This temple is one of the 276 Padal Petra Sthalams. It is also one of the Pancha Sabhai Sthalam and represents Chitra Sabhai. Thirunavukkuarsar, Sambandhar, Manikavachagar have sung sacred hymns at this place.
Mulavar: Kutralanadar
Devi: Parashakti, Kuzalvaimozi. They are housed in two separate shrines
Kshetra Vruksha: Wild Jack tree (in Tamil Kurumpala)
Kshetra Tirtha: Shivamadhuganga, River Chitra, Vadaaruvi
Puranik Name: Trikutamalai, Kuttralam
The present temple structure which is more than 1500 years old was constructed by Rajarajar Cholan. Later on renovation and additional structures were carried out by Pandya and Nayakars. According to archeologists there was originally a vishnu temple by the side of mulavar.
Rajagopuram is three tiered. As we enter, we come across Vasant Mandap which has three kalashas on the top with a lot of sculpture. Next to this mandapam, we have a mandapam with dhwajasthambha, Nandi and Balipeeth. The temple is conch shaped known as sangukonam (conch represents power of Lakshmi). Lord Shiva is in the form of a swayambhu linga. We can observe the fingerprints of Sage Agastya on the Shiva Linga. Parashakti shrine is one of the 64 shakti peethas. Parashakti is on a Shri Chakra. It is also known as Parashakti Peetham. Also known as Dharani Peetham (because of Bhumadevi). Navashakti puja is performed on full moon night in honor of nine Ambikas (as the peetham is supposed to represent grace and power of Ambika).
Special features:
There are five entrances to the temple representing four vedas and one for Pilavandhan who came to witness Lord Shiva’s dance in Manakolamnadar shine (wedding posture).
As Devi is supposed to be in a furious mood, to calm her down, a Shiva linga known as Kamakotishwara is installed in front of her. In front of the Parashakti shrine, we have peethams of Annaavipillai and other deities. On the southern side, we have the shrine of Kailashnadar. And on the northern side we come across Shri Durga shrine and Shri Vallabha Ganapati. Lord Muruga with a bow in his hand is housed in the shrine with his consorts Valli and Deivanai facing each other. We come across Shiva Linga and a shrine of Sage Agastya. Under the feet of Sage Agastya we have the idol of his shishya Shivalayamuni.
In the prakara, Lord Shiva is in wedding posture. Lord Vishnu and Goddess Mahalakshmi are kanyadaan of Ambika (as Lord Vishnu is the brother of Ambika), Lord Brahma is depicted as priest, Sage Agastya, Sage Bhrungi are the witness to this wedding. We come across the shrines of Lord Vishnu as Nannaagama Perumal and Lord Krishna. The kurumpala (wild jack) fruits are in the form of Shiva Linga. The wild jack fruit tree in the prakara is very old (1000 years) and revered by Lord Shiva himself. Dwarapalakas at the entrance of the shrine are depicted as if they are in conversation. We can have darshan of all five Pancha Bhuta Lingas at this place. Lord Nataraja graces at this sabha in the form of a painting. Arjuna had lost the casket containing his Shiva Linga. He used to worship this Shiva Linga daily and lost it at Kashi. When he reached this place, he found a casket containing Shiva Linga. After performing this puja, he left the same at this place. It is kept in a separate shrine in a prakara. We can observe west facing Vinayaka, Kailash Kutrala Nadar, Trikuta Malai and Kutralam waterfall from a point very close to the shrine.
Chitra sabhai: This is housed north of the Kutralnadar temple in a separate shrine. Its interior has a large number of murals depicting the epics. The roof of the sabha is made of copper sheet. Lord Nataraja is painted as performing Tripura Tandava. Besides this, we come across paintings depicting Sage Agastya pressing his hand on Lord Vishnu, who becomes a Shiva Linga, miracles performed by Lord Shiva at Madurai and Lord Dakshinamurti in various forms. The paintings were actually painted by colors made from medicinal plants, herbs etc. At the entrance to the Chitra Sabhai, we come across wooden carvings of Shakti Peetham, Goddess Parvati in feeding posture, Lord Krishna playing flute, Lord of south known as Ekapadmurti, Lord Veerabhadra, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Meenakshi, Rishabh Arudhar, Kangalar, Ravana Anugraha Murti and Lord Shiva kicking Lord Yama. At the center of the temple pond, there is a mandap with a gopuram. There are 8 kalashas on the top of a water roof. Carved wooden planks serve as doors, beams and roof structure for the Chitra Sabhai. The festival of Lord Nataraja takes place in the month of Margazhi (Thiruvadurudai) for 10 days, including a chariot festival. At this time a special puja is performed both in the morning and evening in which a lamp is moved up and down depicting the dance of Lord Nataraja. This is known as Pandava Deeparadhana. This Pandava Deeparadhana is also performed during the Brahmostav in the month of Chitrai. Ku stands for the sins committed in the past and present lives. Tralam stands for getting rid of. By praying Shri Kutralanadar we can get rid of our past and present sins.
Kshetra Puran:
Sages, Munis, Devas and others assembled at Kailash for the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Due to this, the north started going down and south started moving up, i.e. there was a tilt. Lord Shiva requested Agastya to move south so that the balance will be maintained. He stated that when you reach Kutralam, you can revive me from the form of Lord Vishnu. When you reach south you will change the idol of Lord Vishnu into Shiva Linga by placing your hand on the head of Lord Vishnu. Then from that point you can witness our marriage. When Sage Agastya reached Kutralam he was not allowed to enter the Vishnu temple by the temple guards (dwarapalakas). He left that place and reached a temple in the nearby village he made a Shiva Linga of white sand and worshiped Lord Shiva. He begged to Lord Shiva to help him gain entry into the Vishnu temple. Lord Muruga appeared before him and advised him to enter the Vishnu temple in the disguise of a Vishnu devotee. Agastya entered Lod Vishnu temple as directed by Lord Muruga. He worshiped at the temple and at that very instance the conch, tulasi garland and other alankars of Lord Vishnu changed into alankars of Lord Shiva like rudraksha mala, crescent moon, serpent, small drum, trishul etc. When Sage Agastya placed his hand on Lord Vishnu’s head the idol became a Shiva Linga. At that very instant the Sage Agastya witnessed the marriage ceremony. Even today we can see fingerprints on Shiva Linga indicating Sage Agastya placing hand on Lod Vishnu’s head. It is believed that even today the Devas worship Lord Shiva during the day and Sage Agastya during the night.
People first visit the temple where Sage Agastya worshiped Lord Shiva with a Shiva Linga made of white sand and then come to Kailash nadar temple.
Festivals:
Tamil month Chithirai. 10 days Vishnu festival
Aippasi vishnu festival for 10 days
Aippasi Thirukalyanam (wedding) for 1 day
Margazhi (Margashirsha) festival for 10 days and Thiruvarudrai festival
10 days Navratri festival for Parashakti
Aippasi Brahmotsavam
Panguni Uthiram festival - 1 day
Panguni Brahmotsavam
In the month of Aadi - on new moon day, lamp festival is held with 1 lakh lamps. On the same day 1008 lamps are lit all over the temple known as Patradeep festival
In the month of Thai, float festival is held on Magha nakshatra and 1 mahadeep puja is also held
In the month of Avani on mula nakshatra, a special worship is done.
Besides this Skanda Shashti, Karthika Deepam and Shiva Ratri are celebrated.
Daily Makut puja is performed 8 times
Address: Shri Kutralnadar Temple, Courtallam, Thirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu 627802
Phone number: 91-4633-283-138/398, 91-9488-37-40-77
Courtesy: Following sites https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/
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