113. SRI VILVAARANYESWARAR TEMPLE AT THIRUKKOLLAMPUTHUR (THIRUKKALAMPUR)

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	230th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - South
Chola Naadu - South	113rd Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

HISTORY:

In ancient times, this region was a forest densely covered with Vilva trees. Vilvam trees are also called “Koovilam” and hence this place gets the name Koovilambuthur. Later it has been changed to Kollambuthur. These Vilva trees are said to have grown on the place where the celestial nectar “Amirtham” fell on earth. This sthalam is considered as auspicious as Kasi. This ancient temple is situated on the bank of the river Vettaru (Mulliyaru), a tributary of the river Cauvery. This river is also known as Agathiya Cauvery. The historical names of this place are Panchatchara Puram, Kandeepavanam, Brahmavanam, Koovilambuthur and Thiru Kalampur.

Pancha Aranya Sthalams:

There are five Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams at different places in Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Thiruvarur regions which are collectively revered as “Pancha Aranya Sthalams”. Thirukkollamputhur is one among them. “Pancha” means five and “Aranyam / Vanam” means forest in Tamil. In ancient times, these regions were densely forested. These five temples are –

1. Sri Mullaivananathar Temple at Thirukkarukavur with “Mullai” forest;
2. Sri Satchi Nathar Temple at Avalivanallur with “Paadhiri” forest;
3. Sri Paathaaleswarar Temple at Thiru Aradaipperumpazhi (Haridwara Mangalam) with “Vanni” forest;
4. Sri Aapathsahayeswarar Temple at Thiru Irumpoolai (Alangudi) with “Poolai” forest;

5. Sri Vilvavaneswarar Temple at Thirukkollamputhur with “Vilva” forest.

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar:

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar worshiped Lord Shiva at Pancha Aaranya Sthalam temples in this order.

When Saint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this place with his followers, the river Vettaru (Mulliyaru) was flooded and nobody dared to operate the boats. He came to this place after visiting the rest of the four Aaranya sthalams and he wanted to complete his worship in this temple. He sang a Pathigam “Kottame kamazhum koḷḷam puthur nattam ... ..…” and crossed the river on a raft along with his followers. The beauty of this pathigam is that it helped his stay afloat without the help any boatman even during the torrid conditions.  It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy gave darshan to him on the river bank itself.

This incident took plave on the day of Deepavali. Everybody was waiting for Sambanthar’s arrival but he was getting delayed due to the floods. As the time for the last pooja was nearing, the priests were in a dilemma about what they should do. At this point, it is believed that the lord’s divine voice was heard saying that Sambanthar would arrive shortly and that they should wait for his arrival before conducting the day’s last pooja (Ardhajama pooja).

This event is celebrated even now on the Deepavali day (new moon day in the Tamil month of Aippasi) when the idol of Sambanthar is taken in a procession to the other side of the river and then brought back to the temple. On his arrival at the river bank, the idols of Lord Vilwavaranyeswarar and Goddess Soundara Nayaki give dharisanam to Sambanthar.

There is a small shrine for Saint Thirugnanasambanthar on the other side of the river bank of Vettaru. This shrine is known as “Nambar Koil” – nambar refers to the saint. This river is also known as “Odam Pokkiya Aaru”.

Panchatchara Puram:

As per Sthala Puranam, Lord Shiva himself tells the “Panchatchara Mantra” – Na Ma Si Va Ya – to the people who die in this place. The lords tells this mantra in the right ear of the deceased and bless them with salvation. Hence this place also gets the name “Panchatchara Puram”.

Sage Agasthiyar:

Sage Agasthiyar is believed to have said that worshiping the lord in these five temples in a single day is very auspicious. By doing so, all our sins will be absolved and we will break free from the repetitive cycle of birth and re-birth. These temples should be visited in the same order given above at the following times Pancha Aaranya Sthalam - early morning, morning, noon, evening and night.

Lord Shiva is believed to have given darshan of his cosmic dance to Sage Dhurvasar here. Also, Lord Shiva is believed to have given his wedding darshan to Sage Agasthiyar.

People who worshipped here:

Lord Vinayakar, Lord Brahma, Arjunan, Ganga, Kaveri, serpent Adhiseshan, sages Biruku, Kasyabar, Vashistar, Vamadevar, Kanva, Idaikkadar, King Kochenget Cholan and King Varaguna Pandiyan have worshiped the lord here.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This temple is one of the “Pancha Aaranya Sthalam”.

·        Saint Thirugnanasambanthar sang a pathigam here in order to keep his raft afloat on a flooded river. He crossed the river without the help of a boatman to reach this temple.

·        This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.

·        This temple is considered to be significant for its three important attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam and Theertham - glory of Lord, sacredness of the land and the auspicious temple tank.

·        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 idols of Mahishasuramarthini, Gajalakshmi and Soundhara Mahalakshmi are very beautiful.

·        The front hall, built entirely using granite, has many beautiful pillars that are engraved with many intricate sculptures. There is a beautiful relief in a pillar depicting Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and his followers crossing the river on a raft. 

·        In front of the hall of Goddess Parvathy’s shrine, on the ceiling, 12 zodiac signs (Raasi) are carved beautifully in stone. It is believed that by standing under one’s respective zodiac sign and praying to the goddess, one’s wishes will be fulfilled.

·        The statues of the Nagarathar (Chettiars) who built this temple using granite can be seen in front of the Goddess’s shrine.

 TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Vilvaranyeswarar, Sri Vilva Vana Nathar, Sri Kollambuthur Udaiyar
Ambal	Sri Soundara Nayagi, Sri Azhakiya Nayagi
Theertham	Brahma Theertham, Agasthiya Theertham, Ganga Theertham, Kaandeepa Theertham, River Vettaru
Sthala Vriksham	Vilvam tree

 BELIEF:

Participating in this temple’s boat festival is considered very auspicious. Devotees believe by participating in this festival they would be blessed with prosperity and happiness and those suffering from mental ailments can worship the lord here to get relief.

Devotees also believe that by worshiping the five “Aaranya” temples in a single day, they will be freed from the harmful effects of any planetary position in their horoscope.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Chithirai	Apr-May	Brahmotsavam on the full moon day
Aani	June-July	Aani Thirumanjanam
Aadi	July-Aug	Aadi Pooram
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chaturthi
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Boat festival (“Odaththiruvizha”)
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Somavaram and Thiru Karthikai
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Thiruvadhirai
Thai	Jan-Feb	Thai Poosam and Makara Sankranthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

 HOW TO REACH:

Thiru Kollampudur (Thiru Kalampur) is situated at a distance of about 20 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to Thiruvarur route (Via Kudavasal, Sellur and Koradacheri). From Koradacheri, this place is about 6 kms and from Kudavasal, it is about 7 kms.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Vilvaaranyeswarar Temple,
Thirukkollampudur (Thirukkalampur),
Kudavasal,
Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu – 613 705.

LOCATION: