This is the 170th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 53rd sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Thirukkottaram is on the banks of river Nattar. The place was called as Kottaru during 6th to 7th Century and now called as Thirukkottaram.
In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Ambar Perumthirukovil. He didn’t mentioned this place in particular, but as other temples on the way to Thirukadaiyur.
இன்ன வாறுசொல் மாலைகளால் துதித்து இறைஞ்சி அங்கு அமர்நாளில்
கன்னி மாமதில் திருக்கட வூர்தொழக் காதல்செய்து அருளிப்போய்
மன்னு கோயில்கள் பிறபதி வணங்கியே வாக்கின்மன் னவரோடும்
அந்நெடும்பதி அணைவுறக் கலயரோடு அடியவர் எதிர்கொண்டார்
Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirugnanasambandar mentions that Iravadam, the white elephant created the river Kottaru and worshiped Lord Shiva.
இலைமல்கு சூலமொன்று ஏந்தினானும் இமையோர்தொழ
மலைமல்கு மங்கையோர் பங்கனாய மணி கண்டனும்
குலைமல்கு தண்பொழில் சூழ்ந்தழகார் திருக்கோட்டாற்றுள்
அலைமல்கு வார்சடை யேற்றுகந்த அழகன் அன்றே
. ....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
-“தெள்ளாற்றின்
நீட்டாறு கொண்டரம்பை நின்று கவின்காட்டும்
கோட்டாறு மேவும் குளிர் துறையே”
....... திருஅருட்பா
Moolavar : Sri Iravatheeswarar
Consort : Sri Sukuntha Kundhalambigai,
Sri Vandamar Kuzhali.
Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Rishabam and two balipeedam ( one is on the back of rishabam and the other is in front of Rishabam ) are immediately after the Rajagopuram. The Dwarapalakas are made of stucco. Two balipeedam and Rishabas are also in the mukha mandapam. In Koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Vishnu.
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Rishabam and two balipeedam ( one is on the back of rishabam and the other is in front of Rishabam ) are immediately after the Rajagopuram. The Dwarapalakas are made of stucco. Two balipeedam and Rishabas are also in the mukha mandapam. In Koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Vishnu.
In prakaram Sannadhi for Bala Ganapathy, Maha Lakshmi, Kailasanathar, Nalvar, Nagar, Kumarabhuvaneswarar ( in a separate sannadhi ), Arumagar, Agasthiyar, Natarajar Sabha, Sundarar with Paravai Nachiyar, Subar Maharishi, Suriyan, Chandran, Bhairavar, Navagrahas.
The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. A Vesara Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. A beehive is in side the sanctum sanctorum.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7th Century and latter reconstructed/ re-built by Chozhas.
As per the inscriptions this place was under Rajaraja Pandya Nattu Utamachozha Valanattu Nanjil Nattu Kottar alias Mummudi Chozha nallur and Lord Shiva was called as Rajendra Chozheeswaramudaya Mahadevar.
This temple was reconstructed as Stone temple by Chozhamandalathu Manni Nattu Muzhayudayan Arayan Madurantakan alias Kulothunga Chozha Kerala Raja. In the year 1253 CE, A Devaradiyar called Chengodan Poovandiyar established Nachiyar for Kundramerintha Pillayar. Mandapa was constructed by Sri Koyir Palliyudaya Periyan Kudithangi alias Sundara Pandya Nanjil nadualwar ( Palliyudayan – the care taker of this temple ).
Sadayavarman Sundara Chozha Pandya’s 11th reign year inscription records the endowment of 25 Savaa moova cows ( may be for burning a lamp ) by Vishnuvartha Maharaja Chalukya Vijayadithan Vikkannan. The same king and the same year another inscription records the endowment of burning s lamp with a ulakku ghee for which 50 Saava Moova peradu was gifted by Perunthanathu Devan Vichathiran alias Chozha Marayan. Another inscription of the same period records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 50 sheeps / goats are gifted by Rajaraja Thennattu Kodungulathu Adithan Ranachingan alias Veera Pandya Pallavarayan. Another inscription records that a lady called Thavasi Narpathonnaayiram Maralidevi established an endowment of burning a half lamp for which 12 cows are gifted to this temple.
Kulothunga Chozha-I’s period inscription records the endowment of lands measuring 45.5 ma situated at Aanthaigudi, gifted from Kanchipuram palace.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1937, 1987 and 2009 after renovations.
LEGENDS It is believed that Kumarabhuvaneswarar was worshiped by, Agasthiyar, sage Subar and their images are kept in the prakaram.
Indra's vahana, white elephant ( Iravatham ) worshiped lord Shiva of this temple. As per the legend when Durvasa gave a lotus flower which adorned Lord Shiva of Kasi, to Indra, the elephant threw it on the ground. Angered by the action of Indra’s white elephant, Durvasa, cursed the Iravatham to become an ordinary elephant. The Iravatham visited many temples to get rid of the curse. It came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva of this and got relieved from the curse. It is believed that the elephant strikes the cloud with it’s tusk, which poured down as heavy rain which form the Kottaru also called as Vanchiyaru. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Iravadeswarar.
As per another legend, a Maharishi called Subar, used to worship Lord Shiva daily. One day he was little late and the temple was closed. The Maharishi took the form of honey bee, entered in to the sanctum and worshiped Lord Shiva. Then the Maharishi stayed in this temple itself in the form honey bee. There is a beehive in the sanctum sanctorum.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSIt was told that every year the honey will be taken from the beehive and abhishekam will be done to Lord Shiva.
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ) and every month pradosham.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS The Land line number +91 4368 261 447 may be contacted for further details. Sine oru kala pooja is conducted Devotees are advised to confirm before going to the temple with the Gurukkal. Sriram Gurukkal +91 8903888174 or Madhu Gurukkal +91 7502212319.
HOW TO REACH On the Karaikal to Kumbakonam bus route, get down at a place called Ambagarathur after Thirunallar. The temple is 2 KM from Ambagarathur.On the Kumbakonam to Karaikal bus route, get down at a place called Kottaram Koot road, from there the temple is 1 KM.The place Thirukkottaram is 10.3 KM from Thirunallar, 15 KM from Karaikal, 24 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 36.4 KM from Thiruvarur, 44 KM from Kumbakonam and 280 KM from Chennai.Nearest Railway Station is Karaikal.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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