Arulmigu Uthamar Koil /Uthamar Kovil /Divya Desam /Pichandarkovil /Bikshandarkoil / பிக்ஷண்டர்கோயில், Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this temple was a part of the “Trichy Heritage Walk” organized by “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே- Group” to the Historical Chozha period temples in and around Trichy aka Tiruchirappalli, scheduled on 20^th & 21^st March 2021. Even though they were contributed to by the Pallava, Chozha, Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings, and the present Nattukottai Nagarathars, they are less popular.

This is the only place where Mummurtis, ie, Lord Shiva, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are with their consorts.  This place was called Karambanur during the Thirumangai Alwar period.   

Brahma Temple –பிரம்மா கோயில்.

குரு பிரம்மா குரு விஷ்ணு

குரு தேவோ மகேஸ்வர

குரு சாஷாத் பரப்பிரம்மா

தஸ்மை ஸ்ரீகுருவே நமஹா:

பிரம்மா துதி

வலிமலியு மந்திரஞ் சத்திர முதற்பல

        வயப்படைக்குப் படையெனும்

வாக்காயுதங் கொண்டு தான் கொண்ட வைதீக

        நன் மாண்பினுக் கேற்ப நாளும்

நலமலியும் வெண்மணி வடங்கையிற் றூங்கவெண்

        நகையனைய வுருவமேனி

நாயகி மணந்து வெள்ளேர்திம நடாத்துமொ

        நான்முகக் கடவுள் காக்க

...... மகாவித்வான் மீனாட்சி சுந்தரம்பிள்ளை

Moolavar  : Sri Brahma

Consort    : Sri Saraswathi  

The main Maha Vishnu temple faces east with an entrance arch. Brahma and Saraswati's sannidhis face south, on the right side immediately after the entrance. Saraswathi sannadhi is on the left side of Brahma’s Sannadhi. Brass plates are covered on the front of both sannidhis with bas-reliefs of their vahanas, Dancers, Musicians, Naradar, and Nandi Devar.

 

Uthamar Kovil – உத்தமர் கோயில்

This is the 3^rd Diva Desam of Chozha Nadu and mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Alwar (1399 – 6.2 in Thiruvaimozhi). He mentions “Karambur Uthaman” in Srirangam Thiruvaimozhi Pasuram. He stayed here and did thirupani at Srirangam Temple. Among the Azhvaars, only Thirumangai Azhwar and Andal have referred to Maha Vishnu as ‘Uthamar’. Andal  has sung as  ஓங்கி உலகளந்த உத்தமன் பேர் பாடி... in Thiruppavai.

பேரானைக் குறுங்குடியெம் பெருமானை, திருதண்கால்

ஊரானைக் கரம்பனூர் உத்தமனை, முத்திலங்கு

காரார்த்திண் கடலேழும் மலையேழிவ் வுலகேழுண்டும்,

அராதென் றிருந்தானைக் கண்டதுதென் னரங்கத்தே                     6.2

...... திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்

சிலமா தவம் செய்துந் தீவேள்வி வேட்டும்

பலமா நதியிற் படிந்து – முலகிற்

பரம்பநூல் கற்றும் பயனில்லை நெஞ்சே

கரம்பனூர் உத்தமன் பேர்கல்

.... பிள்ளைபெருமாள் ஐயங்கார்

Moolavar  : Sri Purushothama Perumal, Uthamar 

Thayar     : Sri Poorna Valli Thayar

Maha Vishnu, as Purushothama Perumal, is in a reclining posture facing east. Moolavar is believed to be made of saligrama stone. Utsavar is in a standing posture and holds Shankha and Chakra in a prayoga position. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Periya Thiruvadi Garudan are in the Mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan are at the entrance of artha mandapam. Alwars, Rama Sita with Lakshman, Lakshmi Narayana, Varadharaja Perumal, Andal. Poornavalli Thayar are in the Purushothamar temple. Venugopal, Bhama Rukmani, and Dasaratha Linga (Dasaratha worshiped and did yagna for child boon) are on the back side of the temple.

