Kokarneswarar Temple / கோகர்ணேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / திருக்கோகர்ணம் பிரகதாம்பாள் கோவில் / Pandyas Rock Cut Cave Temple, Thirukokarnam, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Kokarneswarar Pandyas Rock Cut Cave Temple at Thirukokarnam near Pudukottai was a part of the structural and Rock Cut cave  Shiva and Vishnu temples visit in Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai and Sivagangai Districts, on 21^st November 2021. This temple is popularly known as Brahadambal temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Kokarneswarar

Consort    : Sri Brahadambal / Araikasu Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Vinayagar, and Lord Shiva with Parvati as Rishabarooder and Murugan are on the top of the front mandapam. A stucco image of Shiva Linga is on the back of Rishaba Rooder. A 5-tier Rajagopuram is after the front mandapam. Moolavar is carved out of mother rock and Avudayar is square in shape. Since this is a Rock cut cave, Koshta Deities are installed in the praharam.  Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam / idabam are in front of the ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of ardha mandapam.

In praharam and mandapam, Vinayagar, Adhikara Nandi with his consort, Dwarapalakas on a platform, 63 Nayanmars, Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Brahma, Gaja Lakshmi, Jwarahareswarar, Suryan, Chandran, Nalvar, Sahasra ( 1008 ) Lingam, Subramaniyar with Valli Devasena, Annapoorani, Durgai, Mahalakshmi, Mangala Nayagi, Magizh Vaneswarar, Vinayagar, Brahadambal / Araikasu Amman and Chandikeswarar. All Parivara deities are installed on different levels, depending on the elevation of the Rock.

Kali & Oorthuva Thandavar

Manmathan & Rathi

Nandi & His consort

Vinayagars

Saptamatrikas

ARCHITECTURE

Mandapams…. After the entrance arch, the mandapam was built during the Vijayanagara Nayaks period with exhaustively carved pillars. After Dwarapalakas on a pedestal, the second path ends at the 3red entrance. On the Left is the Utsava mandapam. The Mandap pillars have sculptures of Oorthuva Thandavar with Nandi playing mridangam and Brahma playing thalam. A male is sitting on a female and playing Veena. Kali’s dance sculpture is on the opposite to oorthuva Thandavar. Vinayagar, Murugan, Lord Shiva, Saraswati, Mahishasuramardini, Rathi and manmathan are on the pillars.

Ambal Brahadambal is in a separate sannidhi facing east. Dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture on a lotus pedestal with 4 hands. The upper hands are holding lotus flowers and the lower hands are in abhaya & Varada hastam. Ambal is in jadamagudam, wearing makara kundalam.

There are two sets of Saptamatrikas in this temple. One set is on a pedestal cared out of individual slab stones along with Vinayagars.  6 Vinayagars are installed in L shape in continuation to the Saptamatrikas. The other set of Saptamatrikas are carved on the rock with Veerabhadra and Vinayagar. Veerabhadra is 4 hands without any weapons. Each one is sculptured with differences in dress, ornament, etc. Mostly they wear Jada Maguta, Poottu kundalas, Kandigai, shoulder & bangles. Yagnopaveetha is in the form of Niveetham. In this Group Brahmi is only with 4 hands and the rest of the matrikas are with 2 hands. All Saptamatrikas are wearing ornaments and yagnopaveetha. Maheswari I without marbukachchu/brazier. Chamundi is keeping her right leg down, holding a small sword. She wears padra kundalam, bretha kundalam, Jwalamudi, chavadi in the neck and without marbuachchu/brazier.

