This is the 185th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 68th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called as SAKKOTTAI. Sundarar records in hymns that this place is on the south banks of river Arasalar, with a fort and moat around the temple. Still the remains of the fort can be seen.
In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Sundarar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunageswaram and Sivapuram.
செம்மை மறையோர் திருக்கலய நல்லூர் இறைவர் சேவடிக்கீழ்மும்மை வணக்கம் பெறஇறைஞ்சி முன்பு பரவித் தொழுது எழுவார்கொம்மை மருவு குரும்பை முலை உமையாள் என்னும் திருப்பதிகம்மெய்மைப் புராணம் பலவும் மிகச் சிறப்பித்து இசையின் விளம்பினார்
Sundarar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Sundarar mentions that the Shiva Linga was made of Sand.
குரும்பைமுலை மலர்க்குழலி கொண்டதவம் கண்டு குறிப்பினொடும் சென்றவள்தன் குணத்தினைநன் கறிந்துவிரும்பும்வரங் கொடுத்தவளை வேட்டருளிச் செய்த விண்ணவர்கோன் கண்ணுதலோன் மேவியஊர் வினவில்அரும்பருகே கரும்பருவ அறுபதம்பண் பாட அணிமயில்கள் நடமாடும் அணிபொழில்சூழ் அயலின்கரும்பருகே கருங்குவளை கண்வளரும் கழனிக் கமலங்கள் முகமலரும் கலயநல்லூர் காணே....... சுந்தரர் -“மாலுங்கொள்வெப்புங்கலைய நல்லோர் மென்மதுரச் சொன்மாலைசெப்புங்கலைய நல்லூர்ச்சிமயனே...... திரு அருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Amirthakalasanathar, Sri AmithakalesarConsort : Sri Amirthavalli.
Some of the salient features of this temple are..........The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. In addition to this there is an entrance arch on the road side. Rishabam and Balipeedam are in front of the Rajagopuram. A Rishabam with Balipeedam are also in the artha mandapam. Moolavar is of Swayambhu made of sand as per Sundarar hymns. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of antarala.
In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy ( with Rudraksham, Agni, ChinMudra, Suvadi, Head hair like Surya prabhai – special to see ), Lingothbavar. Lingothbavar is made of green stone with Maan and Mazhu with Brahma and Maha Vishnu on both sides, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma and Durgai.
In Prakaram, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar, Navagrahas, Vayu Lingam Prithvi Lingam, Theyu Lingam, Murugan with his consorts, Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar, Chandran, Suriyan, Shaniswarar, Rahu, Sakkiya Nayanar and Saptamatrikas panel ( in a single stone.)
Ambal is in separate sannathi facing south, but skewed certain angle towards Lord Shiva. Ambal as Dhabasvi Ammai, a bas-relief Standing on right leg folding the left leg and right hand on the head and left hand on the stomach.
Stucco image of Siva Parvathi kalyana kolam is in vavval nethi mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum was constructed with sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7th Century. Latter the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period, before Rajarajan. Further extended during Thanjavur Nayakas / Maratha Period and maintained by Nattukottai nagarathars.
The temple was again reconstructed during Kulothunga Chozha-III, period, again in 16th to17th Century during Thanjavur Nayak’s period. It is believed that the bas relief on the madanda pillar belongs to Kulothunga Chozha-III.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 09th February 2992 and 22nd October 2015.
LEGENDS It was believed that when the Amirtha kalayam, was broken the centre portion of the Kalayam fell in this place hence this place is called Thirukkalayanallur. In olden days Agazhi was there around the temple. It was also believed that due to water in the agazhi people worshiped Lord Shiva from a distance. Hence the temple was also called as “Kottai Shiva Temple”. Sundarar also mentions the fort in his hymns.
This is one of the 12 temples participates in the Mahamaham theerthavari festival at Kumbakonam. At the end of each yuga, Lord Shiva destroys the living things on the whole earth through Pralaya. Brahma asked Lord Shiva from where to create new lives and the procedure to be adopted. Lord Shiva told Brahma to create a magical pot and fill it with the seeds of all living things, soil of various holy places and the amirtha in the pot. At the end of the yuga Lord Shiva asked Brahma to leave the pot to float in the pralaya flood water. When the pot reached Kumbakonam Lord Shiva in the form of Kirathamoorthy shots the pot with an arrow. The pot had broken, the amrita mixed with soil spilled and spreads on this place Kumbakonam. The soil with amrita formed a Shiva Linga. Hence Lord Shiva is called as “Adi Kumbeswarar”, temple is called as Adi Kumbeswarar Temple and this place is called as Kumbakonam.
The arrow shot by Lord Shiva creates nostrils around the post. The amirtha flowed through the nostril. Hence this place is called as “Kudamooku” ( Kudam – pot, mooku – nostrils ). The Mango leaves, the sacred grass ( Tharpai ), hoop ( uri ), bell tree leaves ( bilva ), Coconut and the sacred thread ( poonool ) which adorns the pot had thrown out and fallen in different place due to swirl of the pralaya wind. They formed Shiva Lingas and latter as temples around this place. As per the puranas, the life of the living things started from this place and this is treated one of the Thiruvilaiyadal of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the 12 parts of the pot had fallen on 12 places and Kalayanallur is one of that. This is the place where mid-portion of the Kalasa fell. Hence this place is being called as Thirukalayanallur.
As per the legend ma Parvati did a penance in this place on Lord Shiva to marry him. Satisfied with the penance Lord Shiva gave darshan to ma Parvati and married her. There is a separate shrine for Sri Thapas Amman. The same was mentioned in Sundarar’s hymns.
குரும்பை மலர்க்குழலி கொண்டதவம் கண்டுகுறிப்பினொடும் சென்றவள்தன் குணத்தினைநன் கறிந்துவிரும்பும் வரங்கொடுத்தவளை வேட்டருளிச் செய்தவிண்ணவர்கோன் கண்ணுதலோன் மேவியஊர் வினவில்
Sakkiya Nayanar as a Buddhist used to throw stone of Lord Shiva – Shiva Linga. Lord Shiva gave darshan to him and Sakkiya Nayanar followed Saivam. He was included as one of the 63 Nayanmar by Sundarar.
It is believed that Brahma, Sundaramurthy Nayanar and Sakkiya Nayanar, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on, Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month of Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiru karthigai in the month of Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makara Sankranti in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradosham days.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept opened between 09.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS :Balasakthi Gurukkal’s mobile numbers +91 98653 06840, +91 8973621938 and Gurukkal Anand’s mobile number +91 9788202923 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH : Sakkottai is 5 KM from Kumbakonam on Mannargudi route and the temple is near Kottai bus stop.The Place Sakkottai is 7 KM from Thirunaraiyur, 10 KM from Thirupandurai, 8 KM from Nachiyarkoil, 4.3 KM from Kumbakonam, 39 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 36 KM from Thiruvarur and 298 KM from Chennai.Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
A Vinayagar temple before Shiva Temple
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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