The visit to this Sri Kotravaleeswarar Temple at Koviloor near Karaikudi was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23rd
& 24th September 2023.
This
is one of the ancient temples in the Sivaganga District, and the legend of this
temple is associated with the Pandya king. Hence, it is believed that the
original temple was built during the early Pandya Period.
Moolavar : Sri
Kotravaleeswarar
Consort :
Sri, Thirunellai Ambal.
Moolavar :
Sri Kailasanathar
Consort :
Sri Nithya Kalyani
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple faces east with a big temple tank
and a Neerazhi mandapam. The main Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers with a mandapam in front. Vinayagar, Shiva with Parvati as Rishaba Roodar, and Murugan are on the
hara portion/parapet wall of the mandapam.
The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised platform.
Ambal temple is also adjacent to Moolavar sannidhi, facing east. A big parahara or
circumambulation path is around the Shiva and Ambal sannidhis. In koshtam,
Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Annamalaiyar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In praharam Thiru Nellaiamman, Somaskandar, Adhi
Shiva, Vinayagar, Kasi Viswanathan, Visalakshi, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar,
Chandikeswarar, Kailasanathar, Nithya Kalyani, and Navagrahas. All the Navagrahas
are in a sitting posture.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised
platform. Ambal temple is also adjacent to Moolavar sannidhi, facing east. The
sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. The
Bhitti starts with Vedika. The Kostas are of the padra & sala type. A mandapam
was extended in front of Dakshinamurthy. Two Lions are supporting the
mandapam. Kumbha panjaras are in the
karna pathi. The prastaram consists of valapi with madhalam, kapotam with Nasi
kudus, and Bhumi Desam. A 3-tier vesara
vimanam is over the sanctum sanctorum.
A big prahara or circumambulation path is around
the Shiva and Ambal sannidhis. The praharam / corridor has with high ceiling. The
corridor reminds the Rameswaram Temple praharam.
The Mandapa pillar sculptures like Shiva’s
Urdhva Thandavam, Shiva & Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Dancing, Saraswati,
Mahishasuramardini, Shiva & Parvati’s marriage, Bairavar, etc, are worth watching.
One of the special features is the Temple tank with a Neerazhi mandapam of octagonal shape supported with 16 pillars. The mandapa is
of 3 tiers, and the sala/ Kostas are of hara style.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the Original temple belongs to the 6th to 7th century, the early Pandya period. As per the
Sivagangai Mavatta Tholliyal Kaiyedu, due to the presence of a beautiful temple
in the village, this place might have obtained the name Kovilur. This place
was once called Kazhanivasal, Srivallapuram, Ezhakapperuntheru, etc.
In 1382 CE, the Vijayanagara King called Samanar, took steps to regulate the living of the Brahmin community. In one of the sabha, it was decided to give 8 Kalanju Gold or equivalent Silver Coins to the brides
by the bridegrooms. If anybody disobeyed, they would be excluded from the
Brahmin Community.
During the 16th century, a person called
Soorakudi Pettappa Vijayalaya Devan gave some gifts (maybe land) as Irayili and a Madappalli to this temple (re-constructed the temple). In 1550 CE, A Subramaniar Idol was made of
Gold, and also established an endowment was established for the celebration in the month of Karthigai, for which the same donations were made.
The present stone structure was reconstructed 19th
to 20th centuries, by Kovilur Madam Swamigal, Sri Muthuramalinga Desikar, and Nattukottai Nagarathar’s period. 18th to 19th-century inscriptions are found on the adhistanam.
The temple is now under the administrative
control of Sivagangai Samasthanam.
Sr Muthuramalinga Gnana Desikar Swamigal, about 200
years ago, whose madam is near the temple, was the key person for the renovation
of the temple.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, the ardent devotees of Shiva Sivakuptan
and Suthanmai’s daughter Arathana Valli were sent to guard the paddy field to
save the crops from the birds. But Aratha Valli went to the garden instead of the paddy field.
Ma Parvati took the form of Arathana Valli and guarded the paddy fields.
Suthanmai went to the field with food for her daughter. After she gave food
returned back to home, and Anthanavalli came home and asked for food.
Suthanmai realized that the girl in the form of her daughter, who guarded the
paddy fields, was none other than Ma Parvati. Hence, Ma Parvati of this temple
is being called Thiru Nellai Ambal.
In Another Legend, when the Pandya king was ruling
Kalayarkoil, he came here for hunting. He chased a deer and was about to kill it with
his sword, but found it had disappeared, due to Shri Shiva’s play. The deer ran into the forest and disappeared. After some time, the king found that the Brahmin was
chased by a tiger. To save the Brahmin, the King himself tried to fight with
Tiger. The Tiger and the Brahmin disappeared and found his sword and a Shiva Linga
under a Tree. The Pandya King built a temple keeping the Shiva Linga as Moolavar. Since Shiva gave back his sword (வாள்), Shri Shiva is being called Kotravaleeswarar (கொற்றவாளீஸ்வரர்), also called Raja kadka Parameswarar.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosam, Maha Shivaratri, Arudra Darshan, Amavasya, and Pournami
days, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to
11.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The Mobile numbers +9194892 78792, +91 94424
39473, and +9190435 67074 may be
contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
This Sri Kotravaleeswarar Temple at Kovilur is
about 8 km from Kundrakudi Murugan Temple,
12 km from Pillayarpatti Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, 13 km from
Vairavanpatti Sri Vairavar Temple, 11 km from Nemam Jeyangonda Soleeswarar Temple, and 5.2 km from Karaikudi Bus Stand.
The nearest Railway Station is Karaikudi.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
காலசம்ஹாரர்
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--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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