Tuesday 19 January 2021

Sri Kokileswarar Temple / Kozhambanathar Temple/ கோகிலேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thirukozhambam / திருக்கொளம்பியம், Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 152nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 35th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri. This place maintains the same name of Thiru kozhambam from 7th century.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that after getting gold from Lord Shiva for his father’s velvi at Thiruvaduthurai, came to this temple. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva Kuzhakar of Thirukodika. Sekkizhar didn’t mention this temple in particular, but mentioned as other temples on the way to Kodika.

கொன்றைவார் சடைமுடியரைக் கோழம்பத்து இறைஞ்சி
என்றும்நீடிய இன் இசைப் பதிகம்முன் இயம்பி
மன்றுளார் மகிழ்வைகல் மாடக்கோயில் மருங்கு
சென்று சார்ந்தனர் திருவளர் சிரபுரச் செல்வர்
........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்
மேவுபுனல் பொன்னி இரு கரையும் சார்ந்து
    விடை உயர்ந்தார் திருச்செம்பொன் பள்ளி பாடிக்
காஉயரும் மயிலாடுதுறை நீள் பொன்னிக்
    கரைத்துருத்தி வேள்விக்குடி எதிர்கொள்பாடி
பாஉறு செந்தமிழ்மாலை பாடிப் போற்றிப்
    பரமர் திருப்பதி பலவும் பணிந்து போந்தே
ஆஉறும் அஞ்சு ஆடுவார் கோடிகாவில்
....... திருநாவுக்கரசு புராணம்
Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

நீற்றானை நீள்சடைமேல் நிறைவுள்ளதோர்
ஆற்றானை அழகமர்மென் முலையாளையோர்
கூற்றானைக் குளிர்பொழிற் கோழம்பமேவிய
ஏற்றானை யேத்துமின் நும்இடரேகவே
........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
வேழம் பத்தைவர் வேண்டிற்று வேண்டிப் போய்
ஆழம் பற்றிவீழ் வார்பல வாதர்கள்
கோழம் பத்துறை கூத்தன் குரைகழல்
தாழும் பத்தர்கள் சாலச் சதுரரே
....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்
                               -இல்லமயல்
ஆழம்பங் கென்ன அறிந்தோர் செறிந்தேத்துங்
கோழம்பம் வாழ்கருணைக் கொண்டலே’
....... திரு அருட்பா
Moolavar  : Sri Kokileswarar, Sri Kozhambanathar.
Consort    : Sri Soundaranayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are.....
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. There is a three tier Rajagopuram in front of sanctum sanctorum. Rishabam and balipeedam are after the Rajagopuram. In sanctum on moolavar‘s avudayar, a hoop mark of cow is seen. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Natarajar, Sattainathar, Pitchadanar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar with Brahma and Mahavishnu on both sides, Brahma, Arthanareeswarar as Rishabanthigar and Durgai,

In the prakaram Kannimoola Vinayagar, Appar, Murugan, Chozha Lingas, Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar, Suriyan and Chandikeswarar.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. A vesara Vimana is over the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might belongs to 6th to 7th Century. Latter this was reconstructed as stone temple during Prantaka Chozha period and further extended during medieval Chozhas and Vijayanagaras period. Even though it is believed that the temple was re-constructed during Parantaka Chozha period, the earliest inscription belongs to Uthama Chozha. Also found the inscriptions of Rajaraja-I, Rajendra Chozha-I, Rajathirajan and Kulothunga Chozha periods.  

Ko Rajakesari Varmar’s 3rd reign year inscription records that the remission of taxes due on the land of the temple Thirukkozhambam Udaya Mahadevar by the sabha of Duvedimangalam a brahmadeya in Peravur nadu in consideration of a lump sum of 14 Kasu received by them – evidently, from the temple ).

Koparakesari Bramar’s 16th reign year inscription records a gift of 7 ma and odd land at a Village of Kumaramangalam, of Peravur by Aruran Ponnambattadigal Queen of Utama Chozha as Tiruchchennadaipuram to the Goddess Uma Bhattarakiyar in the temple of Thirukkolambadevar devoutly called here “the daughter” of the Queen. The land is stated have been purchased for the purpose from a lady by name Kadan Singam to whom it belonged to as Stridhana, through her son Mahamatran Gautaman Kesavan Srikanthan of Sattanur, a brahmadeya in Thiraimur nadu, on the southern bank, as mudhugan ( Guardian – Care taker – a representative ), and was made tax free by the assembly of Peravur in consideration of a lump sum payment of  of  50 Ielakkarungasu ஈழக்கருங்காசு ) by the donor.     

Renovation works were started on 24th August 1998 in presence of the mutts of  Thiruvaduthurai, Dharmapuram, Suriyanar Koil and Thiruppanandal. On 22nd March 2000 Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted after renovations carried out through Vasantha Kumar of Coimbatore.

LEGENDS
Scar Impression of cow's ( Sri Parvati in the form of Cow) leg is found on the Avudayar  At Therazhundur Lord Shiva cursed ma Parvati to become a Cow and Maha Vishnu played the role of shepherd. At Thirukozhambam ma Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva, to get rid of the Curse as Cow. At Thiruvaduthurai also Ma Parvati worshiped Lord shiva in the form of Cow. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Kokileswarar. At Thiruthuruthi ma Parvati came out of yagna conducted by the sage Bharatha. Ma Parvati was brought up by the sage. At Ethirkolpadi Lord Shiva was welcomed as bridegroom by his father-in-law sage Bharatha. The marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati took place at Thiruvelvikudi and at Thirumananjeri marriage darshan was given to all. 

In another legend, when a contest was happened between Maha Vishnu and Brahma regarding who is great. It was decided that,  who found out the start or end of Lord Shiva will be great.  Lord Shiva stood as a column of jothi / flame from earth to sky. Maha Vishnu took the form of Varaha and went inside the earth to find the start of Lord Shiva and Brahma took the form of Anna bird and flew to the top. After seeing a Thazhampoo falling from Lord Shiva’s head, Brahma request the Thalampoo, to tell a lie, that he had taken from the head of Lord Shiva. By cheating, Brahma was cursed that no temple will be built for him. To get rid of this curse, Brahma came to  this temple and worshiped Lord  Shiva.

As per the another legend a person called Santhan of Indra loka  was cursed to become a Kuyil / an Asian Koel by  Indra. He went many Shiva temples worshiped, but he was not got rid of the curse. He came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva and got relieved from the curse. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as “Sri Kokileswarar”.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), All Mondays ( Somavaram ) in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April )

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS : 
The Land Line numbers +91 4364 232 055  and +91 4364 2320 005 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 
On the bus route Kumbakonam to Karaikal, get down at S. Pudur (  near Melangalangan ) and the temple is 1 Km.
Can go from Thiruvidaimaruthur also.  
The temple is  5 KM from Thiruvalangadu, 6 KM from Konerirajapuram, 10 KM from Thiruvidaimaruthur, 23 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 20 KM from Kumbakonam, 61 KM from Thanjavur and 278 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE










Ambal as Cow worshiping Lord Shiva with Milk abhishekam

Nataraja -oorthuva Thandava
Makara Thorana - Kudakooththu
Makara Thorana - Lord Shiva

May be a king with his wife worshiping Lord Shiva




--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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