Monday 12 April 2021

Sri Vilvaranyeswarar Temple /வில்வாரன்யேசுவரர் கோயில் / ஸ்ரீ வில்வநாதர் கோயில் / திருக்கொள்ளம்புதூர் / திருக்களம்புதூர் / திருக்களம்பூர் / Thirukkollampudur / Thirukkalambur, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 230th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 113th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place is on the banks of river Mulliyar alias Vettaru.  This place was called as “Kollampthuthur” during Thevaram period and called as “Thirukkalambur” and “Thirukollampudur”.


In Periyapuranam Thirugnanasambandar Came to this temple after worshiping Lord shiva of Thirupathaleecharam.

தேவர்பிரான் அமர்ந்த திருக்கொள்ளம் பூதூர்
        எதிர்தோன்றத் திருவுள்ளம் பணியச் செய்து
மேவுதலால் ஓடங்கள் விடுவார் இன்றி
        ஒழிந்திடவும் மிக்கஓர் விரைவால் சண்பைக்
காவலனார் ஓடத்தின் கட்டு அவிழ்த்துக்
        கண்ணுதலான் திருத்தொண்டர் தம்மை ஏற்றி
நாவலமே கோலாக அதன்மேல்நின்று
        நம்பர் தமைக்கொட்டம் எனநவின்று பாட.

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

கொட்ட மேகமழும் கொள்ளம் பூதூர்
நட்டம் ஆடிய நம்பணை யுள்கச்
செல்ல உந்துக சிந்தை யார்தொழ
நல்கு மாறருள் நம்பனே
..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
                                                                              -“தோய்வுண்ட
கள்ளம்பூதாதி நிலைகண்டு உணர்வு கொண்டவர்சூழ்
கொள்ளம்பூதூர் வான்குல மணியே”
..........திரு அருட்பா
பொற்புறு கொள்ளம் பூதூர் எனவொரு புகழ்ப் பேர் கொண்ட
விற்பொலி மதில்சூழ் வில்வ வனமது விண்ணோர் போற்றும்
சிற்பரன் உகந்த காசி செறி அகத்திய காவேரி
அற்புதமாகுங் கங்கை பலமும் அப்படியே யாமால்..
........ தல புராணம்
“வில்வனேசர் துதி”
சீர்கொண்ட ஒருகோடிப் பரிதியென ஒளிவிரிக்கும் செல்வியானைப்
பார்கொண்ட மணிச்சுடிகைப் பன்னகப்பொற் பணியாபனைப் பசுந்தேன் நல்கும்
தார்கொண்ட தண்துளபத் திருமாலும் சதுர்முகனும் தாழ்ந்து போற்றக்
கார்கொண்ட முகத்தானை வில்வவனப் பெருமானைக் கருத்துள் வைப்பாம்
...... தலப்பாடல்
“வெண்ணிலாக்கண்ணி”
 “வில்வவனமேவு நாதர் வெண்ணிலாவே- எங்கள்
விமலர்தமை ஏத்துவம் வா வெண்ணிலாவே
நம்பர்தம் அபயமென வெண்ணிலாவே – நீதான்
நண்ணியுற்ற நலமறிந்தோம் வெண்ணிலேவே
நாட்டுக்கெலாம் நம்பனென வெண்ணிலாவே – அந்த
நம்பனுறை கொள்ளம் பூதூர் வெண்ணிலாவே”
.... கொள்ளம்பூதூர் வைத்தியலிங்க முதலியார் பாடல்

Moolavar  : Sri Vilvaranyeswarar, Sri Vilva Nathar
Consort    : Sri Soundaranayagi, Sri Azhagu Nachiyar.

Some of salient features of this temple are..
Temple is facing east with and entrance arch. Stucco images of Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, Subramaniar are on the entrance arch. Mahalakshmi Sannidhi is in the midst of nandhavanam on the right side after the entrance arch. The second level Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers. Poyyatha Vinayagar and Dhandapani sannadhis are on both sides of the Rajagopuram.  Dwara Vinayagars are on both sides like separate temples. Bas relief of Thirugnanasambandar sailing boat is on the Rajagopuram entrance side wall. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Chandrasekar, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai.

In prakaram  Nalvar, Valampuri Vinayagar, Somaskandar, Gaja Muktheeswarar, Mullaivananathar, satchi Nathar, Paathalavarathar, Mahalingar, Gangai Amman, Dakshinamurthy, Saraswati, Visalakshi, Choza King with his wife, Arumugar, Mahalakshmi, Bhairavar, Palliyarai, Navagrahas, Saneeswarar, Chandikeswarar and Suriyan.
 
Urchavars Vinayagar, Pichadanar and Chandrasekarar are in the mandapam.


ARCHITECTURE
Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south and in standing Posture. 12 Rasi bas-reliefs are on the ceiling of Ambal mandapam. Nattukottai Chettiar and his wife’s sculptures are on the opposite side of Ambal sanctum

The main temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. A Two tier Dravida Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco Brahma and Maha Vishnu are with their consorts on the Vimanam.  


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7th Century and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha’s period and latter extended by Vijayanagaras and maintained by Nattukottai Nagarathars.

Swami Vibulantha’s book “Yazh” was published from this temple in the year 1947.

Narchanthupatti Pe. Rama. Raman Chettiar and Pe. Rama. Lakshmanan Chettiar, reconstructed this temple as stone temple with their own fund and Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 1st July 1979.  Still they are maintaining the temple.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Chozha kings Rajarajan-III and Kulothunga Chozha-III. As per the inscriptions, this place was called as “Armumozhideva valanattu Chotroor kootrathu Thirukollamputhur”, Lord Shiva was called as “Kollamputhur Udayar” and Ambal was called as “Azhakiya Nachiyar”. Most of the inscriptions records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, for the same lands are donated to this temple.

