Thiru Kotteeswarar Temple Thiru Kodikaaval

Yama Dharma Raja visited this place to repent his killing of Markandeya Rishi, liberated himself from the sin and assumed back his original role 

Uttama Chozha’s mother reconstructed the temple in the 10^th Century AD converting the then existing brick structure into the Granite Structure that we see today

 

 Yama

 Located 8kms North West of Kuthalam and 7kms North East of Aduthurai off the Veppathur – Kanjanur Road in the Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluk (Thanjavur District) in a remote village is the legendary Thiru Kotteeswarar temple in Thiru Kodikaaval, a temple that in its current form dates back over 1200years ago and whose legend relates to Lord Saneeswarar’s penance and to the visit of Yama and Chitragupta. 

There are exquisite sculptures sketching historical episodes at the Eastern Entrance below the Raja Gopuram that is believed to date back to a period prior to the Pallavas.

Saneeswarar’s Penance

The story goes that Saneeswarar undertook penance here invoking the blessings of Lord Thiru Kotteeswarar. Since the belief was that Sani’s vision caused sadness to people and brought evil times all around, he shut his eyes in disgust stating that he did not want to cause any more trouble to the people.

Thiru Kotteeswarar appeared before Sani and preached the doctrine of truth suggesting to him that it was actually Sani who helped people realise the sins they had committed and the wrongs they had done to others. In reality, it was Sani’s contribution to their well being for only after he set his eyes on the wrong doers did they take corrective steps to cleanse the sins. Being a student who was preached by Thiru Kotteeswarar, Sani is seen here in a ‘Bala’ (small) Posture.

Yama, Chitragupta and Thiru Kodikkaaval temple

Having been the cause of the unreasonable demise of Markandeya Rishi who clung on to the Shiva Lingam at the time of his death, Yama felt depressed. In an act of anger, Lord Shiva killed Yama for causing the death of his true devotee. Born again, Yama undertook penance at Sri Vanjiyam invoking the blessings of Lord Shiva who appeared before him. Upset at the death of Markandeya Rishi, Yama’s only wish now was to serve as the Vahana of Lord Shiva. As part of this, he carried him to Thiru Kodikkaaval.

With Yama not playing his assigned role, Devas felt that sins were increasing in this world as the culprits were not being booked and punished and that the earth was becoming hot and unbearable to live. Looking for a solution, they sought the help of Sage Durvasa who took them to Kasi where an invisible voice directed them to Thiru Kodikkaaval.

On reaching here, 3crore Devas installed three Shiva Lingams and brought sacred water from the three Logams. It is believed that Nandi created the sacred Theertham with his horns. On Sivarathri, they found Shiva and Yama here at this place and requested Thiru Kotteeswarar to direct Yama Dharma Raja to accept his post so justice can be brought back to the world.

Unable to accept his unjust killing of Markandeya Rishi and wanting to repent, Yama was born as a cow with Chitragupta as a calf. Chitragupta, who kept the records of the good and bad deeds, also had to pay the price for it was his duty to have stopped the killing. It was here that Markandeya Rishi was found as a child on the streets by Manu Needhi Chozhan.  Finally, on the request of 3crore Devas and as suggested by Thiru Kotteeswarar, Yama and Chitragupta took bath in the sacred theertham and were liberated from their own sins. They assumed their original forms, went back to play their assigned roles and thus brought back sanity into this world.   

In memory of this episode, there is a separate sannidhi for both Yama Dharma Raja and Chitragupta inside the temple.

Sun’s rays on the Lord

This is the only temple where Sun’s rays fall on Lord Shiva on three consecutive days in different places. On the 19^th day of Aadi, the Sun’s rays fall on the Lord’s left. On the next day, it falls in the centre while on the 21^st day of Aadi, the Sun’s rays fall on the Lord’s right side. On these three days, a special Surya Pooja is performed at this temple.

