This place was called as Thiruvirkolam during 6 - 7th Century and the same is being called as Koovam / Cooum. This is the place where the River Cooum originates from Kosasthalaiyar River ( Kesavaram Dam is 2 KM ). This is the 14th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Sekkizhar Peruman mentions that Thirugnanasambandar reached this place after worshiping Lord Shiva of Ilambayangottur.
Gajaprishta vimanam
திருத்தொண்டர் பலர்சூழத் திருவிற்கோலமும் பணிந்து பொருள்பதிகத் தொடை மாலை புரம் எரித்த படிபாடி அரும்புகலி ஆண்டகையார் தக்கோலம் அணைந்தருளி விருப்பினொடும் திருவூறல்மேவினார் தமைப்பணிந்தார்
Gajaprishta vimanam
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. உருவினார் உமையொடும் ஒன்றி நின்றதோர் திருவினான் வளர்சடைத் திங்கள் கங்கையான் வெருவிவா னவர்தொழ வெகுண்டு நோக்கிய செருவினான் உறைவிடம் திருவிற்கோலமே சிற்றிடை உமையொரு பங்கன் அங்கையில் உற்றதோர் எரியினன் ஒருச ரத்தினால் வெற்றிகொள் அவுணர்கள் புரங்கள் வெந்தறச் செற்றவன் உறைவிடம் திருவிற் கோலமே..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்
Moolavar : Sri Thripuranthakeswarar, Sri Thiruvirkolanathar
Some of the important features of this temple are…The temple is facing east with a Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam are in the outer prakaram. Moolavar is made of of sand stone under rudraksha mandapam and theenda thirumeni. Abhishekam is done only for avudayar. Even Priests will not touch moolavar and for garlanding stick wiil be used. The Vimana over the sanctum sanctorum is of Gajabirushtam type. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Sannadhi for Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are at the entrance of Rajagopuram.
Natarajar Saba is in a separate sannadhi and the dance is called as rasha Nadanam. In the prakaram Brihadeeswarar, Achirutha Vinayagar, Shanmuganathar, Balasubramaniar, Chokkanathar with Meenakshi, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar with out dog and Navagrahas.
The Ambal is in a separate temple left side after the entrance of Rajagopuram. The Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Simham are in front of Ambal Temple.
ARCHITECTUREThe 5 tier Rajagopuram is on the south side, constructed during recent years. The temple complex consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathi, threepatta kumudam and pattigai. The temple was constructed from adhisthanam to prastaram with stone in gajaprishta style. A two tier brick gajaprishta vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. 
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSThe original temple was built during 6-7th Century Pallava period and reconstructed during Chozha & Pandyas period and further extended with mandapas during Vijayanagara period. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Madurantakanallur and Thyagasamudranallur.
The Chozha King Rajendran-II’s ( 1057 CE ) inscription records the digging of channel from koovam river to Koovam Lake called as Thiribhuvanamadevi Pereri.
The Chozha King Kulothunga-I’s ( 1112 CE ) inscription records the lifting of Taxes on fishing and paddy to fund the repair of Thiribhuvanamadevi Pereri.
The Vijayanagara nayaks period inscription records the gift to this temple Paiyaravu Alkul Ambal on Fridays worship by Immadi Chennamma Nayak.
The other inscriptions of Rajaraja-II, Vijayaganda Gopala deva and Konerimaikondan, records the endowment of poojas and festivals.
This inscription is at Satharai Karumanicka Perumal Temple ardha mandapam. King Jadavarma Sundara Pandyan’s 26th reign year ( 1277 CE ) inscription ( in the ardha mandapam wall ) records the gift for conducting Panguni utsavam at koovam Thiruvirkolam temple and this temple.
LEGENDSMoolavar is Theenda Thirumeni, even for placing the Garland the Gurukkal used to do with a stick. It was told that the moolavar colour used to change depending on the natural calamities like flood, war etc.
As per the Koova purana written by Sivaprakasa Adigalar Swamigal, the legend is associated with the Koovam Thripuranthakeswara story, one of the 64 forms of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva took this form to destroy the Tripura with three demons Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali.
The Demons did a penance on Brahma and got the boon of Tripuras made of Gold, Silver and Iron ( huge floating cities ), which can fly /travels to three Lokas, They should meet once in 1000 years and If they are killed, all the three must be killed at a time, by a single person with a single arrow. After getting this boon they started torturing the Devas and ruled three lokas. The Devas sought help of Maha Vishnu. Maha Vishnu told that it may not be possible to destroy those, who are worshiping Lord Shiva. He mooted the idea of sending Narathar to all the three puras and make all the ladies to loose their female virtue. Then Maha Vishnu took the form of Buddha, Jinas and preached them. This made them to forget the worshiping of lord Shiva. Then Mahavishnu, Brahma and all the Devas went to Mount kailash and requested Lord Shiva to destroy Tripura.
