The visit to the Sri Kailasanathar Temple at
Udaiyalur, Kumbakonam, was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu temples visit on 08th
March 2025, the previous day of the “Sembiyan Mahadeviyar Temples Heritage Tour”
organized by கும்பகோணம்
வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம், on 09th March 2025.
Moolavar :
Sri Kailasanathar
Consort : Sri
Sankara Parvati
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east, with an entrance arch on the
south side. Stucco images of Vinayagar and Murugan are on both sides of Shiva & Parvati as Rishabaroodar. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the
main temple. Small Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are at the entrance of the
maha mandapam. Dwarapalakas, Adiyars, and Jadabaram worship Shiva on
both sides of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. (The left side is believed to be Kulothunga Chozha with his Queen.) Moolavar in the sanctum on a round
avudaiyar. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Pichadanar, Rajayoga Agasthiyar,
Dhakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Loose sculptures of saptamatrikas, Murugan, Dakshinamurthy, Shiva
Lingas, Ananda Ganapathi, Agni, Pancha Lingas, Chandikeswarar, Sundareswarar,
Meenakshi, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, Saptakannis, Rudra Lingam, Vishnu Lingam,
Brahma Lingam, Saniswarar, Pancha Bairavars, Suryan, Chandran, Nalvar, The
Chozha king Rajaraja-I, worshipping a Shiva Lingam, and Navagrahas.
Ambal Sri Sankara Parvati is in a separate temple
facing south with sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and vavval nethi
mukha mandapam. Painting of Kanchipuram Kanchi Mutt, Maha Periyava is on the
front wall of the Ambal temple. The ceiling has various forms of Shiva and
Parvati.
This place once had many temples, and the Shiva
Lingas on the northwest corner might have belonged to those temples.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a prati bandha
adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and yazhivari. The Bhitti starts with
vedikai. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases,
kalasam, kudam, plain palakai, and tharanga pothyal. The prastaram consists of
valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam with nasi kudus, and viyyalavari. From
adhistanam to prastaram the temple was constructed with stone. The one tala
brick vimanam is above the prastaram. The sigaram is of vesara style.
Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha
Vishnu, Brahma, Ekapada Murthy, Gajasamhara Murthy, Sadasivamurthy, Kala
Samharamurthy, Shiva & Parvati Marriage, Natarajar, Pichadanar, and Ashtadikpalakas
are on the tala and greeva koshtas.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple belongs to the 12th
century Kulothunga Chozha-I period and the same was reconstructed during the Nayaka/Maratha
period. There are 33 inscriptions recorded from this temple. These inscriptions
belong to Kulothunga Chozha-I, Vikrama Chozha, Rajaraja Chozha-II, Kulothunga
Chozha-II, Rajaraja Chozha-III, and Pandya Kinga Sadayavarman Sundarapandyan.
Dharasuram Temple was constructed by the Chozha King
Rajaraja-II, and he was called Rajakambeeran. The inscription on the compound
wall mentions that “இந்நாட்டுபள்ளிப்படை
ராஜராஜ கம்பீரேசுவரமுடைய மகாதேவர்கு..”.
From this, it may be presumed that the Udaiyalur
Pallipadai may belong to Rajaraja-II and not Rajaraja-I. Experts and Historians believe that further evidence, like archaeological, is required to prove the same.
As per the inscriptions, this place was called Arimozhideva valanattu Sivapadasekara Mangalam, and Shiva was called Sivapadasekara Eswaramudaiyar from Kulothunga Chozha’s inscription, Sri Maheswaraththanam
from Vikrama Chozha’s inscription (ARE 303 of 1927), Kulothunga
Soliswararmudaiya Mahadevar (ARE 305 of 1927), etc.
The inscriptions record the establishment of
images of Rajapuranthara Eswaramudaiyar, Udaiyar, and Devakanayagar.
A dhabasi called Vidhya Siva Pandithar established
an Abhimukthan Mutt.
The Queen Ulagamuzhuthudaiyal, established an
endowment for the continuation of the poojas and maintenance.
A gift of money for purchasing... velis of
land was made by one Araiyan Ulagudaiyan.
Vikrama Chozha’s 6th reign
year (1126 CE) inscription (ARE 305 1927) starts with his meikeerthi and records
a gift of one kasu by Panchanadivanan Parantaka Devan alias Kulothungasola
Kongarayan of Kuruchchi in Vennik kootram for burning a twilight lamp in the
temple of Kulothunga Soliswararmudaiya Mahadevar at Sivapada Sekara Mangalam.
Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 25th
reign year inscription (ARE 313 of 1927) on the north wall of the mandapa
records that Devanayakan alias Rajarajadevan alias Solendrasinga Pichchan of
Sivapada Sekara Mangalam consecrated a new Shrine to Lord Devanayaka Iswaram
Udaiyar, and two individuals made a gift of lands for worship.
Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 25th
reign year another inscription (ARE 314 of 1927), records the gift of three
velis of land (in pieces) and gifted images of nayanmars in the temple.
Rajaraja-III’s 5th reign
year, inscription (ARE 309 of 1927), records that some temple documents were
lost, and replacements thereof made, in his fifth year.
Rajaraja-III’s sixth-year inscription
(ARE 308 of 1927) mentions the pilferage of some jewels and vessels belonging
to the temple and the penalties imposed on the guilty parties. (ARE 309 and 308
of 1927).
Rajaraja-III’s 24th reign year inscription mentions that the accountant of the temple was removed and later
reinstated, and another of the same year mentions a grant of land to him (ARE
304 and 307 of 1927).
Rajaraja-III’s 30th reign year
inscription (ARE 310 of 1927) records the recitation of Thirupadiyam hymns in the
Rajaraja Chathuralaya mandapam, and provisions are made.
Ref:
1. Mr. Sridharan Krishnappa’s article in Dinamani, on
05th May 2019.
2. Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy Year 1927.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2005.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, while Shiva was explaining the
meaning of “Brahma thathuva,”. Muruga came to spot, without intimation. So, Shiva
cursed Muruga to be born on the earth. Muruga
came to Kongeyapuram and did penance under the bilva tree. As per the
divine voice he created the Temple tank called Kumara Theertham and worshipped
Shiva and was relieved from the curse.
In another legend the king Ajamaharaj was suffering
from a leprosy disease. Vasishta Maharishi advised the king to take a dip in
the “Kumara Theertha” and worship Sri Kailasanathar of this temple. The king
came to this place Kangeyapuram and prayed to Kamadhenu, to pour the milk in
the Kumara Theertha. The King took a bath and worshipped Shiva in this temple.
Shiva blessed the king and relieved him of the disease. Then he came to Vasishta Maharishi and got
blessings.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to
11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The temple at Udaiyalur is 4.3 km from
Patteeswaram, 5 km from Valangaiman, and 9.1 km from Kumbakonam.
The nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Loose Sculptures
Loose Sculptures
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
