Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 185th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 68th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
This temple is also referred to as “Kottai Shiva temple”. It is believed that earlier this temple was surrounded by a big fortress with tanks (Akazhi) around it. The Akazhi was on both sides of the wall of the fortress. However, only the ruins of the wall and the tank can be seen. In his hymn, Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar sings about the glory and grandeur of this fort, its halls, this temple and its tanks. It is believed that a lot of Sakkiyas (Buddhist) used to reside here. Hence this place gets the name Sakkiya Kottai which has later been changed to Sakkottai.
Another reason for the name Sakkottai is that Saint Sakkiya Nayanar, one of the 63-Nayanmars, worshiped the lord here. This is despite the fact that he was a Buddhist (Sakkiya). Because of his staunch devotion towards Lord Shiva, it is believed that he was blessed with the darshan of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. Lord Shiva also blessed him by naming him one of the 63b Nayanmars. This ancient temple is situated on the southern bank of the river Arisilaru.
The Saptastanam temples:
This is one of the
Saptastanam temples associated with Sri Adhi Kumbeswarar temple, Kumbakonam.
Other temples are Kottaiyur, Thiru Valanchuzhi, Darasuram, Swamimalai,
Kumbakonam and Melaikkaveri.
12
famous Shiva temples:
12 famous Shiva temples participate in the renowned
“Mahaamaham” festival during which “Theerthavaari” happens in the Mahaamaha
tank. This festival is celebrated once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. These 12
Shiva temples are:
1.Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
2.Aadhi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
3.Someswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
4.Nageswarar (Vilvavaneswarar) Temple, Kumbakonam
5.Kalahasteeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
6.Gauthameswarar (Upaveethanathar) Temple, Kumbakonam
7.Koteeswarar Temple, Kottaiyur
8.Amirthakalasanathar Temple, Kalayanallur
9.Bhanapureeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
10.Abhimukeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
11.Aathikambatta Visvanathar Temple, Kumbakonam and
12.Ekambareswarar Temple, Kumbakonam.
5 Vaishnava temples:
5 Vaishnava temples from Kumbakonam also participate
in this festival. However, instead of their Theerthavaari in Mahaamaha tank,
the Theerthavaari happens in the river Kaveri. These Vaishnava temples are:
1. Sri Saarangapani temple
2. Sri Chakrapaani temple
3. Sri Ramaswami temple
4. Sri Rajagopalaswami temple and
5. Sri Aadhivaraha Perumal temple.
Lord
Shiva:
At at the end of every
“yuga”, there is a huge flood that leads to the destruction of all living beings
in the earth. This is called the “Pralayam”. Lord Shiva, through Lord
Brahma, arranged for the seeds of all living organisms and four Vedas and
Puranas to be put in a pot (“Amutha Kalas” or Kumbham or Kudam in Tamil) filled
with nectar (“amirtham”). This was decorated with flowers and cloth and a
string was tied to it. This was kept on top of the Mount Kailash. When the Maha
Pralayam started, it destroyed all living creatures on the earth. The Amutha
Kalas also got displaced and started floating on the seas for years. Eventually
when the Pralayam stopped, the Kalas settled in Kumbakonam. Then Lord Shiva
took the form of a hunter (Kiratha Murthy) and split open the pot with his
arrow. The life on earth started flourishing again.
Shivalingams:
Lord Shiva opened the
pot with his arrow, the pot broke and the decorative items on it fell in
various places across the earth. Each of these pieces became Shivalingams.
These places are -
·
Kumbesam – this is the place where the
Amutha Kalas stayed. This is presently known as Sri Aadhi Kumbeswarar temple
(“Aadhi” means “the very beginning”). It is believed that Lord Kiratha Murthy
himself made a Shivalingam with the broken pieces of the Kalas by mixing nectar
and sand with it. He worshiped this lingam and stayed back in this place. The
Shivalingam is in the shape of the neck of a pot (“Kudamukku” in Tamil).
·
Somesam – This is the place where the
Kalas’s string (“Uri” / “Sikkam” in Tamil) fell. This place is presently known
as Sri Someswarar temple.
