VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Aambaravaneshwarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ ஆம்பிரவனேஷ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Koohoor/ Koohur, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

Friday, 29 March 2024

Sri Aambaravaneshwarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ ஆம்பிரவனேஷ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Koohoor/ Koohur, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Aambaravaneshwarar Temple at Koohur was a Part of the “Kumbakonam Temples Visit” on 09^th March 2024. Since I couldn't join the Thukkachi Kumbhabhishekam & Heritage walk organized by கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம், 2^nd and 3^rd September 2023, I visited this temple, the previous day of the Saptha Mangai Temples Visit, on 10th March 2024.

Ashtabhuja Durgai

This is also one of the Devara Vaippu Sthalam, sung by Thirugnanasambandar in Kshetra Kovai Pathigam, as “Kuthangudi Vedhikudi Punalsoozh Kurundankudi...” The Thevaram goes like this.

ஆரூர் தில்லையம்பலம் வல்லம் நல்லம்

வடகச்சியும் அச்சிறுபாக்கம் நல்ல

கூரூர் குடவாயில் குடந்தை வெண்ணி

கடல்சூழ்கழிப்பாலை தென்கோடிபீடார்

நீரூர் வயல்நின்றியூர் குன்றியூருங்

குருகாவையூர் நாரையூர் நீடுகானப்

பேரூர் நன்னீள்வயல் நெய்த்தானமும்

பிதற்றாய் பிறைசூடி தன்பேரிடமே.

… Thirumurai 2-175-1

Moolavar : Sri Aambravaneshwarar

Consort : Sri Mangalambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In Koshtam, Natarajar with Karaikal Ammaiyar & Kali, Durvasa, Dakshinamurthy, A Shiva Linga banam as Lingothbavar (Maha Vishnu and Brahma on both sides), Brahma, Pichadanar (wrongly written as Gangalar), Ashtabhuja Durgai (with a parrot in one hand, Arikanda and Navakanda bas reliefs on both sides).

In Praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Bairavar, and Navagrahas.

Ashtabhuja Durgai

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrutha kumudam, and pattika. The bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, palakai, and tharanga pothyal. The koshtas are padra koshtas. The prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam with nasi kudus, and Viyyalavari. The temple from adhistanam to prastaram was constructed with stone, and the above tala, greevam, and vesara sigaram were constructed with bricks. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtam

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was built during the 9^th to 10^th Century Adita Chozha period. Hence, this place was called Aditheswaram, and Shiva was called Aditheswarar. As per the inscriptions, this place was under "Chathriya Sigamani Valanattu Thirunaraiyur Nattu / Kootrathu Koorur and is now called Koohur. Shiva was called Udaiyar Thirumambazhamudaiyar. (ஆம்பரவனேஸ்வரர் – ஆம் மரம் (மாமரம்) + வனம் + ஈஸ்வரர். திருமாம்பழமுடையார் – மாமரங்கள் நிறைந்த காட்டில் வசிக்கும் ஈசன்)

The Ambal Sannidhi Mukha mandapam was built by the Devakottai Arunachala Chettiar family, and their Grandfather and mother's sculptures are on the Pillars with their names inscribed.

The first Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1946, the Second in 1980, and the third on 11^th September 2014, after renovations were done. அ. ராம. அ. லெ. அ. லெ. Muthuveerappa Chettiar and Arunachalam Chettiar's family. The Temple’s hereditary Trustees are Dr. Justice A R Lakshmanan (Late) and family members.

Ref:

As per the inscriptions and display banner at the temple

கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்,'s banner

PC . Gopinath, கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்,
Rjaraja Chozha-I's inscription. PC . Gopinath, கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்,
அ. ராம. அ. லெ. அ. லெ. Muthuveerappa Chettiar's grandfather and his wife

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Durvasa Maharishi did a penance at this place. He used to offer a mango fruit to Shiva and eat it afterward. When the Pandavas came to this temple, Draupadi asked Bema / Arjuna for the Mango fruit. Krishna / Narada Maharishi came to this place when Arjuna plucked the Mango Fruit. To avoid the curse of Durvasa Maharishi, Narada made to join the Mango fruit back to the tree through some mantra. There is a temple for Draupadi as a child and Arjuna near this Shiva temple.