The Visit to this Karkodeswarar Temple at
Kamarasavalli, in Ariyalur District was a part of the “Perambalur & Ariyalur
Districts Heritage Walk” organized by Aatrupadai - ஆற்றுப்படை – A Tours and Heritage group on 4th and 5th, November 2023. This Place
is on the north banks of river Kollidam
and was called as Thirunallur during Chozha period.
Moolavar :
Sri Karkodeswarar, Sri Soundareswarar
Consort :
Sri Balambigai
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple is facing east with a mottai Gopuram.
Balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the entrance. The second level entrance is with
3 tier Rajagopuram. Vinayagar and BalaMurugan are on both sides of the
entrance to ardha mandapam. Loose sculptures of Amman, Murugan, Saptamatrikas,
Vinayagar, Nagars, etc, are in the Mukha mandapam. In Kostam Vinayagar,
Pichadanar, Gangalar, Dakshinamurthy, Rishabanthigar, Kala samhara moorthy, and
Vishnu Durgai ( Three ). A Panel containing 3 kings (maybe sponsors) in Anjali
hasta and Karkodagan worshipping a Shiva Lingam is on the left side of the
ardha mandapam entrance. Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum.
In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar,
Chandikeswarar, Karkodakan, Birungi Maharishi, Rathi, Vinayagar, Bairavar,
Shiva Lingas, Chandran, Suryan, Saptamatrikas and Navagrahas.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal
is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
Bhrigu Maharishi
Rishabanthanthigar
Gangalar
Durga
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The Vimanam is of three tiers on Upanam and
pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta Kumudam, and pattika. The
Bhitti starts with Vedika. Vishnu kantha pilasters are on the sanctum sanctorum
walls and Brahma kantha pilasters are on the antarala and mandapam walls. The
Pilasters have with square base, kalasam, kudam, plain mandi, palakai, Veera Gandam, and Tharanga pothyal. The Kostas are padra salas. The prastaram consists
of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam with nasikudus and Viyyala vari. The
Vimanam above the Bhumi Desam was constructed with bricks. The two Kostas are
sala style in between karna kudus. The Tala images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha
Vishnu, and Brahma are in between two sala Kostas. The Sigaram is of Vesara
style with maha Nasis on the cardinal directions and alpha nasis between
them.
The dancing Nandi image is on the pillar of the Rishaba
mandapam. Miniature sculptures like Kiratha Arjuna, Pichadanar, Gangalar, Moovar,
Gaja Samhara Moorthy, Natarajar, Kala Samhara Moorthy, Kalinga Narthanar, Durgai,
Chandesa Anugrah Moorthy, Chandikeswarar’s Purana, Thirupurantakar, Hanuman /
Vali / Sugreeva worshipping Shiva with
Brahma, are on the Gandapatham.
Miniature Sculptures
Nandi's dance
Chandikeswarar Purana
Pichadanar
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that this temple belongs to 09th
to 10th century, Chozha period. About 41 inscriptions are recorded
from this temple. As per the inscriptions, this place was called Kamarasavalli Chaturvedi Mangalam and Thirunallur during Chozha Period. This
Shiva temple was called Thirunallur Srikoil and Shiva was called Thirunallur Srikoil Mahadevar.
Sundara Chozha’s period inscription records the
endowment of showing Chithar pugai / smoke/fumes during pooja similar to
recent periods Sambrani pugai, by Innambar Nattu Thevadhana Brahmadeya Village
Aathanoor Balasiriyan Battan Sivan koothan. For the same one ma land was
purchased for 12 Kasus from two persons ( ½ ma land from each ) Rishikesava
Gramavithan of Kamaravalli Chaturvedi Mangalam and Kadavur Kamuthuvan Narayanan
Kumaaran and gifted to this temple as Irayili. The land was irrigated through
Kothandarama Vaikkal. This was announced by blowing two conch / shanka from the temple
Mandapam. It was agreed that the Taxes levied on the gifted land would be paid
by the Village Sabha. This document was written by Madhyastan Arangan
Thirumaliruncholaiyan.
Another inscription records the endowment of offering Naivedyam of akkaravadisal/akkaradalai..?, on the
Margazhi Thiruvathirai day after Abhishekam by an official, Kamarasavalli
Chaturvedi Mangalathu Madyasthan Narayanan Nanootruvan alias Sriraghava
Perungavithi. For the same, a land measuring 1 ma ½ kani, was purchased from the
Village Sabha and handed over to the person who was doing Srikariyam in the temple
as a gift to this temple. For preparing Akkaradalai, one Kuruni Pazhavarisi one
kuruni Paruppu / dhal, one pathakku milk, one uri ghee, 20 palam sugar, and 20
bananas, for adakkai amuthu 10 beetle nuts & leaves were also supplied by
him. The periphery limit of the land was mentioned as Ramathevavathi, Sridevi
vaikkal and Rajakesari vaikkal.
