This is the 91st Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 37th Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. During 6th to 7th Century this place was called as Kodika and now called as Thirukodikaval.
In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar mentions that, Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruthuruthi ( Kuthalam ) and Thiruvelvikudi.
திருக்கோடிக்காவில் அமர்ந்த தேவர் சிகாமணி தன்னைஎருக்கொடு இதழியும் பாம்பும் இசைந்து அணிந்தானை வெள்ஏனப்பருக்கோடு பூண்ட பிரானைப் பணிந்து சொல்மாலைகள் பாடிக்கருக்கோடி நீப்பார்கள் சேரும் கஞ்சனூர் கைத்தொழச் சென்றார்
Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, Aiadigal Kadavarkon and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of the temple. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung 3 hymns on this temple.
இன்று நன்று நாளைநன் றென்று நின்ற இச்சையால்பொன்றுகின்ற வாழ்க்கையைப் போகவிட்டும் போதுமின்மின்தயங்கு சோதியான் வெண்மதி விரிபுனல்கொன்றை துன்று சென்னியான் கோடிகாவு சேர்மினே........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்நெற்றிமேற் கண்ணினானே நீறுமெய் பூசினானேகற்றைப்புன் சடையினானே கடல்விடம் பருகினானேசெற்றவர் புரங்கள் மூன்றும் செவ்வழல் செலுத்தினானேகுற்றமில் குணத்தினானே கோடிக்காவுடைய கோவே........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்காலைக் கலையிழையாற் கட்டித்தாங் கையார்த்துமாலை தலைக்கணிந்து மைஎழுதி – மேலோர்பருக்கோடி மூடிப் பலர் அழா முன்னம்திருக்கோடிக்கா அடைநீ சென்று.......... ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன் --“அஞ்சுகங்கள்நாடிக்காவுள்ளே நமச்சிவாயம் புகலுங்கோடிக்காமேவுங் குளிர்மதியே........ திரு அருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Kodeeswarar, Sri KodinatharConsort : Sri Thripurasundari, Sri Vadivambigai
Some of the important features of this temple are....The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Kodimarathu Vinayagar, balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in a mukha mandapam abutting the 2nd level Rajagopuram of 2 tiers. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, Antarala and Artha mandapam. The artha mandapam is of Vavvaknethi style. Moolavar in on a square avudayar and little taller. In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Ashtabhuja Durgai, Pichadanar and Agathiyar. A moat formation is around the sanctum sanctorum, may be due to raise of ground level.
In the inner prakaram, Karaiyetrum Vinayagar, Mayil Vahanar ( Murugan ), Shiva Lingas, Gajalakshmi, Jyeshta devi with Manthan and Manthi, Kalabhairavar, Suryan, Chandran, Shaniswarar ( As a Bala Shaniswarar, holding a Shiva Linga in his hand and seated on eagle against Crow ) and Durvasa.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the inscriptions this place was called as Vadakarai Nallatrur nattu Brahmadesam naraNakka Chathurvedi mangalam, Kannamangalam Neriyudaya Chozha Chathurvedi Mangalam and Lord Shiva was called as Thirukodikavudayar. Most of the inscriptions records the endowment of burning perpetual Lamp and day light lamps and Naivedyam for which land, Gold, kasu, Goat and money Kasu ( Money ), gifted to this temple. A Chozha period inscription records a song praising the Chithramezhi Periya Nattar and the Chozha king.
Parakesarivarman’s 4th year reign ( 9th to 10th Century ) inscription, records that Mahendravarman Chuthurvedimangala Sabha sold 10 seivinai land at Kallakudi and donated to this temple as irayili.
Parantaka Chozha 4th year reign ( 909 CE ) inscription records that blowing of two conches for which a land was donated by KoRRakkurumburudayan Mayan Kosadayan.
Rajakesari’s 11th year reign ( 9th to 10th Century ) inscription records the endowment of naivedyam and burning of Lamp for which Merkanattu Sirukattoorudayan Maasenanmathan gave 360 kalam of paddy Nallatrurnattu Narasingamangalathu sabhai and from the interest of 360 kalam paddy, the Sabha agreed to supply 2 nazhi rice for naivedyam and one ulakku ghee to burn the lamp.
Parantaka Chozha-I’s 28th year reign inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 96 sheep / goats were gifted. 38th year reign inscription records the endowment of naivedyam for the artha jama pooja for the same 1/8 sei ( measure ) land and ¾ kalanju gold. From the interest, Ghee rice, Porikai amuthu, Curd rice are to be arranged by the Temple sabha.
Kovi Rajakesari’s 13th year reign inscription records the endowment of creating a nandhavanam for which 3 ma land was gifted by Perumpidugu Vanchavathyaraian alias Nakkan Cheruvidai. Another 11th year reign inscription records the endowment of annadhanam to ladies and Gents for which land was donated by Arur udayan Arulakki Senthan of Vadakarai Nallatrur nadu.
Kovilango Mutharaiyar 17th year reign inscription ( 9th Century ) records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 15 Chempon was gifted by Kandan Pirati of Karaikkattu Kallatrur.
Uthama Chozha’s 11th year reign inscription ( 982 CE ), records that the present temple was reconstructed as Katrali / Stone temple by Kandaraditha Chozha’s wife and Queen and Mother of Utama Chozha, Chembian Mahadevi. She instructed to inscribe the old inscription on the walls ( earlier to Uthama Chozha period and later will be of original inscriptions ). This re inscribed inscription of Komarsadayan 4+9 = 13th year reign records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 120 Kalanju Gold was gifted by the Pandya King Varaguna maharaja.