Pancha ‘Ka’ temples

Thiru Kodikka temple is one of the five ‘Kka’ Kshetrams. The others are Thiru Kolakka, Thiru Nellikka, Thiru Kurukka and Thiru Vaanaikka.

Praised by Appar and Sambanthar

Saivite Saint Poets Thiru Navukkarasar (Appar) and Thiru Gnana Sambanthar have praised Lord Kotteeswarar of Thiru Kodikkaaval. While Appar refers to the fact that where ever he goes, he finds Lord Shiva as the one whom he saw residing at Thiru Kodikkaaval, Thiru Gnana Sambandar praises Lord of Kodikkaaval as ‘Inru Nanru Naalai Nanrenru Ninra Itchaiyaal…. Kodikkaavu Serminey’ suggesting that any day is a good day to visit Kodikkaval to have darshan and seek the blessings of Thiru Kotteeswarar.

Inscriptions

There are several inscriptions dating back to the Pallava period in the 9^th century AD that provide interesting insights into the functioning of the temple, the deities inside the temple, the direction to the temple, the name of this place, the blowing of conches during pooja time and the reconstruction and renovation efforts to convert into a granite structure.

A 9^th Century AD inscription relating to the rule of Maraanjadaiya Varaguna refers to a gift of gold for lighting perpetual lamp for Goddess and Vinayaka. During the rule of Pallava Nandi Varma II, there was a gift of paddy for lighting lamp. Thiru Kodikkaval as per the inscription was referred to at that time as Kannamangalam.

An 891AD inscription reveals the conduct of Tulabara Ceremonies performed by Vira Mahadevi, Queen of Pallava Nripatunga for providing offerings and lamps to God. Yet another inscription that dates back to 910AD and to the rule of Para Kesari Varma refers to the gift of land for blowing 2 conches in the temple.

The inscription of 981AD refers to reconstruction of the temple by Sembian Mahadevi, the mother of Uttama Chola and converting the then existing brick structure into a granite structure.

During the rule of Raja Kesari Varma Chozha, there was an agreement to pay taxes on land endowed to the Thiru Kodikka temple with the objective of feeding devotees visiting the temple. The inscriptions also provide direction to the temple as being just North of Cauvery. A gift of land was made to the temple during his rule for supply of 5pots of water daily from Cauvery for the sacred bath of the deity.

During Nandivarma’s rule, a gift of land was given for the Nandavanam. A merchant gifted gold for the construction of Madivalagam.  During Raja Raja’s (I) rule, in 996AD, servants of the temple received money on the agreement that they would supply offerings to the Sun God. There are also inscriptions inside the temple dating back to the rule of Kulotunga, Vikrama Chola and Kopperunjinga II.

Grand Festivals

In centuries gone by, several festivals were celebrated in a grand manner including a 13day Brahmotsavam in Panguni, Maha Utsavam in Maasi and Vasanthotsavam in Vaikasi. During the Brahmotsavam, Thiru Kotteeswarar would go on a grand procession on a different vahana each day around the streets of Thiru Kodikkaaval. In ancient times, there were over 50vahanas at the temple. Now, this has been reduced to just a few. As part of the Brahmotsavam, Thiru Kotteeswarar on Yama Vahana and Ambal Thiri Bhuvanasundari on Yamini Vahana used to come out on a special procession.

There was a 30day ‘Pidari’ festival that preceded the Brahmotsavam where Lord Veera Bhadra and Goddess Kali from Bhootha Kulam, a village half a km west of this temple visited Thiru Kotteeswarar temple for Theerthavari Utsavam. This festival was believed to cleanse the sins of devotees.

With the arrival of Aipasi (mid October) every year, Sengazhaneer flowers used to start blooming at the huge sacred tank North of the temple. These flowers used to bloom in big numbers till the arrival of Maasi (mid February).