Varadharajar

Pichandarkovil – பிக்ஷண்டர்கோயில்.

The Pichadanar form of Lord Shiva was praised in Kanchi Puranam and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal’s Thiruvarur Temples Devara hymns.

அடியிற் றொடுத்த பாதுகையும் அசைந்த நடையுமிசை மிடறும்

வடிவிற் சிறப்ப நடந்தருளி முழை ஏந்தி மருங்கணைந்த

தொடியிற் பொலி தோள் முனி மகளிர் சுரமங்கையரை மயல் பூட்டிப்

படியிட் டெழுதாப் பேரழகால் பலிதேர் பகவன் திருவுருவம்.

....... காஞ்சி புராணம்

காரார் கொன்றைக் கண்ணி சூடிக் கபாலங் கையேந்திக் கணங்கள் பாட

ஊராரிடும் பிச்சை கொண்டுழலும் உத்தமராய் நின்ற ஒருவனார்தாம்

சீரார் கழல் வணங்குந் தேவ தேவர் திருவாரூர்த் திருமூலட்டான மேயார்

போரார் விடையேறிப் பூதஞ்சூழப் புலியூர்ச் சிற்றம்பலமே புக்கார்தாமே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

Moolavar  : Sri Pichadanar

Consort    : Sri Soundryanayaki

Pichadanar, the temple faces west with a small dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam. In sanctum moolavar is of Shiva Linga and Utsavar is Pichadanar. In kostam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Pichadanar, Maheswara, Brahma, and Kotravai. In praharam Irattai Vinayagar, Bhairavar, Chandran, Nartarajar, Soundarya Parvathy, Maha Ganapathy, Bala Dhandayuthapani, Adhi Brahma, Saneeswaran, Nalvar, Lingas. Navagrahas and Dhasaratha Linga are on the back side of the Temple. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south.

     

ARCHITECTURE

Brahma Temple... Brahma and his consort Saraswati are in separate sannidhis. Brahma’s consort, Gnana Saraswati, is on the left side of Brahma in a separate sannadhi. On the top of the entrance lintel of Brahma sannadhi bas-reliefs of Maha Lakshmi with Swan/Hamsa are on both sides. Saraswati is in a sitting posture without the regular attribute of Veena and Holding Palm leaves and acca mala. At the entrance are lintel bas-reliefs of Maha Lakshmi with a Swan/Anna bird on the left and a Peacock on the right. In addition to that, the singing posture of Naradar is on the left, and Nandi Devar is on the right. Dancers and musicians are also shown.  

Uthamar Kovil ....Maha Vishnu, the temple is with sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Maha Vishnu’s reclining posture. The Vimana over the sanctum is called Udhyoga Vimana. Stucco images of Mahavishnu are in the griva koshtam. Poornavalli Thayar and Andal are in a separate sannidhi. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s Dasavathara is on the parapet wall of the mandapam.  

Pichandarkovil is with sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. An ekathala Dravida Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. Maha Nasis are in the 4 cardinal directions and alpa nasis are in between the mahanasis.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Thirumangai Azhwar, in his pasuram mentions this place as Thirukkarambanur and Maha Vishnu as Uthamar. Hence, this place was called Uthamar kovil – உத்தமர் கோயில். This place also has another name, “Pichandar Kovil”. Lord Shiva was called “Moolasthanathu Thirukarambathurai Picha Devar” and “Thirukarambeeswara Mahadevar”.

As per the inscription recorded in the year 1902 by the Archaeological Department, the earliest inscription belongs to Rajathiraja’s 30^th reign Year, and it  records Lord Shiva’s name  as “Thirukarambanur Mahadevar”.

It is not known when this place was called Pichandar Koil till the Yaaooyakay group found out about Rajendra Chozha-I’s 16^th reign year ( 1028 CE ), inscription at this temple. In that, this place was mentioned as “Thirukarambur” and Lord Shiva as “Sri Moolasthanathu Pichathevar”.