An inscription records the endowment of worship of Kulamkanda Mahadevar & his consort Neeralitha Menmulaiyammai, Atkonda nayagadevar & his consort and Avimuktheeswarar, for the lands fisfted from different Villages. Menmulaiammai nachiar was established by Perumur Udayan Sankaran alias Amarakon.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s period inscription records the endowment of worship to Thiruneelakanda Panar for the same a land was gifted in a Village of Arumozhideva Valanattu Setrur Kootram.

Thiribhuvana Veeradevar’s, Kulothunga Chozha-III, 30th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi as “Maduraiyum eezhamum pandiyan mudithalaiyum kondu vjayaabhisheekamum veerabhishekamum........” records the endowment of burning  one Perpetual lamp each at moolavar Thirukollamputhurudayar and Thirukamakottamudaya Azhakiya Nachiyar by Mambakkizhan Araiyan Thillai Nayakan alias Singalarayan of Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Kattur Kottathu Kakkanoor Nattu Pothoor to this temple at Arumozhideva valanattu Setrur Kootrathu Thirukollamputhur. 

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s period inscription starts with his full meikeerthi records the gift of 11.75 ( nalu ) ma land taxed in the name of Kulothunga Chozhan kalathoor by Pandya Kulasini Valanattu Misenkinattukalathur Kolavaraiyan Koothadudevan alias Chozhachirukkan.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 4th reign year inscription records that a Village called Kulothunga Chozha Kalattur was gifted to a person.

LEGENDS
This place is on the banks of river, which is called different names like, Mulliyaru, Vettaru, Agathiya Kaveri and Odampokki river. Thirugnanasambandar temple is on the opposite side of this temple.

This is also called a "Gnanasambandar Temple". ( Nambar Koil ). During his visit the river was flooded and the boatmen tied the boat and went to their homes. Thirugnanasambandar took a boat and sailed to the other bank. The boat sailed automatically, when he has sung hymns starts with “kottame Kamazhum”. ( many people interprets that Thirugnanasambandar sailed the boat with his  tongue which is wrong ). Lord Shiva and Parvati appeared  and blessed him. Completed the hymns after reaching the temple. To commemorate this event, “Oda Thiruvizha” is celebrated in the month next day of Aippasi, Amavasya ( new moon day ).

‘தேவர் பிரான் அமர்ந்த திருக்கொள்ளம்பூதூர்
        எதிர்தோன்றத் திருவுள்ள்ம் பணியச் சென்று
மேவுதலால் ஓடங்கள் விடுவார் இன்றி
        ஒழிந்திடவும் மிக்கதோர் விரைவார் சண்பைக்
காவலனார் ஓடத்தின் கட்டவிழ்த்துக்
        கண்ணுதலான் திருத்தொண்டர் தம்மை யேற்றி
“நாவலமே கோலாக” அதன் மேல் நின்று
        நம்பர்தமைக் “கெட்டமே” நவின்று பாட”
........பெரியபுராணம்
This place was called as Vilvavanam and Koovilavanam. The other name of Vilvam is Koovilam, hence this place is called as Koovilamputhur and the same was got corrupted to the present name of “Thirukkollampudur”. Also it has the names as Brahmavanam, Panchatcharapuram and Kandeepavanam.

It is believed that Arjunan, Vinayagar, Ganga, Kaveri, Adhiseshan, Idaikadar, Varaguna Pandya, Ko Chengat Chozha, Birugu Muni, Kashyabar, Kanvar, Agathiyar, Vashister and vama Devar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

This is one of the Pancha Aranya temples, Thirukarukavur – Mullai, Avalivanallur – Pathiri, Arathaiperumpali ( Haridwaramangalam) – Vanni tree, Irumpoolai ( Alangudi ) – Poolai and Thirukollamputhur – Vilvam. It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship all the five temples in a day and it will be equivalent to worshiping of mount Kailash.
 
Sthala Purana - Thirugnanasambandar sailing the boat with his hymns

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Deepavali Amavasya ( new moon day ), artha jama pooja will be conducted on the next morning to commemorate the event of Thirugnanasambandar’s visit to this temple after crossing the river. Thirugnanasambandar utsavar will be taken in procession to cross the river on that day.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ),  Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda Sashti  in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.


TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.15 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The land line number +91 4366 262 239 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 
The place is on the bus route Kumbakonam to Kudavasal.
From Koradacheri to Kodavasal bus route get down after Abivirutheeswaram, a place called Sellur. From Sellur Thirukkalambur is 1 KM 
The temple is 7.3 KM from Kudavasal, 21 KM from Kumbakonam, 26 KM from Mannargudi, 23 Km from Thiruvarur, 45 KM from Thanjavur 51 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi, and 305 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE





---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

4 comments:

  1. A well written article on the temple. Now, I added your blog in my list and will continue to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Sir, I am blessed to receive this encouraging comment from a Scholar like you Sir, And I feel I am honoured. I will be extra careful in writing future articles. Thanks a lot once again Sir,.

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  2. Respected Sir
    I am from Hyderabad. First I read Periya Puraam in Telugu. With that background, I started searching for articles on Padal Petra Sthalams. I have read almost 250 articles of yours on Padal Petra Sthalams. My knowledge is enriched. Thank you very much for your efforts. would like to meet you personally one day when I come to TN, if you permit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Sir.. for your encouraging words. .. Will meet in person one day. Till then bye..

      Delete