Quick Facts

Deity                : Thiru Kotteeswarar / Vetra Vaneeswarar

Goddess           : Thiri Bhuvanasundari

Time                : 9am-1pm and 530pm-9pm

Priest                : Shanmuga Sundara Gurukal @ 94878 60043 / 94866 70043

How to reach

By train, one can get down at Mayiladuthurai or Kumbakonam. From Mayiladuthurai, one can reach the temple via Kuthalam. From Kumbakonam, one can take the Aduthurai - Suryanar Koil- Kanjanur route to reach Thiru Kodikkaaval. A few express trains also stop at Kuthalam and Aduthurai stations.

Bus number 2 and 2A ply every half hour from Mayavaram/Kuthalam on the Kanjanur route. Auto from Kanjanur will cost Rs. 60/- while one can also take an auto from Thiruvalankadu (Rs.50).

One can also reach the temple from Thirupanandal (just above 15kms) by bus (Bus Number 54).

Kallankuruchi Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal

Vanniyars of Udayarpalayam created a Perumal Temple near Ariyalur in the early 18th Century AD that now attracts lakhs of devotees during Brahmotsavam and Puratasi

Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal is the Kula Deivam for people from 10nearby villages

Located 6kms East of Ariyalur is the 18^th Century AD over 250years old Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal temple, one that was built by the Padaiyaachi Vanniyars of Sithalavadi Village in Udayarpalayam.

The story

Gopalan Padaiyaachi moved to Kadugur village and built several small houses in the place that was until then an uninhabited forest area thus converting it into a vibrant commercial location. Pleased with his efforts, the villagers named this place as ‘Gopalan Kudikadu’.

The story goes that once his son Mangaan took out a herd of cows and found one of the cows missing on his return. Despite extensive search, he failed to locate the pregnant cow, an event that left him dejected back home.

A few days later, he heard an invisible voice directing him to a particular place here in Kallankuruchi where he found the cow with her new born. Pleased with this, he brought home the mother and the new born. A day later he heard the invisible voice again, this time expressing disappointment at not having thanked him for helping locate his lost cow.

When Mangaan Padaiyaachi went back to that place, he found a sacred pillar with the cow’s milk on it and immediately that it was Lord Vishnu who had himself come and helped him the previous day. Mangaan performed abhisheka and erected the sacred pillar with an anjaneya idol at the bottom of sacred pillar. It was an accepted practice in olden days to erect the pillar as the deity when people were short of funds to install an idol.

Kula Deivam - Varadaraja Perumal

From the grains generated, Mangaan Padaiyaachi built the temple here at Kallankuruchi with the sacred pillar as the moolavar deity. While originally, poojas were conducted only on a weekly basis, later the Utsava deity of South Facing Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal with Sri Bhoo Devi was installed and a pooja process as per Vaikanasa Agama was created and Bhattars were appointed to perform daily poojas which is now followed diligently at this temple.

Interestingly, only the Vanniyars perform pooja inside the Moolavar Sannidhi, while the Vaishnavite Bhattars perform pooja at the Utsava Sannidhi.

Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal is the Kula Deivam for people from 10nearby villages.

Festivals

Brahmotsavam – Rama Navami - Procession during Brahmotsavam is on Silver Vahanas.

Raksha Bandhan

There are two chariots here at this temple- one for the utsava deity and one for Anjaneya. Chariot Festival too attracts huge number of devotees.

During Puratasi Saturdays, devotees throng in lakhs starting from mid night

Every morning, sharp at 7am, there is a milk abhishekam for the Moolavar – the sacred pillar. Every Saturday, there is a Thirumanjanam for the Utsava deity Varadaraja Perumal.

Quick Facts

Moolavar: Sacred Pillar East Facing

Utsavar   : Kaliyuga Varadaraja Perumal South Facing

Time       : 7am-1230pm and 3pm-9pm

                On Saturday, the temple is open from 630am to 9pm without a break

 Contact   : Srinivasa Bhattar @ 94435 15842

How to reach

 Kallankuruchi is 6kms East of Ariyalur Railway station and about 4kms from the bus stand. Regular town buses ply to the temple starting at 4am in the morning. Auto to the temple from Ariyalur bus stand will cost Rs. 150.