The inscription starts with meikeerthi of victory over  Ganga, Sri Lanka, Kalinga, Pandya, Cheras, and Chalukyas. As per the inscriptions, this place was under Rajasriya Valanattu, Pachil Kootrathu, “Thirukarambur”. From this inscription, it is believed that the Shiva temple may have been built during Rajendra Chozha-I’s period. The inscription records the gift of lands to this temple.

The original name of Thirukarambur was ignored, and it was called Pichandar Koil by the Shaivites and Uthamar Koil by the Vaishnavites. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11^th September 2019.

LEGENDS

As per the Vaishnavite legend, even though Brahma is praised as one of the Mumurti and the creator of this universe, due to the curse of Lord Shiva, he does not have a temple (Which happened when Lord Shiva took the form of Lingothbavar to decide who is great between Maha Vishnu and Brahma). So he requested Maha Vishnu for the way to get rid of the curse. Maha Vishnu was advised to worship him at this place and made to be born on the earth. Brahma recognized Maha Vishnu, who was under the Kadamba tree. Brahma did a penance on Maha Vishnu. Appreciating his penance, Maha Vishnu gave darshan and asked him to stay there to bless devotees.   

As per the Shaivite legend, Brahma also has 5 heads. This made Parvati confused, to identify between Lord Shiva and Brahma. So Lord Shiva plucked the 5^th head. The 5^th head stuck with his hand. As a Pichadanar, with the Brahma’s kapala ( 5^th head ) stuck with his hand, he roamed around this place. The food offered in kapala, Brahma ate everything, without food to Lord Shiva. Finally, Maha Vishnu asked Mahalakshmi, as Poornavalli Thayar, to offer food. When food was offered, it overflowed. The 5th head of Brahma detached from Lord Shiva’s hand to eat the overflowed food and left permanently.

It is believed that Dasaratha did yagna at this temple for the Child boon before Rama was born. Hence this is a santhana prapti stahalam. Since Brahma, Maha Vishnu, and Lord Shiva are with their consorts, it is believed that prayers may be offered to reunite separated couples. 

It is believed that worshipping Lord Brahma with curd rice and Aathi leaves and Mother Saraswati with white clothes grants a long life and to excel in Music, Dance, education, art, wisdom, etc.

It is believed that there are 7 Gurus (Jupiter) in this Temple. They are Dakshinamurthy for Lord Shiva, Varadharaja for Maha Vishnu, Sakthi Guru for Ambal Soundarya Nayagi, Gnana Guru for Subramania, Deva Guru as Brahma, and Asura Guru Shukra. Abhishekams and special poojas will be conducted on Guru Peyarchi Day.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Karthigai Deepam in the month of Karthigai, Theerthavari festival in river Kollidam, to Lord Shiva on Thaipusam day  (January – Feb) to Lord Shiva and Masi Magam day for Maha Vishnu in the month Masi (Feb – March). 

Utsavars of Maha Vishnu and Pichadanar are taken in procession in the month of Karthigai. Srirangam Ranganathar comes to this place once a year. Chariot festivals of Maha Vishnu Temple in the month of Chithirai and Shiva Temple in the month of Vaikasi will be conducted.

Special pujas are performed to Lord Brahma on Guru peyarchi day (Jupiter transition day from one rasi to another).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple Complex will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

For Uthamar kovil, S. Varadaraja Bhattar, on landline number +91 431 2591 351, mobile numbers +91 99424 62145 and +91 94891 66288 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Uthamar Kovil is 7.2 km from the Main Guard Gate, 15.4 km from Tiruchirappalli, 36 km from Kulithalai, 31 km from Musuri, 76 km from Karur, 77 km from Namakkal, 63 km from Thanjavur, 88 km from Kumbakonam, and 318 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Uthamar Kovil, and the nearest Junction is Tiruchirappalli.   

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---