Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 35thShiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Nadu Naadu |
Nadu Naadu | 3rd Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
Chola
King Dhinakaran, suspecting his wife of infidelity, killed her and thus
incurred the “Srihathi Brahmahathi dosham” – the sin accrued by the act of
killing. Due to his sins, he lost his kingdom and started wandering as a
lunatic. One day he saw a dog with skin diseases following him. It fell in a
river and came back healthy and beautiful. The king was surprised to see the
change in the dog and wanted to try for himself by taking a dip in that river.
After the dip, he also felt afresh and got relieved from his sins. He also got
back his kingdom and built this temple on the banks of the confluence of the
two rivers and named the place “Thiru Koodalai Atrur” meaning the confluence of
the rivers. However, this temple was washed away by a severe flood in the river
but later the idols were recovered and reinstated in the reconstructed temple.
Koodalaiyatrur is on the confluene of rivers Vellaaru, Manimuthaaru and Akaya
Ganges (an invisible river); hence the place is known as Koodalaiyatrur and
“Thiruveni Sangamam”. This place is also known as “Dakshina Prayagai” as the
river flows from south to north.
Lord here is called Narthana
Vallabeswarar:
Another
legend associated with this temple is that Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswathi
visited this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva here. Lord Brahma requested the
lord that he wanted to see the dance performance (Narthanam) which the lord
performed in Chidambaram for Rishi Viyagrapathar and Rishi Pathanjali. Lord
Shiva acceded Lord Brahma’s request and performed his dance for Lord Brahma and
Goddess Saraswathi. Hence, the lord here is also called “Narthana
Vallabeswarar”.
Sage Karthiyayanar worshipped lord
for a daughter:
Sage
Karthiyayanar, son of Sage Agasthiyar, prayed to the lord of this temple in
order to be blessed with a daughter. The sage found a girl child playing with
the lotus leaves in the Manimutharu River near this temple. He took the child
with him, named her Ambujavalli and raised her as his own daughter.
When Lord Mahavishnu took the Varaha Avataram,
he found that his consort was missing. He visited this temple and prayed to
Lord Shiva for his reunion with Goddess Lakshmi. Lord Shiva advised Lord
Mahavishnu to marry Ambujavalli and informed him that she is none other than
Goddess Lakshmi herself.
Sage Agasthiar retained the arts
and knowledge:
Sage
Agasthiar worshiped the lord of this temple and sought his blessings in order
to help him retain the arts and knowledge that he had learnt so far.
Saint Sundaramurthy saw Lord shiva
in form of Brahmin:
Saint
Sundaramurthy was travelling to Thirumudhukuntram (Viruthachalam), Lord Shiva
appeared before him in the form of a Brahmin (andhanar). The saint asked him
the way to Viruthachalam but the andhanar directed him to this temple by saying
“Koodalaiyatrurirku vazhi ikthu” (This is the way to Koodalaiyatrur) and asked
him to follow him. On reaching this temple the andhanar disappeared.
The
saint then realised that the Brahmin was none other than Lord Shiva himself.
While rendering his pathigam, the saint finished each stanza of his song by
expressing his surprise in not being able to identify the Brahmin as Lord
Shiva.
People Worshipped
lord shiva here:
It
is also believed that Sages Vanmeeki and Kannuva visited this temple and
worshiped the lord.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
The main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers.
·
In most Shiva
temples, there is only one shrine for the Goddess. However, in this temple
there are two separate shrines – one for Goddess Gnanashakti and the other for
Goddess Parashakti. Another distinguishing feature of this temple is that the
sacred ash (Vibuthi) is given in Sri Parashakti Ambal Shrine while the Kungumam
is given in Gnanashakti Ambal shrine.
·
During the first
three days in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May), sun rays fall directly
on the Shivalingam and special poojas are conducted on these three days.
· The Moolavar vimanam (shrine of the main deity) has two tiers.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Narthana Vallabeswarar, Sri Nerikattu Nathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Parasakthi, Sri Gnanasakthi, Sri Purikuzhal
Nayaki |
|
Theertham |
Brahma Theertham, Agasthia Theertham, Karthiyayana
Theertham, Vellaaru, Manimuthaaru, Akaya Gangai and Sangama Theertham. |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Banyan Tree (Kallala Maram) |
BELIEF:
Lord
Brahma and Goddess Saraswathi are believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva,
Goddess Gnanasakthi and Goddess Parasakthi in this temple, devotees believe
that worshipping the deities here will give them the gift of knowledge and
wisdom.
Sage
Agasthiar worshiped the lord of this temple so as to not forget the arts and
knowledge that he learnt so far, devotees worship the lord here seeking a
similar blessing.
This
is also a parihara sthalam for those who born during the periods of Bharani and
Makam nakshatrams (constellation). Devotees whose birth nakshatram are Bharani
and Makam visit this temple for poojas.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
13 days Brahmotsavam (Maasi Maham festival) |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Margazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Arudra
Dharisanam |
|
Aippasi |
Oct-Nov |
Annabishekam |
HOW
TO REACH:
Kudalaiyatrur
is situated at a distance of about 8 km from Sri Mushnam.
It
is about 25 kms from Chidambaram on Chidambaram to Sethyathoppu route.
On
the Vadalur – Sethyathoppu – Kumbakonam route, after Sethyathoppu, first reach
Kumarakudi village and then proceed to Kanur. In Kanur there is an arch for
Selliamman Koil and this temple is about one km away from that arch. Another
village near this temple is Kavalakudi, which is also about one km away.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Narthana
Vallabeswarar Temple,
Thirukudalaiyatrur,
Kavalakudi Post,
Kattumannar Koil,
Cuddalore,
Tamil Nadu – 608702.
LOCATION:
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