Pey Azhvaar Parthasarathy Koil annual trip

On Tuesday (October 1), Pey Azhvaar, one of the Muthal Azhvaars, of Kesava Perumal Temple made his annual trip from his Avathaara Sthalam in the Maaya Puri Kshetram of Mylapore to Parthasarathy Koil Divya Desam in Thiruvallikeni. 

This was a centuries old tradition that had been discontinued in the middle of the 20^th century. Over the last dozen years, this tradition of Pey Azhvaar making his annual trip to Thiruvallikeni Divya Desam has been revived.

It has also been tradition for Lord Parthasarathy to have a stop-over at Mylapore en-route his annual visit to Iyyapanthangal in Thai, for in many of the verses of Thirumangai Azhvaar, one finds Thiruvallikeni and Mylai being praised in the same breath. Thirumazhisai Azhvaar too talks about the close connection between the two.

Thirumazhisai's reference to Mylapore and Thiruvalllikeni 

தாளால் உலகம் அளந்த அசைவேய்கோல்

வாள கிடந்தருளும் வாய்ந்திறவான் நீள்  ஓதம்

வந்து அலைக்கும்  மா மயிலை மா அல்லிக்கேணி யான்

ஆஇய்ந்தலை வாய் நாகத்து ஆணை

Pey Azhvaar is believed to have performed daily Aradhana for Kesavaperumal here in Mylapore and is said to have visited Lord Parthasarathy at Thiruvallikeni.

Leaves for Thiruvallikeni

Starting at 3pm after recital of his composition ‘Thiru Kanden, Ponmeni Kanden.., from Moondraam Thiruvanthathi, he made a stop-over at his avathara sthalam in Mylapore. 

He reached the South end of Parthasarathy Koil at 4pm where he was welcomed by Senai Mudhalayar and Sri. Sadagopan opposite the Narasimha Sannidhi with the presentation of Pey Azhvaar’s Moonraam Thiruvanthaathi verses.

An hour later, Pey Azhvaar made his way into the Parthasarathy Koil paying respects in each of the Sannidhi presenting Thirumangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi verses praising the Lord of Thiruvallikeni - Lord Parthasarathy (விற்பெரு விழாவும் கஞ்சனும் மல்லும்), Vedavalli Thaayar (வேதத்தை வேதத்தின்), Varadaraja Perumal (மீனவர்  பொய்கை நாண்மலர் கொய்வான்), Thelliya Singar (பள்ளியிலோதி வந்த தன்  சிறுவன்......தெள்ளிய சிங்கம் ஆகிய தேவை) and Andal (இன் துணை பதுமத் ..... பஞ்ச பாண்டவர்காகி) in that order.

Joint Procession with Lord Parthasarathy

Sharp at 7pm, Parthasarathy and Pey Azhvaar, accompanied by the recital of Moonraam Thiruvanthaathi made a joint trip across the four big Mada streets of Triplicane providing darshan to devotees who had gathered there to seek the blessings of the ‘Mudhal Azhvaar’.

                                                                                                                              

930pm was time for Pey Azhvaar of Mylapore to bid good bye to Lord Parthasarathy of Triplicane for another year. After being presented with Lord Parthasarathy’s garland and parivattam, Pey Azhvaar made his way back to his Avathara Sthalam of Mylapore reaching the Kesavaperumal temple at 1030pm.

 Festivals

Brahmotsavam in Panguni

Theppotsavam in Thai

Pey Azhvaar Avathara Utsavam in Aipasi

Quick Facts

Moolavar: Kesavaperumal East Facing Standing Posture

Thaayar   : Mayuravalli Thaayar

Time         : 7am-1130am and 430pm-830pm

Contact     : Veera Raghava Bhattar @ 94442 74557 / 24618106