The rock-cut sanctum Sanctorum  is with two square pillars and two pilasters. The cave is 4.97 meters long and 51 cm wide. The pillars are, square with tharanga pothyal. After Utharam Vajanam and the ceiling are excavated. The projection is about 44 cm and forms a kapotam in a half-moon shape. The sanctum sanctorum measures  east- West 3.16 meters, North-South 3.23 meters, and height 2.17 meters. The avudayar is square with upanam. Jagathi, kumudam and kampu – Kandam, pattigai top Kampu. Shiva Linga is about 69 CM tall. The komukha is on the north side. A stucco Vesara Vimana is constructed on the rock just above the sanctum sanctorum. The first level and greevam have the images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu as Narasimha, and Brahma. Vinayagar is on the left facing north and Gangadharar is on the right wall facing south.

Vinayagar… The Vinayagar is 1.92 meters in sitting posture. Mothagam is on the right hand, Thantham, and wearing karanda makuta, cloth yagnopaveetha, sarappalli, Utharabandham, Araipattigai, Silk cloth dress,

Gangadharar… Only 4 Gangadharar sculptures are available  in rock-cut caves in Tamil Nadu. This is one of them. Gangadharar is about 1.98 meters high. He is in a standing posture, keeping his left foot firm on the ground, and folding his right leg up to the knee. Wearing a maravuri below the hip. The lower right hand is in kadi hastam, and the left hand is in kadivalampiththam. Wearing Neevitha yagnopaveetha, kandigai, charappalli, makara kundalam in ears, and Jada Magudam. Ganga is on one of the strands, in a kneeled position with anjali hastam. Ganga is wearing padre kundala, Chavadi over the neck, Thanda on the legs, the half dress below the hip, and marbukachchu, which looks beautiful.

    

Makizh Vaneswarar & Mangala Nayagi…..  Makizh Vaneswarar shrine is with sanctum sanctorum, mukha mandapam. A Two-tier Dravida vimana is on a padabandha adhisthana. The salaipathi is protruding out and Kuda panjaras differentiates the salaipathi. Pattigai is in the form of kapotha.  Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Brahma are in Vimana koshtam. Chandikeshwara is on the north side.

Mangala Nayagi… The sanctum Sanctorum mandapam pillars have sculptures of Warriors, Lord Shiva as Oorthuva Thandavar, Kali, and Devotees. An Ekathala vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum adhistanam. The adhistanam is of simple padabandha adhistanam. Brahmakantha pilasters support the wall / bhitti. The pothyals are vettu & tharanga pothyals.  In sanctum sanctorum, Ambal Mangala Nayagi is in a samabhanga standing posture. Ambal is with 4 hands holding Nilotpala flowers in the upper hands and lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam.

   

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

With the presence of Pallava Grantham and Pandya King Maransadayan alias Varagunavarman’s inscriptions, this rock-cut cave may belong to the 07^th to 8^th Century. About 25 inscriptions are recorded from this temple, and still some are to be recorded. The earliest inscription starts with Pallava Grantham as “Sthabanachcharyo baagaththaachcharyaha..”, which belongs to the 7^th to 8^th Century, maybe the Pandya period. As per the earliest Varaguna Pandya’s and Parantaka-I ‘s period inscriptions, Kokarnam is in Vallanattu Thiruvelpur Kokarnam. The Rajakesari, Parakesari inscriptions, which belong to Rajaraja-I, records this place as Thenkavira nattu Thiruvetpur Kokarnam. Vijayanagara period inscriptions record this place as Thenkavira Nattu Jayasinga Kulakala Valanattu Kokarnam. This place was mentioned in Kulothunga Chozha –III’s inscription at Thiruvetpur. 

About 12 inscriptions recorded belong to the Chozha period. Out of 12 inscriptions one belongs to Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 12^th reign year. Rajendra Chozha-I’s 24^th reign year inscription records his titles, which is incomplete. Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 12^th reign year inscription is in the form of a poem. Kulothunga Chozha-II’s inscription records the erection of Kalingu.  Rajaraja Chozha-III’s 20^th reign year inscription records the rule of Hoysalas in Chozha Country.

In the Pandya period, inscriptions belong to Maravarman Veerapandian, Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan, and Sundara Pandyan.

