The Visit to this Sri Kotravaleeswarar Temple at Koviloor near Karaikudi was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23rd & 24th September 2023.
This is one of the ancient temples in Sivaganga District and the legend of this temple is associated with the Pandya king. Hence it is believed that the original temple was built during early Pandya Period.
Moolavar : Sri Kotravaleeswarar
Consort : Sri, Thirunellai Ambal.
Moolavar : Sri Kailasanathar
Consort : Sri Nithya Kalyani
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple is facing east with a big temple tank and a neerazhi mandapam. The main Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers with mandapam in-front. Vinayagar, Shiva with Parvati as rishaba roodar and Murugan are on the hara portion / parapet wall of the mandapam.
The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised platform. Ambal temple also adjacent to Moolavar sannidhi facing east. A big paraha or circumambulatory path is around the Shiva and Ambal sannidhis. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Annamalaiyar, Brahma and Durgai.
In Praharam Thiru Nellaiamman, Somaskandar, Adhi Shiva, Vinayagar, Kasi Viswanathan, Visalakshi, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Kailasanathar, Nithya Kalyani and Navagrahas. All the Navagrahas are in sitting posture.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised platform. Ambal temple also adjacent to Moolavar sannidhi facing east. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. The Kostas are of patra & sala type. A mandapam was extended in front of Dakshinamurthy. Two Lions are supporting the mandapam. Kumbha panjaras are in the karna pathi. The prastaram consists of valapi with madhalam, kapotam with Nasi kudus and Bhumi Desam. A 3 tier vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.
A big prahara or circumambulatory path is around the Shiva and Ambal sannidhis. The praharam / corridor is with high ceiling. The corridor is very much similar to Rameswaram Temple.
The Mandapa pillar sculptures like Shivas’s Urdhva thandavam, Shiva & Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Dancing, Saraswati, Mahishasuramardini, Shiva & Parvati’s marriage, Bairavar, etc are worth to watch.
One of special feature, is the Temple tank with Neerazhi mandapam of octagonal shape supported with 16 pillars. The mandapa is of 3 tiers and the sala/ Kostas are of hara style.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the Original temple belongs to 6th to 7th Century, early Pandya period. As per the Sivagangai mavatta Tholliyal kaiyedu, Due to the presence of beautiful Temple in the Village, this place might have obtained the name as Kovilur. This place was once called as Kazhanivasal, Srivallapuram, Ezhakapperuntheru, etc,.
In 1382 CE, Vijayanagara King called Samanar, had taken steps to regulate living of the Brahmins community. In one of the sabha it was decided to give 8 Kalanju Gold or equivalent Silver Coins to the brides by the bridegrooms. If any body disobeyed, they will be excluded from the Brahmin Community.
During 16th century, a person called Soorakudi Pettappa Vijayalaya Devan, had given some gift ( may be land ) as irayili and a Madappalli to this temple ( re-constructed the temple ). An in 1550 CE, A Subramaniyar Idol made of Gold and also established an endowment for the celebration in the month Karthigai, for the same donations were made.
The present stone structure was reconstructed 19th to 20th Century, by Kovilur Madam Swamigal, Sri Muthuramalinga Desikar, Nattukottai Nagarathar’s period. 18th to 19th Century inscriptions are found on the adhistanam.
And the temple is now under the administrative control of Sivagangai Samasthanam
Sr Muthuramalinga Gnana Desikar Swamigal about 200 years ago, whose madam is near the temple was the key person for the renovation of the temple.
LEGENDS
As per the legend the ardent devotees of Shiva Sivakuptan and Suthanmai’s daughter Arathana Valli was sent to guard the paddy field to save the crops from the birds. But Aratha Valli went to garden instead of paddy field. Ma Parvati took the form of Arathana Valli and guards the paddy fields. Suthanmai went to the field with food for her daughter. After she gave food returned back to home and Arthanavalli, came to home and asked for food. Suthanmai realized that, the girl in the form of her daughter, who guarded the paddy fields, was none other than ma Parvati. Hence ma Parvati of this temple is being called as Thiru Nellai Ambal.
In Another Legend, When the Pandya king was ruling Kalayarkoil, came to here for hunting. He chased a deer and about to kill with his sword, found it was disappeared, due to Shri Shiva’s play. The deer ran in to the forest and disappeared. After some time, the king found that Brahmin was chased by a tiger. To save the Brahmin, the King himself tried to fight with Tiger. The Tiger and the Brahmin disappeared, found his sword and a Shiva Linga under a Tree. The Pandya King built a temple keeping the Shiva Linga as moolavar. Since Shiva gave back his sword ( வாள் ), Shri Shiva is being called as Kotravaleeswarar ( கொற்றவாளீஸ்வரர் ), also called as Raja kadka Parameswarar.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Arudra darshan, amavasya and Pournami days, etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The Mobile numbers +9194892 78792, +91 94424 39473, and +9190435 67074, may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
This Sri Kotravaleeswarar Temple at Kovilur is about 8 KM from Kundrakudi Murugan Temple, 12 KM from Pillayarpatti Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, 13 KM from Vairavanpatti Sri Vairavar Temple, 11 KM Nemam Jeyangonda Soleeswarar Temple and 5.2 KM from Karaikudi Bus Stand.
Nearest railway station is Karaikudi.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
காலசம்ஹாரர்
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--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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