the same Punjai Load was purchased and gifted to this temple by Thiruvarur Temple’s priest Kuravacheri Mulathana Bhattan ( as Muthukan / Guardian ) and PerumpaRRappuliyur ( Chidambaram ) Vinayaga Bhattan’s wife Avudayall Sani. The Land was called as Senthamarai Kannan Kollai at Sathangudi.  

Rajarajan-III’s 18^th reign year ( 22-12-1233 ) inscription records  the donation of Lands made to this temple.  His 10^th reign year inscription is also available at Ambal sannathi. This is an incomplete inscription records the donation of land to create a street opposite to the temple, for the same, received the housing lands from the temple Kaniyalars Arayan Singapiran and Narayana devan Savari perumal, in lieu of the housing land, some gifts were given as compensation.

Thanjavur Thukkoji Maharaj ( 1763- 87 ),  saka 1697 , ie 1775 CE had constructed the parakara wall. Another inscription of Thukkoji  Saka 1502 ie 1580 CE period inscription under an image of the Atchaya Linga Swamy Temple meelparvai pani / Supervisor ( kattalai ) / worked, Venkatapathy Pillai ( an Image ) records as he and his ancestors who had done the service, the donations made and the period are inscribed. Another 1851 CE inscription records that Natarajar sannathi mandapam was built by Venkatapathy Pillai’s son Vada Malaiappa Pillai. Another inscription saka 1735 ie 1813 CE inscription records that the South Gopuram was built by Swamiya Pillai. An inscription mentions the Vinayagar as Kumaraswamy Vinayagar. Another Thukkoji Maharaja’s inscription records the construction of Gopuram / temple wall.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 01^st September 1963, 11^th April 1999 and 01^st May 2015 after renovations.

LEGENDS
As per the legend the Sage Agathiyar did a penance on Lord Shiva seeking the Kalyana Kola Darshan. Satisfied with Agasthiyar's penance Lord Shiva gave Pada darshan to Agasthiya and Kalyana Kola darshan. Lord Shiva danced here like Madurai ( Kaal maari Aadiya idam) Under his feet Agathiyar, Pathanjali, Viyakrapadar, Brahma ( Playing thaalam ) and Vishnu ( Playing Mathalam).  

It is believed that Kubera worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple on one of the “Atchaya Thiruthi day”. Lord Shiva gave him nine pots full of wealth which includes Sanga Nidhi and Padmanidhi.

Adhiseshan, Markandeyar, Murugaperuman worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Special poojas are conducted for 5 Vattatthu Amman. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Annual brahmotsavam will be held in the month Chithirai ( April – May ). During that time “Rishaba vahana Utsavam” and “Saptha Sthana utsavam” are celebrated in a grand manner.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Aadi pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – 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 and Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni (March – April ) and monthly pradoshams, Pournami ( full moon days ), Sankata hara Chathurthi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 
Land line number +91 4366 276 733 and the temple’s priest Balasubramania Gurukkal +91 96886 22618 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 
This temple is on the bus route Thiruvarur to Nagapattinam.
The place Kilvelur is 7 KM from Sikkal, 13 KM from Nagapattinam, 14 KM from Thiruvarur, 54 KM from Kumbakonam and 307 KM from Chennai.
Since this place is mid way, nearest Railway Stations are Nagapattinam & Thiruvarur 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Sthala vruksham - Jujube tree - இலந்தைமரம்

Model Dravida Sigaram

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

The Heritage visit to this Sri Kediliappar Temple at Kilvelur was a part of “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organised by “Chozha Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05th and 6th March 2022.   Thanks to V Ramachandran, Tahasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples. This is the second Visit to this temple.