Vijayanagara period inscriptions belong to Saayana Udayar, Viruppanna Udayar and Pradhaabadevarayar

Thiruvetpur inscriptions record the gift of Thiruvetpur and Kokarnam to this temple as Devathanam. The inscriptions also mention the Thenkavira Nadu, Pampur Nadu, Valla Nadu, Thiruvazhunthur Nadu, and Thenpannkattu Nadu. The inscriptions also mention 18 Village names.

Kulothunga Chozha-II’s inscription records the erection of “Rajarajan Kalingu”, by Irumbazhi maRavan Arasan Devan alias Anabhaya Natalzhvan.

Nattars… Thiruvetpur Arayar received land as a sale and agreed to supply paddy and money to Selva Kooththar ( Natarajar ). In this the signatures of Jayangonda Chozha Pallavarayan, Chembian Konar, Chembian Velar, Uthama Konar, Azhagiya Chozha Velar, Vallathu VenRRaar, Jayathunga Pallavatharayar, Arayan UdanpiRappazhagiyar, Vallanattu Velar, Chembiyan Pallavatharayar,  Villavarayar and Kadavatharayar alias Thenkaviranattu Nattars.

Kavirakulam was a big irrigation tank and water was taken to the fields through channels/vaikal, Perungumizhi, and Sirukumizhi. For the same Kanjai Nambipiran Kiramavithan of MeRkillimangalam Village donated land as Kulapatti.

Sayana Udayar period inscription records the sale of a paddy field to Lord Kokarneswarar. In this, the document is also signed by the Nattars.  One of his inscriptions records that due to the lack of maintenance Kulam / eri was dried and the fields were also dried without water. The tax exemption was given to these lands.

Maravaarman Vira Pandyan period inscription records the collection responsibility of Taxes 60 panam per year called Vadakadamai was given to the Nattars. Some of the taxes mentioned in the inscriptions are Kadamai, Vettipattam, Panchipeeli, Santhuvikrakapperu, etc,.

Parantaka-I’s 3^rd reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp during Siru kalai sandhi / early morning pooja/service to Thirukokarna Nattu Mahadeva in  Thenkavira  Nadu by Sama Nayakan Kudaiampataran of Veera Chozhapuram for the same one kalanju gold was gifted. This was received by Bhaarathaayan Kadan Bhujangan, Saththam Arampallavan, Saththam Bhjangan, Mazhapadi Nichal.

Koparakesari’s 4^th reign year inscription records a gift of 15 Kalanju gold for burning a perpetual lamp in the temple of Kokarnanattu Mahadeva at Thiruvelpur in Kavira nadu (?)a sub-division of Valla nadu. The donor’s name is not clear and seems to have been a resident of Sirukulattur and the same was received by Thali Upasakar.

Pandya Period inscriptions also record the governance of the temple was entrusted to the Donors. The right of cultivation was given to the Lands gifted to the temple and a portion of the yield was given to this temple.

Rajaraja Chozha –I’s 10^th reign year inscription records that Hoysala king Veerasomeswaran’s mother Somaladevi’s  small child Vachchiyan, for the wellness of his mother Manjavi and father Parusadevar established an endowment to continue the perpetual lamp. Also from Uttarayana's first-day lighting of the additional perpetual lamp, for the same land was gifted. In the land gifted a nandavanam was established to yield 2 nazhi flowers. This was received by Siva Brahmins.

Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 13^th reign year inscription records that the lands belonging to Madevar at Sri Kokarnam were made tax-free by the nattars, who received a lump sum of 20 Kasu and an annual interest/grant of 5 kasu from Adambaramudaiyan Velaan kaari of Pambur Nadu.

During the draught, a situation arose that the temple authorities found difficult to arrange for an offering to God, Kavira Nattars gifted  a field land. The land was received as a sale by Thiruvetpur Arayar Periya Velar agreed to supply 3 kalam paddy during muthal pasanam (irrigation), during the summer ½ of the 3 kalam and  punjai land 3 panam to this Selva Kooththar.