The Rajarajan-I’s, 13th year reign inscription records that during her visit to this temple, land was donated to three temple people ( Servents ) to cultivate the land to grow corps. Rajaraja-I’s 16th year reign inscription records that the sabha received 50 kasu from the temple and sold a land as irayili.
Parakesarivarman’s 4th year reign inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp from the interest earned for which 13 kalanju gold was gifted by Manimangalamudayanchri Paramayogi. During his 11th year reign records that a small temple was constructed for Suryan by Aditha Pidaran of Thenkarai Panayur Nattu Kotravayil Kotravayiludayan’s brother and gifted 10 kasu and the interest earned to be utilised for the morning pooja.
Nirupathungan’s 24th year ( 889 CE ) reign inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamp for which 15 Kalanju Gold by Kondanattudayan Vettuvathi Ayaran alias mallan Vekadavan. 22nd year inscription records that the King’s wife / Queen had performed the velvis of Hiranyakarpam and Thulabaram. She had gifted 50 Kalanju Gold. The interest earned from the 25 Kalanju Gold, to be utilised for the Naivedyam and burning of perpetual lamp.
Nandhivarman’s 19th year ( 9th Century ) reign inscription records the endowment of burning of perpetual lamp at Sirunangai Eswaram temple for which 100 kalam paddy was gifted to this temple by Azhirchiriyan.
Pandya King Maran Sadayan 11th year reign inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamp at Saraswati andVinayagar sannadhi for which 180 kalanju gold was gifted by the Pandya King Varaguna Maharajar.
Rajendra Chozha-I’s inscriptions 33rd year ( 1047 CE ) reign inscription records only his meikeerthi.
Vikrama Chozha’s 3rd year reign ( 1121 CE) inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam for the Cheppu Urchava murtis for which land was sold to Adhi Chandeswaran. This was decided after the Village sabha assembled. This is a document. Another inscription mentions atht the 2nd prakara was named after him as Vikrama Chozhan Thirumalaigai.
Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 20th year reign inscription ( 1197 CE ) records the endowment of Thirumanjanam to Natarajar on Markazhi Thuruvathirai, for which a land was gifted by Thillai Ambala Vizhuparayan. Another 13th year reign inscription records the gift of Land for the endowment of offering Chatti Choru to Thiruvenkadu Udayar at Thiruvaduthurai Temple and functioning of medical centre as “Vaithya Viruthi – வைத்ய விருத்தி” at Thirumadai valakam.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 05th, September2001 and 17th February 2014.
LEGENDSAs per Legend Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Mukkodi Rudras, Celestial deities, sages Durvasa, Agasthiyar, Rama, Balarama, Veerabhadra, Kali etc, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
The Sthala Vruksham is Vedra – Perambu plant ( Vedhra in Sanskrit ), hence Lord Shiva is praised as “Vedravaneswarar”.
It is believed that once this Temple was surrounded with beautiful gardens, hence Lord Shiva obtained the name of “Sri Koteeswarar” and the place as “Kotikka”. This is one of the 5 Temples ends with “Ka” beautiful garden. The other temples are, Thiruvanaikka, Thirukodikka, Thirunellikka, Thirukurakkuka.
While granting darshan to Devas Shiva told them that “This is my kshethram and the theertham was created by Nandhi with his horns. This is known as “Bhaagavam” which is equivalent to my body. Whoever takes the dip in the theertham will be get relieved from the distress and all rogams”. Lord Shiva further clarified that if one weigh this place with Mount Kailash, this place will be greater.
Believed that Ambal gave darshan to devotees in the form of Tirupati Venkatachalapathi. When they were not able to cross the river due to heavy flood, Agasthiyar asked them to pray “Karaiyetrum Vinayagar”, who in turn helped to cross the river.
In another Legend, Yama with Chitra Gupta worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Lord Shiva instructed Yama not to threaten / harm his devotees who prays him at this temple. The Yama in this temple is with Chithraguptha, hence worshiping both will get rid of Yamabayam or fear of death.
The Haridaththar of Kanjanur an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva used to visit and pray Lord Shiva of 7 temples around Kanjanur before taking the food. One day it was raining when he completed darshan at this place and also become dark. He do not know, the way to Kanjanur and Lord Shiva in the form of old Brahmin lead him to Kanjanur.
Since the river is flowing as Uthravahini, ie from South to North, this temple is considered as equivalent to Kasi and taking a dip in the river in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ) will be absolved from all the sins. Praying Lord Shiva on Pradosham day will be equivalent to the benefit of doing Asvametha yagna,
It is believed that Surya worships Lord Shiva and Sun rays falls on moolavar during 19th to 21st of Tamil month Aadi ( July – Aug )
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( aug – Sep ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sep - Oct ), Skanda Sashti and annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec- Jan ), Makara sankranti in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Mahashivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and on all pradoshams..
TEMPLE TIMINGS:The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs to 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS: Shanmugananda Gurukkal may be contacted on his Mobile number +91 94866 70043 and land line number +91 435 245 0595 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH :The temple can be reached through the bus route Kumbakonam to Kathiramangalam. Can also be reached through Mayiladuthurai to Kathiramangalam via KuthalamThe temple is 5 KM from Suriyanar koil, 12 KM from Thiruppanandal, 17 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 20 KM from Kumbakonam, 37 KM from Sirkazhi, 58 KM from Chidambaram, 60 KM from Thanjavur and 273 KM from Chennai.Nearest Railway Station is Mayiladuthurai.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
No comments:
Post a Comment