When Lord Shiva started for the Tripura samhara in a chariot created by Deva carpenter Mayan with earth as Chariot, Chandran and Suriyan as wheels, Brahma as a Charioteer, Vedas as Horses, Meru Hill as Bow, Adhiseshan as the rope and Agni & Mahavishnu as arrow. When Lord Shiva reached Koovam Nagar, Vinayagar broke the axle of Shiva’s Chariot. While the Chariot started falling down, Maha Vishnu holds the chariot on his back. The Devas were much worried. Arumugar ( Murugan ) came and told them that this was the act of Vinayagar, since Lord Shiva forgot to worship him before starting this venture.
Lord Shiva asked the Thiripuras to appeared before him. Till this, the Devas thought, Lord Shiva cannot destroy with out their help. Instead Lord Shiva laughed at the Tripura. The Thiripuras got burned, but the three demons escaped. Lord Shiva shoots the arrow and killed all the three at a time. Since Lord Shiva stayed here, this temple is called as “Avimuththam”, Vinayagar broke the axle, this place is called as “Koovaraknar – Koovaram - axle” and also this place is like koovam between all the three lokas, called as “Koovam/ Cooum”
சிரிப்பினின்று எழுந்த தீமுப்புரங்களில் பற்றியது.. என்று விண்ணவர் இயம்பியது எம்பிரான் வினவி நன்றில் நங்கையை நோக்கினன் நகைக்க, அந்நகையின் நின்று வன்தழல் கொழுந்து ஒரு நிமிடத்தில் பாதி சென்றுஒ டுங்கும்முன் புரங்களில் சென்றுபற் றியதே அவுணர் உயிரைக் கவர்ந்தது அம்பு பொருவில் கொண்டிடு நெடுநுதிப் பகழியைப் புனிதன் விரைவில் சென்றவர் உயிரைக்குடித்திடுகஎன விடுத்தான் மருவிக்குன்று என நின்றிடு மூவர்மார் பினும்பட்டு உறுவிச் சென்றதுஅப் புறத்தினில் ஒருகணப்பொழுதில் அவுணர் மாய்தல் மீண்டு சங்கரன் வலக்கரமடைந்தது விசிகம் ஆண்டு புங்கம்முன் பட்டபோது அவுணர்கள் அலறிச் சேண்தொ டும்படி திள்ளி வீழ்ந்து உணர்வுகள் சிதைந்து மாண்டு போயினர் இமயவர் மனதுயர் மாள.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas, 10 days Brahmotsavam in Chithirai ( April-May ), 10 days Adi poo pavadai festival for Ambal ( July – August ), Maha Shivaratri, Arudra darshan, Margazhi Thiruvathirai ( December – January are celebrated in a grand manner.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS :For more details Mr Balsubramanian of Nalvar Iraipani Mandram may be contacted on his mobile 9444808886.
HOW TO REACH : Direct Bus frequency is unpredictable. Hence, get down at Koovam junction on the way to Arakkonam from Chennai. Buses are available from Koyambedu, Route No from Poonamallee and Arakkonam. The Village Koovam / Coovam is about 1 KM off from Chennai to Thakkolam / Arakkonam bus route.The temple is 30 KM from Arakkonam, 32 KM from Kanchipuram, 19 KM from Tiruvallur and 51 KM from Chennai.Nearest railway station is Tiruvallur.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Ambal & Lord Shiva shrine Vimanas
The procession deity on Rishaba vahana
ஸ்ரீ ல ஸ்ரீ கழுகாசல சுவாமிகள் பரிபூரணமான நாள் கலியுகாதி ...... சித்ரபானு வருஷம் ஆனி மாதம் ... நாள் மூலநக்க்ஷ்த்திரம் 21.8.1942
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Moolavar : Sri Thripuranthakeswarar, Sri Thiruvirkolanathar
Lord Shiva asked the Thiripuras to appeared before him. Till this, the Devas thought, Lord Shiva cannot destroy with out their help. Instead Lord Shiva laughed at the Tripura. The Thiripuras got burned, but the three demons escaped. Lord Shiva shoots the arrow and killed all the three at a time. Since Lord Shiva stayed here, this temple is called as “Avimuththam”, Vinayagar broke the axle, this place is called as “Koovaraknar – Koovaram - axle” and also this place is like koovam between all the three lokas, called as “Koovam/ Cooum”
நன்றில் நங்கையை நோக்கினன் நகைக்க, அந்நகையின்
Apart from regular poojas, 10 days Brahmotsavam in Chithirai ( April-May ), 10 days Adi poo pavadai festival for Ambal ( July – August ), Maha Shivaratri, Arudra darshan, Margazhi Thiruvathirai ( December – January are celebrated in a grand manner.
Nearest railway station is Tiruvallur.
Ambal & Lord Shiva shrine Vimanas
The procession deity on Rishaba vahana
ஸ்ரீ ல ஸ்ரீ கழுகாசல சுவாமிகள்
பரிபூரணமான நாள் கலியுகாதி ...... சித்ரபானு வருஷம்
ஆனி மாதம் ... நாள் மூலநக்க்ஷ்த்திரம் 21.8.1942
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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