·
Nagesam – This is the place where the
Kalas’s “vilvam” (leaf used in poojas) fell. This place is presently
known as Sri Nageswarar temple.
·
Abhimugesam – This is the place where
the Kalas’s coconut fell. This place is presently known as Sri Abhimugeswarar
temple.
·
Gautamesam – This is the place where the
Kalas’s sacred thread fell. This place is presently known as Sri
Gautameswarar temple.
·
Kudavoil - This is the place where the
Kalas’s rim fell. This place is presently known as Sri Koneswarar temple at
Kudavasal.
·
Kalayanallur (Saakkottai) – This is the
place where the mid-portion of the Kalas fell. This place is presently known as
Sri Amirthakalasa Nathar temple.
·
Bhanathurai, - This is the place where
Lord Shiva broke the Kalas with his arrow. This place is presently known as Sri
Bhanapureeswarar temple.
·
Maalathivanam – This is the place where
the Kalas’s flowers fell. This place is presently known as Sri
Aathikampatta Viswanathar temple.
·
Sri Kalahastheeswarar Koil – This is the
place where the Kalas’s “Chandan” fell.
·
Sri Ekambareswarar temple - This is the
place where the Kalas’s other decorative items fell.
·
Kottaiyur Sri Koteeswarar temple - This
is the place where some drops of the nectar fell.
The nectar from the
Kalas is believed to have reached the Mahaamaham and Potraamarai tanks.
Panchakurosa
Sthalams:
This nectar is also believed to have spread around an area of about 24 kms. In this radius, there are five Shiva temples which are known as “Panchakurosa Sthalams” (“pancha means five and “kurosa” is a unit of measurement used in ancient times). These temples are Thiruvidaimaruthur, Koranattu Karuppur, Thirunageswaram, Swamimalai, and Dharasuram.
Goddess
Parvathy:
Goddess Parvathy
performed penance here. There is a separate shrine in the name of “Sri Thapas
Amman” in the corridor. (“thapas” means penance in Tamil). Pleased with her
penance, it is believed that Lord Shiva married her. In the first stanza of his
hymn, Saint Sundarar mentions this legend.
People who worshipped here:
Lord Brahma, Saint
Sundaramurthy Nayanar and Saint Sakkiya Nayanar have also worshiped the lord of
this temple.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
There are separate shrines for
Arthanareeswarar and Thapas Amman in the corridor and both these idols are very
beautiful. The Thapas Amman is standing on her right leg, her left leg is bent,
her right hand is placed on her head and her left hand on her stomach. This is
a beautiful posture of penance.
·
The idol of Dakshinamurthy here is
different when compared to the postures seen in other Shiva temples. He is seen
with Rudraksham, Agni, Chin Mudra and Suvadi (Palm leaves). There is also a
halo around his head (“Surya prabhai”). The kallala tree (peepal) behind him is
also very big.
·
The idol of Lingothbhavar looks very beautiful
and it is made out of green colour stone.
·
Behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either
sides of Lord Lingothbavar, there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma
in a worshipping posture. Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three lords
(Trimurthys) – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is considered to be very
auspicious.
·
The front hall (Mandapam) of this temple
is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (“Vovval Nethi Mandapam”). In
this hall, sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy can be seen in their
wedding form. This looks very beautiful.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Amirthakalasa Nathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Amirthavalli |
|
Theertham |
Nankuveda
Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Vanni
tree |
BELIEF:
This temple is famous
for conducting rituals for Sashtiyaptha Poorthy, Bheemaratha Santhi and
Sadabishekam (60th, 70th and 80th birthdays respectively).
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar Chaturthi |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thiru Karthikai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
HOW
TO REACH:
Kalayanallur is
situated at a distance of about 5 kms southeast of Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam
- Needamangalam - Mannarkudi route.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Amirthakalasanatha Swamy Temple,
Kalayanallur (Sakkottai),
Kumbakonam,
Tanjure,
Tamil Nadu – 612 401.
LOCATION:
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