15. SRI SAPTHAPUREESWARAR TEMPLE AT THIRUKKOLAKKA

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	69th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - North
Chola Naadu - North	15th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar)

HISTORY:

This is the first pilgrimage temple of Saint Thirugnanasambanthar after he received the blessings of Goddess Parvathy at Sirkazhi. He also rendered his first hymn there.   It is believed that when Sambanthar was rendering his pathigam (hymn) here and clapping his hands in ecstasy, Lord Shiva noticed that the young child’s hands had gone red from pain. In order to relieve him from the pain, Lord Shiva gave him two golden plates (“Thalam”). Since striking two gold plates does not produce any sound, Goddess Parvathi infused divine energy into them to make them produce musical notes.

Hence, the lord is praised as “Sri Thalapureeswarar” and the Goddess “Sri Osai Kodutha Nayaki”. “Osai” means sound, “Kodutha” means given and “Nayaki” means Goddess in Tamil. The temple’s name “Thiruthalam Udayar Koil” is also derived from this legend. The historical name of this temple is Thirukkolakka. However, it is now known as Thiru Thalam Udayar Koil.

Goddess Mahalakshmi with Lord Mahavishnu:

The wedding of Goddess Mahalakshmi with Lord Mahavishnu took place here.

People who worshipped here:

Lord Shiva here is believed to have been worshipped by lords Indira, Suryan and sages Agasthiyar and Kanva Maharishi.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        Procession idol of Lord Natarajar can be seen with Goddess Sivakami and Sambanthar. Sambanthar is holding the two golden plates in his hands which he is believed to have received from the lord here. There is another idol of Sambanthar where he can be seen holding a cup. 
·        In his hymn of this temple - “Nalum innisaiyal… …”, Saint Sundarar mentioned the golden plates that Sambanthar received from the lord.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Thalapureeswarar, Sri Shabdapureeswarar, Thiru Thalam Udaiyar
Ambal	Sri Osai Nayaki Ambal, Sri Osai Kodutha Nayaki, Sri Thvaniprathambal
Theertham	Surya Theertham, Ananda Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Kondrai

BELIEF:

Lord Shiva gave the plate to the saint but it was Goddess Parvathy who infused it with sound. That facing speech impairment can visit this temple, place honey at the feet of Goddess Parvathy and consume the honey after performing poojas. It is believed that by doing so, devotees can be cured of their speech problems. Furthermore, when this happens devotees make an offering of gold plates (Thalam) to the lord here.

A mute child was able to speak by the grace of Lord Shiva of this temple in the year 1979. His father donated a golden "thalam" which can be seen at this temple. This temple also maintains a list of such miracles and till date there are about 473 recorded incidents.

Near by temple at Sirkazhi, the second day of Brahmotsavam  - “Thirumulaippal Urchavam” is celebrated in a grand manner for Saint Thirugnanasambanthar. After this event, the procession idol (Utsavamoorthy) of Saint Thirugnanasambanthar is brought to the Thirukkolakka temple. The event where Sambanthar was given the golden thalam is symbolically celebrated on this day. Thereafter, the idol of Sambanthar is taken back to Sirkazhi temple in a palanquin bedecked with flowers (“Poo Pallakku”).

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chathurthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Somavaram
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Thiruvadhirai

HOW TO REACH:

Thirukkolakka is situated on the outskirts of Sirkazhi and is about 1.5 kms away from the Sirkazhi bus stand. It is about 4 kms away from Sirkazhi railway station.

Sirkazhi is on the Chidambaram to Mayiladuthurai route.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Sapthapureeswarar Temple,
Thirukkolakka,
Sirkazhi,
Nagapattinam,
Tamil Nadu– 609 110.

LOCATION: