Sri Kodi Kuzhagar Temple / Amirthakadeswarar Temple / கோடிக்குழகர் கோயில் / அமுதகடேசுவரர் கோயில், கோடியக்கரை / Thirukodi / Kodiyakarai, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 244^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 127^th Shiva Temple on the south side of the River Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called Kodiyakarai, Kodi Kuzhagar Kovil. This place is also called “Point Calimere”. The Place where the temple exists is called “Kuzhakar Koil”, and the sea shore is called “Kodiyakarai”.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirumaraikadu. But we couldn’t get the hymn sung by him. In Sundarar Puranam, Sundarar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirumaraikadu.

தெண்திரைசூழ் கடல்கானல் திரு அகத்தியான் பள்ளி

அண்டர்பிரான் கழல்வணங்கி அருந்தமிழ் மாமறை பாடிக்

கொண்டல் பயில் மணல்கோடு சூழ்கோடிக் குழகர்தமைத்

தொண்டருடன் தொழுது அணைந்தார் தோணிபுரத் தோன்றலார்

..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

கோடிக் குழகர் கோயில் அயல் குடிகள் ஒன்றும் புறத்து எங்கும்

நாடிக் காணாது உள்புக்கு நம்பர்பாதம் தொழுது உள்ளம்

வாடிக் கடிதாய்க் கடற்காற்றென்று எடுத்து மலர்க்கண் நீர்வாரப்

பாடிக்காடு புணர்ந்த பரிசும் பதிகத்திடை வைத்தார்

...... சுந்தரர் புராணம்

Sundarar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Sundarar was feeling bad because the temple was isolated near the seashore without any habitation nearby.

கடிதாய்க் கடற்காற்று வந்து எற்றக்கரைமேல்

குடிதான் அயலே இருந்தால் குற்றமோ

கொடியேன் கண்கள் கண்டன கோடிக் குழகீர்

அடிகேள் உமக்கு ஆர்துணையாக இருந்தீரே

........ சுந்தரர்

                                      -“தென்னெறியோர்

நாடிக்குழக நலமருள் ந்று ஏத்துகின்ற

கோடிக் குழகரருட் கோலமே”

........ திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Amuthakadeswarar, Sri Kodi Kuzhagar

Consorts  : Sri Anjanakshi, Sri Maithadanganni.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In praharam Amirtha Vinayagar, Suryan, Chandran, Subramaniar, with one face with six hands, Ganapathy Lingam. Navagrahas are in a single row. “Kuzhaka Munivar’s” idol is in the maha mandapam. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi in the front mandapam.

The 15th-century saint Arunagirinathar has sung “Thiruppugazh” in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple. Lord Muruga is with Amrutha kalasa.

சோலைபரண் மீதுநிழ லாகதினை காவல்புரி

            தோகைகுற மாதினுட                                                   னுறவாடிச்

 சோரனென நாடிவர் வார்கள்வன வேடர்விழ

            சோதிகதிர் வேலுருவு                                                   மயில்வீரா

கோலவழல் நீறுபுனை யாதிசரு வேசரொடு

            கூடிவிளை யாடுமுமை                                               தருசேயே

கோடுமுக வானைபிற கான துணை வாகுழகர்

            கோடிநகர் மேவிவளர்                                                   பெருமாளே

Murugan sannidhi

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. The temple was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period, and later contributions are from the Pandyas (embalm is on the Rajagopuram entrance – Two fish Chendu at the centre)  and Vijayanagara Nayakas.

Rajaraja-III’s 14^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which donations were made by a person who belongs to Nandinallur. (Full details are not known since the inscription was damaged.)

Jadavarman Konerimaikondan’s 18^th reign year inscription records the King’s order. Arranging the Amount of 55 pon was surplus after spending on the services, till the 17^th year (Rule). Another 63 pon, on which there were some charges to be utilised as a capital for services, repair, and maintenance in the temple from the 18^th Year. 

Jatavarman Parakrama Pandya’s 5^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 150  Varahan was gifted to the temple by “Gamudevan Andan PeRRan”.

Rajendra Chozha-III’s 22^nd reign year inscription records that a sale of land to create a nandavanam at the Thiru Kodikuzhakar Temple Adhi Chandeswarar Trustees, to Mudaliyar Saththanathu Ethir oppilathar alias Somanathadevar Mudaliyar.

Another Rajendra Chozha-III’s Inscription records the activities of the Thevankamis / trustees and the Siva Brahmins, transferring land from the workers of Nandavanam to the Senapathis, in lieu of that purchase of another land was proposed. The Paddy to be given to the temple is also discussed. The inscription was found damaged, and full details are not known.

The inscription at Kodiyakadu, Jadavarman Thirubhuvana Chakravarthy Konerimaikondan period inscription mentions the places Thirukodi Kuzhakar and Thiru Agathiyan Palli.

Pandya's emblem  in the Rajagopuram entrance

Latest inscription- records about the construction of Yaga Salai by Ayyadurai Pillai's son Thabusamya Pillai

LEGENDS

Suvedha Munivar’s son Braman, Siddhars, Narathar, Indiran, Kuzhka Munivar, and later Cheraman Peruman, Sundarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

After the Amirtha obtained from the milk ocean by Devas and asuras, without giving a share to the asuras, the Devas drank the Amirtha and handed it over to Vayu to carry it. When Vayu was carrying the Amirtha, it spilled and turned into a Shiva Linga. Hence, Lord Shiva is called “Amirthakadeswarar”. In another version, when the amirtha spilled, Lord Muruga collected the same in a kalasa. Hence, Lord Muruga is shown with a kalasa in his hand. Lord Vinayagar is also called “Amirtha Vinayagar”.

There is a Ramar Padam in the midst of the Kappukadu / forest. It was believed that on the way to Dhanuskodi, Rama visited this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva. The Ramar Padam confirms the Visit of Rama to this temple.   

Just after 1.5 KM, the place on the sea shore is called “Adhi Sethu”, also known as Kodiyakarai. Taking a bath during the Uttarayana and Dakshinayana periods is a special practice here. The Siddhar Kattidam / building is also known as Siddhar Koil. It is believed that Siddhars are still living in this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on the 10-day Vaikasi Visakam festival in the month of Vaikasi (May – June), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month of Aani (June – July), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month of Avani (Aug – Sept), 6 days Skanda Sashti in the month of Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thaipoosam in the month of Thai (Jan – Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi (Feb – March).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The Temple will be kept open from 09.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 17.00  hrs to 18.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline number +91 4369 272 470 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Buses are available from Vedaranyam, and the distance is 12 km.

The temple at Kodiyakarai is 10 km from Vedaranyam, 58 km from Nagapattinam, 71 km from Mannargudi, 78 km from Thiruvarur, and 356 km from Chennai 

The nearest Railway station is Vedaranyam, and the Junction is Nagapattinam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---