Muvar Koil & Aivar Koil / கொடும்பாளூர் மூவர் கோயில் மற்றும் ஐவர் கோயில், Kodumbalur, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Kodumbalur Muvar Koil & Aivar Koil at Kodumbalur was a part of the Heritage Visit to temples around Keeranur in the Pudukkottai District, organized by the “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே” group on 2^nd and 3^rd October 2021.

 

Moolavar         : Sri Varaguneswarar, Vikrama Bhutheeswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

This group of temples faces west. The remains of the of temples Muvar temples, like Nandi, Stupi, Shiva Linga banas, Sculptures, and Pillar remains, are kept on display at the entrance of the Complex.

ARCHITECTURE

This temple is believed to be the forerunner of the Thanjavur Rajarajecharam. The architecture of this temple holds an important position in the history of South Indian temple architecture. Even though this temple is called Muvar Koil, there are only two now. The construction is very simple but looks elegant. The sculptures are beautifully carved. The height of the sanctum measures 34 feet with Kathali type inside side vimana.   

The temples are constructed from south to north, facing west with 16 parivara shrines (For Ashtadikpalakas, Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai, Vinayagar, Murugan, Agni, Bhairavar, Indran, etc). In that, only two sanctum sanctorums exist. Only a Shiva Linga panam is in one of the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Gangadharar, Pichadanar, Veenadharar, Uma Maheswarar, Gajasamharamurthy, Ardhanareeswarar, Thiripurasamharar,  Shiva who holds himself) Bhutaganas, Elephant Yazhi with big nails, are on the Vimana. 

The outer wall is dilapidated. There is also a round well on the southeast corner of the temple Complex. This temple was reconstructed and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Lord Shiva Holding Himself in the form of a Shiva Lingam

Lord Shiva Holding Himself

Inside view of the Vimana -Kathalika

Malai Thongal 

AIVAR TEMPLE

This temple might have been constructed on the east side of the Muvar Temple. These temples may be older than the Muvar temple. The main shrine was located at the centre, keeping 4 Sub Shrines on all 4 corners. The Shires might have separate Vimanas and mandapas with Rishabas. But now, only the base exists.  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This place kodumbalur was mentioned in one of the sangam literature Silapathikaram as … கொடும்பை நெடுங்குளக் கோட்டகம் புக்கால் (சிலபதிகாரம் 11-17). This place Kodumbalur was on the Peruvazhi between Chozha’s Capital and Uraiyur, and Pandya’s capital Madurai. This place was ruled by the small regional kings Velirs under the Chozha Dynasty. Kodumbalur also mentioned in Idangazhi Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmar puranam (Periya Puranam) as “கோனாட்டுக் கொடிநகரம்”

The inscription on the center shrine wall belongs to Bhuthi Vikrama Kesari, one of the Velir kings under Chozha King Sundara Chozha Parantaka-II.  This 10th-century inscription records the 9 generations (49.. ?) of Velirs and Bhuthi Vikrama Kesari’s name figured at the last. This records the construction of the middle temple in his name, and the other two are in the name of his wives, Varagunavatti and KaRRalai Piratti. The inscription also mentions his son's names as Parantakavarman and Adhita Varman. The temples are called Varaguneswaram and Vikrama Bhutheeswaram.

The above inscription further mentions that he established a mutt for Mallikarjunan, the head of Kalamukhas, one of the Shaiva sects, and gifted many Villages for feeding 50 Kalamukhas daily. 

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 1 km away from the Pudukottai–Manaparai Main road.

The temple is about 10 km from Viralimalai, 38 km from Tiruchirappalli, 40 km from Pudukkottai, 40 km from Keeranur, and 366 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Lord Shiva as Gangadharar

Lord Shiva as Veenadharar

Samaratharis

Uma Maherwarar

Lord Shiva and Parvati

Ardhanareeswarar as Ganga Visajjanar

Rishabam/Nandhi with Bhuta ganas

Ganesha with Bhuta Ganas

Thiripurantakar

Gaja Samharar

The remains

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---