This is the 43rd Thevaram
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 11th Sthalam in Nadu Naadu. During 6th
to 7th Century, this place was called as Thirukovalur and the same
was corrupted to the present name of Thirukoilure / Thirukovilur. The ancient name is
Andhakapuram. Thirukoilure / Thirukovilur is on the banks of Then Pennai River. This is one of
the atta veeratta sthalam where Anthakasuran was killed by Lord Shiva. This is also the birth place of Meiporul
Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars.
As per Sekkizhar’s Periya Purana,
Thirugnanasambandar, after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvathigai and
Thiruvamathur, reached this temple at Thirukoilure.
கோவல் நீடிய வீரட்டம் அமர்ந்தவர் குரைகழல் பணிந்து ஏத்தி ஆவின் ஐந்து உகந்து ஆடுவார் அறையணி நல்லூரை அணைந்து ஏத்திப் பாஅலர்ந்த செந்தமிழ்கொடு பரவுவார் பரவுசீர் அடியார்கள் மேவும் அன்புறு மேன்மைஆம் தன்மையை விளங்கிட அருள் செய்தார்
Thirugnanasambandar and Appar has
sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
படைகொள் கூற்றம் வந்துபெய்ப் பாசம்விட்ட போதின்கண் இடை கொள்வார் எமக்கிலை எழுகபோது நெஞ்சமே குடைகொள்வேந்தன் மூதாதை குழகன்கோவ லூர்தனுள் விடைதேறுங் கொடியினான் வீரட்டம் சேர்துமே....திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
செத்தையேன் சிதம்பன் நாயேன் செடியனேன் அழுக்குப்பாயும் பொத்தையே போற்றி நாளும் புகலிடம் அறிய மாட்டேன் எத்தைநான் பற்றி நிற்கேன் இருளற நோக்க மாட்டாக் கொத்தையேன் செய்வவ தென்னே கோவல் வீரட்டனீரே..... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்
-“சொல்வண்ணம் நாவலர் போற்று நலம் பெறவே ஓங்குதிருக் கோவலூர் வீரட்டங் கொள் பரிசே”.... திருவருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Veeratteswarar Consort : Sri Sivanthavalli, Sri Periyanayagi
Some of the features of this temple
are....The temple is on the south bank of
Pennai river. The temple is facing west with a 3 ( 3 + Adhi thala ) tier
Rajagopuram. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram.
Shiva and Ambal Sannathis are built as separate Temples with separate
entrances. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is
of swayambu and big in size with Nagarabaranam. ( it was told tried to take out
for maintenance but couldn’t do so since the starting point of Linga banam even
after 25 feet below the earth). In
koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Ashtabhuja Durgai.
In Parakaram, Somaskandar,
Mahavishnu, Valli Devasena Arumuga Perumal, Gajalakshmi, Natarajar Sabha with
Manickavasagar & Sivakami, Kabilar,
Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Surya Lingam, Viswanathar Visalakshi,
Ekambareswarar, Pancha bhoota Lingas, Arthanareeswarar, Agasthiyar, Suryan,
Thirugnanasambandar, Jadamuni, Ayyanar, Veerabhadra, Brahmi, Maheswari,
Vaishnavi, Varahi, Vinayagar and 63var.
In urchavars / procession deities Anthakasura
samharamurthy, Narasinga Munaiyaraiyar and Meiporul Nayanar.
Ambal temple is also facing west, as
separate temple with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Vinayagar and Subramaniyar. Rishabam
and Nandhi are in front.
Other features of this place
Thirukoilure/ Thirukovilur are, one of the 108 Divya Desam of Thiruvikrama Perumal Temple,
Srimath Naaniyar Swami Madalayam, Gugai Namasivayar Jeeva Samadhi, Kabilar
Kundru ( Kabilar, arranged marriage of Pari’s Daughters Angavai and
sangavai but couldn’t do so. He
requested Avvaiyar to help, sat facing North and died after fast. Avvaiyar
was able to convince Deiveegan and Yenadhi Kannan sons of Thirumudikari to
marry the girls ).
The 15th Century
Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva and Murugan of this
temple and sung hymns in praise of Lord Murugan.
ஆவ ஆர்வன நான்மறை யாதி மூல பராவரி யாதி காணரி தாகிய பரமேசா ஆதி யாரருள் மாமுரு கேச மால்மரு கேசுர னாதி தேவர்க ளியாவர்கள் பணிபாத கோவ தாமறை யோர்மறை யோது மோதம் விழாவொலி கோடி யாகம மாவொலி மிகவீறும் கோவை மாநகர் மேவிய வீர வேலயி லாயுத கோதை யானையி னோடம் பெருமாளே
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSThe original temple was built during
7th Century by Nandhivarma Pallavan and latter renovated /
reconstructed and extended during Nandhivarman-III, Nirupathungavarman, Rashtrakooda Kings, Krishnan-III, Chozha
Kings Parantaka Chozha, Rajarajan-I, Rajendra Chozha-I and Rajarajan-III,
Since Rajarajan’s mother belongs to
this place and it is believed that
Chozha King Rajaraja Chozhan was born here. Rajarajan’s period inscription
records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps for which his Sister Kundavai
has donated a Golden flower, 300 Saava moova peradukal / sheeps and 2000
kalanju gold to the sabhai.