Maravarman Sundara Pandyan period inscription records the endowment of “Pallavan Sandhi”, a special prayer by Pallavarayar, and for the same land was sold to him by Kavira Nattars and Arayars. Also to celebrate Vaikasi Thiruvizha and Theerthavari to Lord Shiva. In the same way, Pallavan sandhi, Pallavan Thirunal was established on Avani month Chithirai Theertham to this temple’s Lord Shiva and another Utsavar.   

To get Tax exemption for the land owned by Velaankaari gave 20 Kalanju gold to the Nattars. The Nattars agreed to remove tax for the interest earned to the 20 Kalanju Gold. This interest was utilized for naivedyam during 3 kala poojas and offered during Thirubali. (To be verified)

Sri Koparakesari’s 13^th reign year inscription records some provision has been made by a resident of Thiruvetpur for the celebration of a festival on asterism Uttaram in Panguni Month to God Ganapati in the temple at Sri Kokarnam In Kavira Nadu.

On that day naivedyam was sponsored by Emperuman for the same one thulai pon / gold was gifted to this temple. From the interest of 3 kalanju gold naivedyam was offered.

Thiruvetpur Velar Venkadan established an endowment of celebrating Panguni Thirunal / Brahmotsavam for 7 days for the same 9 kasu were gifted to temple upasakar. As an interest 4 Nazhi thoonipathakku paddy was supplied to this temple. For this naivedyam was offered on all 7 days to the Utsavars of Lord Shiva and Ambal.

Arasu Vizhithurangum Perumal Pallavarayar established an endowment of pooja and maintenance for the same paddy field was gifted to this temple.

Veerapandiya period inscription records the construction of Vimanam for Thirubhoomiswaram udaya Nayanar for the wellness of Semapillayar. He is the King’s one of the agambadi Mudalis. Brahadambal Sannidhi mandapam was constructed by Pallavaraya Manickaththal Ethiyar. The SiRpamandapa was constructed by Raya Thondaiman ( 1686 – 1730 CE ).  The Kulothunga Chozha – I’s 12^th reign year poem inscription praises a person / Annal of Thondai Nadu for increasing the wealth through Thenkavira Kulam / eri, sluice, and the channels for irrigation in Thenkaviranadu. The inscription also records the gold plating of Perambalam by Kulothunga Chozha-I.  

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 23^rd June 1982 and 23rd March 2005.

LEGENDS

The Thondaiman Kings used to worship Brahadambal as their Kula Deivam. It is believed that Ambal spoke to Thondaiman Kings face to face.

As per the legend, the divine cow Kamadhenu was cursed to become an ordinary Cow by Devendra / Indra. As per the advice of Kapila and Manga Maharishi, Kamadhenu came to earth and worshiped Lord Shiva with Ganga water. One day while it was carrying Ganga water, Lord Shiva in the form of a Tiger came and threatened Kamadhenu to eat her. Kamadhenu requested the tiger to allow her to do pooja to Lord Shiva and then he could eat. After completing the Pooja Kamadhenu went to the tiger to eat her. Lord Shiva appeared before her and blessed her with all her original powers.

Devotees worship Lord Shiva and Brahadambal / Araikasu Amman to get back the lost materials, to remove marriage obstacles, Child boon, etc.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam, Deepavali, Tamil and English New Year Days, Thai Pongal, Thaipoosam, Arudra Darshan, Karthigai Deepam, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline and mobile numbers, +91 4322 221084 and +91 94861 85259 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Thirukokarnam is about  3.1 KM from the Pudukkottai bus Stand, 3.7 KM from Pudukkottai Railway station, 50 KM from Trichy / Tiruchirappalli, 60 KM from Thanjavur 376 KM from Chennai.

The nearest railway station is Pudukkottai and Junction is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Rishbaroodar

Dakshan, Maha Vishnu in Koorma avatar & Saraswati

Nalvar & chandran

Dwarapalakas

Lord Shiva in Rock Cut Cave 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---