Thirukolakka Sapthapureeswarar Temple / Thiruthalamudayar Koil / அருள்மிகு ஓசை நாயகி உடனுறை தாளபுரீசுவரர் திருக்கோயில் / Thirukolakka. Mayiladuthurai District ( Nagapattinam District ), Tamil Nadu.

This is the 69^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 15^th temple on the north side of river Kaveri. This temple is about 1.5 KM from Sirkazhi Sattainathar / Sri Thoniyappar Temple. This was called as Thirukolakka and now called as Thiru Thalam Udayar Koil also known as  “Osai kodutha Nayaki Temple”.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar mentions that Thirugnanasambandar went to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Sirkazhi. This shows that, how one should follow the procedure, before going to other places or temples from home place.

காதலுடன் அணைந்துதிருக் கழுமலத்துக்

    கலந்து வீற்றிருந்த தங்கள்

தாதையா ரையும்வெளியே தாங்கு அரிய

    மெய்ஞ்ஞானம் தம்பால்

வந்துபோத முலைகரந்து அளித்த புண்ணியத்தா

    யாரையும் முன்வணங்கிப் போற்றி

மேதகைய அருள்பெற்றுத் திருக்கோலக்

    காஇறைஞ்ச விரும்பின் சென்றார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar  and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This is the first temple that, Thirugnanasambandrar visited after Sirkazhi and the hymn too the first one, where Lord Shiva gave him a golden thalam. Sundarar also mentions the same in his hymn.

மடையில் வாளை பாய மாதரார்

குடையும் பொய்கைக் கோலக் காவுளான்

சடையும் பிறையும் சாம்பல் பூச்சும் கீழ்

உடையும் கொண்ட உருவம் என்கொலோ

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

நாளும் இன்னிசை யால்தமிழ் பரப்பும்

    ஞான சம்பந்த னுக்குஉல கவர்முன்

தாளம் ஈந்தவன் பாடலுக்(கு) இடரங்கும்

    தன்மை யாளனை என்மனக் கருத்தை

ஆளும் பூதங்கள் பாடநின் றாடும்

    அங்க ணன்தனை எண்கணம் இறைஞ்சும்

கோளி லிப்பெருங் கோயிலு ளானைக்

    கோலக் காவினில் கண்டுகொண் டேனே

....... சுந்தரர்

                                                    -“ஓர்காழிப்

பாலற்கா அன்று பசும்பொற்றாணங் கொடுத்த

கோலக்கா மேவிய கொடையாளா”

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Sapthapureeswarar, Sri Thiru Thalam Udayar,

                  Sri Thalapureeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Osainayagi, Sri Osaikodutha Nayagi,

                  Sri Thonipranthambal.

Some of the important features of this temple are as follows.

The temple is facing east with an entrance and 5 tier Rajagopuram. The arch is with a mandapa. Stucco image of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar at centre and Vinayagar on the left and Valli Devasena Subramaniyar on the right. In addition to this the sthala purana stucco images of Lord Shiva with Thirugnanasambandar on the left and Parvati with Thirugnanasambandar on right sides of the entrance.

Balipedam, Dwajasthambam (?) and Rishabam are in front of the mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam.  Moolavar is of swayambhu little large. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma  Vishnu Durgai ( Ashtabhuja ), Ayyappan, Suryan and Chandran.

In prakaram Periya Pillayar, Somaskandar,  Sri Subramaniar, Sri Mahalakshmi and Nalvar. Ambal in a separate Temple with separate entrance but with an interconnecting gate ( Main entrance is locked ) Vinayagar and dhandapani are on both side of the entrance. Urchavars Natarajar, Sivakami, Thirugnanasambandar with a Thalam and another with a milk bowl.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the temple might  have existed before 7^th Century. The present temple may be reconstructed during Chozha period and extended during Vijayanagara Nayaks period.

Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 5^th July 2017.

LEGENDS :

This this the first temple on pilgrimage and while rendering the hymns Thirugnanasambandar clapped his hands to the rhythm of the hymn. By clapping, his hands has  become red.  Seeing this Lord Shiva gave a pair of golden thalam. Since golden thalam will not produce musical sound, Ambal infused her devine energy to give musical notes. Hence Ambal is called as “Osai kodutha Nayaki”.  The temple’s name is derived from this legend.

There is a local story ( 1979 ) that a dump boy was able to speak due to the grace of Shiva of this  temple, So his father denoted a golden thalam to this temple. There are about 473 such miracles happened in this temple which are recorded.

It is believed that Mahavishnu’s marriage with Mahalakshmi took in this place. Indra, Suryan, Sages Agasthiyar and Kanva Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

On the second day of Sirkazhi Brahmotsavam, Thirugnanasambandar’s Urchava deity will be brought here in procession in a Poo pallakku / palanquin from Sirkazhi. This is to symbolically celebrate the event of Lord Shiva gave the “Por thalam”.

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri in Masi ( Feb, March ),  Thiruvathirai in Margazhi ( - Dec- January ), Kandar Sashti and annabhishekam  in Aippasi ( Oct- November ), Navaratri in Puratasi ( Sep – Oct ) and Vinayagar Chathurthi in Avani ( Aug- Sep ).   

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The Land line number +91 4364 274175, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

1.5 Km from Thoniappar temple. Local people used to call this temple as “Osai kodutha Nayaki temple”.

The temple is 19 KM from Chidambaram, 20 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 240 KM from Chennai.

Nearest ( 4 KM ) Railway station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---