As per the inscriptions this place was called as
Thirukovalur and Lord Shiva was called as Thiruveeratanamudaya Nayanar.
Vikrama Chozhas 10th year reign
inscription records the endowment of 4 perpetual lamps for which 2400 kuli of
land was gifted by Kiliyur Malayaman Nanootruvan Malaiyan alias Rajendra Chozha
Sethirayan to Thivunnalikai sabhai, Devankudi of a devathana Village.
Rajaraja Chozha’s 2nd year reign
inscription records the endowment of worship and offering for which gift of land 3150 kuli at Puratha
field, ( Puratarukkal ), 850 kuli of land
in the field Durgaiyar vattam, 1500 kuli land Paruttikollaippadu and
1500 kuli of reclaimed land totalling to
7000 kuli of land, by Mambakkilan of Devankudi.
Rajadhiraja-II’s 4th year reign
inscription records the endowment of 30
sandhi lamps lights up to arthajama puja,
for which a tax free gift of 1 ½
veli land in Madivallan Tirunandavanambu Kiliyut Malaiyaman Periya Udaiyan
Iraiyuran alias Rajaraja Sethiyarayan of Perumpadikaval.
LEGENDSAnthakasuran samhara sthalam.
Natarajar's posture with thirisoolam is to be seen. A relief of this
story is carved on the wooden chariot. Meiporul Nayanar lived and had done
service at this temple. Avvaiyar has sung the famous “Vinayagar Agaval” starts
with “Seetha kalaba chenthamari poompatha Silambu pala Isai pada
…..”, in this temple. Hence Avvaiyar reached kailash before Sundarar
through Vinayagar's trunk.
As per the Legend this is the place
where Lord shiva destroyed Andhakasura. The legend goes like this. Ma Parvati
closed the eyes of Lord Shiva. Since lord’s eyes are believed to be Sun and
moon, the universe has become darkness. The Darkness too the form of Andhakasura.
Andha means darkness or ignorance. Andhakasuran did penance of Lord Shiva and
obtained boon of non death. This made him more powerful and started torturing
the devas of celestial words. Unbearable torture, Devas complained to Lord Shiva. Lord shiva struck
Andhakasuran with his soolam / trident and lifted in the air ( this is the only
place where a Demon is lifted in other 7 occurrence Lord Shiva destroyed the on the ground ). Every blood drop dripped on
the earth, grew another demon. This has become a big battle between Lord Shiva
and the Demons. Ma Parvati collected blood in bowl before it reaches the ground.
Some how some blood dropped and in straight vertical and horizontal lines
forming 64 squares. Again 64 demons came out. Lord Shiva created 64 Bhairavas
and Killed all.
In the mean time The Demon’s Guru
Sukrachariyar created more and more Asuras / Demons to fight against Lord
shiva. Seeing this Lord shiva swallowed Sukrachariar. The Sukrachariyar
realized his mistake pleaded to Lord Shiva to forgive him and worshiped him.
Pleased his devotion Lord Shiva gave the boon of rebirth in this universe and
raised him to the status of one of the planet Sukra.
Vinayagar as Periyanai Ganapathy on
the South west corner of the prakara is big in size and there a legend
associated with Vinayagar. When Avvaiyar knew that Sundarar is going to
Kailash, she also wanted to go there and does pooja hurriedly. Knowing her
urgency, Vinayagar asked to do pooja slowly and he will lift her to Kailash
before Sundarar reaches Kailash. So Avvayar sung the hymns as ‘Seetha kalaba
Senthamarai poo... “
It is believed that Vinayagar,
Murugan, Rama, Parasurama, Krishnan, Indra, Yama, adhiseshan, Goddess Kali, Saints Roma Rishi, Kannuva
Rishi, Pathanjali, Vyakrapathar, Saptarishis, Kaman and Vanasuran worshiped
Lord Shiva of this Temple.
A Parikara Sthalam for Sukra to get
rid of curse and sins from previous birth. People also worships to remove
marriage obstacles and Vasthu problems in construction of buildings or
houses. 
Sthala Purana - Lord Shiva killing Andhakasura
Sthala Purana - Lord Shiva killing Andhakasura 
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas, special
poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri,10 days Masimaha peruvizha ( on 6th day
Andhakasura samhara function will be conducted ), Karthikai somavaram Sangabhishekam ( conch –
bath ), Laksharchana on Sashti, Navaratri, Vasanthotsavam in Chitharai, etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe Temple will be kept opened
between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS :Mobile numbers +91 93456 60711,
94862 80030 and land line numbers +91 4153 252220, 253532 may be contacted for
further details.
HOW TO REACH :The temple is about a 1.2 KM from,
Thirukovilur Bus Stand. Lot of buses are available from
Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai, Panruti. The temple is about 4 KM from
Arakandanallur, 37 KM from Thiruvannamalai, 37 KM from Villupuram and 200 Km
from Chennai. Nearest Railway Junction is
Arakandanallur and Railway Junction is Villupuram.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Vinayagar lifting Avvaiyar to Kailash---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
Moolavar : Sri Veeratteswarar
Sthala Purana - Lord Shiva killing Andhakasura
Sthala Purana - Lord Shiva killing Andhakasura
Vinayagar lifting Avvaiyar to Kailash
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