Another inscription records the endowment of
supplying Chengazhuneer flower as an offering on a daily basis and Utsava days,
by the Rajendra Singavalanattu Mirai Kootrathu, Sri Kamarasavalli Chaturvedi Mangalathu Mahasabha. For the same, this Village and all the kulam and
odai / water passage / vaikal are gifted to this temple. This decision was
announced at Thirunallur Mahadevar Thirumandapam. This decision was ordered to be documented in the Ozhukil by Chozhamadevicheri, Avanikantharvacheri,
Rajakesaricheri, and Kamarasavallicheri representatives. The same was documented by
Madhyasthan Dharmapriyan.
Another inscription records the endowment of
applying sandal paste to Shiva of Rajendrasinga Valanattu Miraikootram sri
Kamarasavalli Chaturvedi Mangalathu Thirukarkodaga Eswaramudaiya Thirunallur Mahadevar, by
Rajakesaricheri Priyatheeramangalathu Athrayan Moothanakkan Somasivaduga Somaayagiyaar,
a Brahmin. He bought the 4 ma land from the sabha and gave it to the temple. The
land periphery limits mentioned are Ramthevavathi and Rajakesari Vaikal.
Rajendra Chozha-I’s 8th reign year
inscription records the victory, which includes Shanthi island. And also records that the sabha of Kamarasavalli Chaturvedimangalathu Perunguri Perumakkal assembled at Sri Kailasamudaiyar Temple ( not exist now ), gave
lands to this temple and Sri Kunthavai Vinnakarathevar, a Maha Vishnu Temple.
The lands are below the Narathonga Pereri. Chozhamadevicheri,
Avanikantharvacheri, Rajakesaricheri, and Kamarasavallicheri representatives
also participated. The pereri is now called Sukran Eri and Narathungan was
the the title of Chozha king.
Another inscription records the Vaikasi month Thiruvathirai 3-day celebration and the performance of Chakkai Koothu at
Thirukarkodeeswaramudaiyar Temple, by Chakkai Marayan Vikrama Chozhan. For the
same, the 3 ma land was gifted to him as Irayili, by the Kamarasavalli
Chaturvedi Mangalam Sabha, in the presence of Chozhamadevicheri, Avanikantharvacheri, Rajakesaricheri, and
Kamarasavallicheri representatives. ( This Sakkai Koothu origin was Chera
Country. Since Pazhuvettaraiyars belongs to Chera Country, the performance of Sakkai koothu was brought from Chera Country ).
Sakkai Koothu
On the north side of Vinayagar Temple, there is a
Hoysala King Veerasomeswarar’s inscription in the north Indian / Devanagari language.
This inscription records the Victory of Vanakovaraiyar’s Magatha Rajya, and Pandya
Kings and maintains the Chozha rule. The inscription further records that when
the Kings were stationed here he gave an order in a land dispute case. The
dispute over land at Madurantaga Nallur was between the Koil Dhanathar and Thasuvayil
Udaiyan Andan. In the process, it was found that Thasuvayil Udaiyan Andan didn’t
have a successor and the land was with the temple. Since the land was already
with the temple, The king ordered that the same to be continued to the temple’s possession.
Ref:
A Handbook issued during the Heritage walk
LEGENDS
As per the legend, Pandavar’s descendant Pareesithu Maharaja died due to a snake bite. So His son Janamejayan did a Kala Sarpa yagna and killed all the snakes on this earth, making them fall in the yagna kund.
The King of snakes Karkodaga complained to Maha Vishnu. Maha Vishnu in turn
advised Karkodan, to go to the Karkodageswarar Temple and pray to Shiva. Satisfied
with Karkodagan’s prayer, Shiva gave a boon, after getting an assurance from
Karkodagan, that whoever comes to this temple and worships him, should not die
due to a snake bite and should not be affected by the Sarpa dosha. This happened on a Kadaka rasi &
Kadaka lakna day. From then onwards Shiva Soundareswarar was called Karkodakeswarar.
Rathi
In another legend, when the people started in
search of SiRRinbam, the Devas and Munis complained to Shiva, in turn, Shiva
burned Kama to ash with his third eye. Rathi after her husband’s death, did a
penance on Shiva to get back her husband alive. Satisfied with her penance
Shiva gave back her Mangalya Picksha. Hence this place was called Rathivarapuram
also Kamarasavalli. This legend is celebrated every year on Masi month Pournami
Day as the Kaman function. On that day a gingelly plant will be cut into two pieces
and planted on the ground. To a miracle, both pieces will start to grow within 8
days.
Three kings on the left and Karkodagan worshipping Shiva
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are
conducted on Pradosham, maha Shivaratri, Masi month Pournami day –as Kaman
function, etc.
This is a parihara sthalam for Kadaka rasi and
kadaka laknam.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.30 hrs to
11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.
HOW TO
REACH
This temple is 10 KM off from the Ariyalur –
Muttuvancheri- Govindaputhur Road.
The temple is about 18 KM from Govindaputhur, 25.6
KM from Keezhapalur, 37 KM from Ariyalur, 34 KM from Thanjavur, 65 KM from
Perambalur, 86.3 KM from Trichy and 338 KM from Chennai.
The nearest railway station is Ariyalur.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Damaged Kosta images - Natarajar and Pichadanar
Loose Sculptures Saptamatrikas with Shiva
Bairavar
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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