Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 211st Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 94th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
This ancient temple was
built by King Kochengat Chola. This is a Maadak Koil and it has 18 steps to
reach Lord Shiva’s shrine. The lower part of this temple is known as “Kudavayir
Kottam”. It is believed that Kochengat Chola imprisoned one of his enemies,
Seran Kanaikkal Irumporai in this kottam.
This temple finds
mention in the Puranaanuru and Aganaanuru texts of the Sangam period (300 BC –
300 CE) literatures. The songs by famous poets Kudavayil Keerthanar and
Kudavayil Nallathanar are also part of Aganaanuru. The historical names of this
place are Garudathiri, Kathalivanam and Vanmikaachalam. This temple’s
historical name is “Perunthirukkoil”.
Lord
Shiva:
According to Hindu
mythology, 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.
Garudan:
Garudan (Garudazhvar),
the eagle god and also the king of birds. Sage Kasyaba had two wives, Kathru
and Vinathai. Garudan was the son of Vinathai. Vinathai was bound to Kathru as
a slave. Kathru demanded the nectar from the celestial world to release
Vinathai. To save his mother, Garudan flew to the celestial world and got the
pot of nectar. While returning, a demon tried to snatch this pot from Garudan.
Garudan placed the pot on a nearby anthill and fought with the demon and
defeated him. However, when he came back to retrieve the pot, he could not find
it as it had gotten covered by the anthill. He tore down the anthill with his
sharp beak and was surprised to find a Shivalingam there. Lord Shiva appeared
in front of Garudan. Garudan prayed to the lord asking him to save his mother.
Lord Shiva rescued Vinathai from the bondage of Kathru. Garudan stayed here to
worship the lord and also built this temple. Further, it is believed that this
Shivalingam that Garudan discovered was actually the Kalas’s rim that fell
here.
The scratch marks from
Garudan’s beak can still be seen on the Shivalingam. There is an idol of
Garudan in this temple and sculptures of Garudan can also be seen in the
compound walls of the temple. It is interesting to note that this is a feature
usually seen in Vaishnava temples.
People who worshipped here:
Garudan, Suryan, Agni,
Jadayu, Sages Suthama, Thalappiyar, Birugu and Thirunapindhu have worshiped the
lord here and Sage Thirunapindhu worshiped the lord here. The lord was pleased
by his worship and as a blessing, he cured the sage’s leprosy.
SALIENT FEATURE:
·
This temple is counted as one of the
Maadak Koils built by King Kochengat Cholan.
·
It is believed that few drops of the
“Amirtham” (nectar) fell in this temple’s Theertham (tank). Hence, taking a dip
in this tank during the Maha Maham festival at Kumbakonam is considered very
auspicious. This tank is in front of the temple and a Vinayakar shrine is also
present on the bank of this tank.
·
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.
·
Lord Shiva here is also praised as “Sri
Vanmeekanathar” as he was taken out from an anthill (“vanmeekam”) by Garudan.
·
In this temple, there are few Vinayakar
shrines in the names of Sidhdhi Vinayakar, Anumathi Vinayakar, Aathi Gaja
Nathar and Maalai (evening) Vazhipaattu Vinayakar.
·
It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun)
worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the Shivalingam
every year for three days in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr).
·
There are many beautiful sculptures
(sudhai) on the towers that depicts various legends from Hindu mythology.
·
It is believed that King Kochengat Chola
built about 70 “Madakkoils”. The distinguishing feature of a Madakkoil is that
it is not easily approachable by an elephant. He built these temples at an
elevation and there are a few steps that need to be climbed before seeing the
lord. Also, the sanctum sanctorum’s (Karpagragam) entrance is narrow such that
no elephant can enter it.
·
In his hymn, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar
refers to this madakkoil as “Ezhilkola Mada Koil” meaning an “extremely
beautiful mada temple”.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Koneswarar, Sri Suryeswarar, Sri Birugu Nathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Periyanayaki, Sri Brahannayaki |
|
Theertham |
Amritha
Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Vaazhai
(Plantain tree) |
BELIEF:
Devotees make it a
practice to worship Lord Shiva, Suryan and Chandran here. It is believed that
by doing so, they will be absolved of the sins that they have accrued by not
performing the rituals for their ancestors (“Sradh”).
Devotees also worship
Lord Shiva of this temple for prosperity and wisdom.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Vaikasi |
May-June |
Vaikasi Visakam |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Aani Thirumanjanam |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Pooram |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thiru Karthikai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maasi Maham and Shivrathri |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni Uthiram |
HOW
TO REACH:
Kudavayil (Kudavasal)
is situated at a distance of about 18 kms south-east of Kumbakonam on the
Kumbakonam to Thiruvarur route. From Thiruvarur, it is about 16 kms.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Koneswara Swami Temple,
Kudavayil (Kudavasal),
Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu – 612 601.
LOCATION:
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