Shri Amrutakalasnathar temple at Sakkotai

This is the seventh of twelve Shiva temples associated with Mahamagam festival. This is the place where middle portion of the Kalash fell and became a Shiva linga later during pralay. This is one of the saptasthana temple associated with Aadikumbeshwarar temple. It is located at Sakkotai in TamilNadu. Earlier the place was known as Kalaynallur. The temple is more than 1500 years old. The temple is also one of the 276 Padal Petra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri. Sakkiya Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars, was closely associated with this temple. The temple was also known as Kottaishivan kovil. It is believed that the temple was earlier surrounded by a big fort with canals (agazhi in tamil). But now what we come across are only the remains of fort and canal. It is stated that in good old days a lot of buddhist (known as Sakkiya) used to reside here. Hence the place got the name Sakkiakotai which during the course of time changed to Sakkotai. The temple was built and renovated by Chola kings and Nayakkars. 

Mulavar: Shri Amrutakalashnathar, Shri Amrutakadeshwarar

Devi: Shri Amrutavalli

Sacred teertha: Nanguveda teertha

Puranik name: Thirukalainallur

Sacred Vruksha: Shamee (Vanni in tamil)

Kshetra Puran:

This temple is associated with the formation of Mahamagam tank and the pralay. This is the place where middle portion of the kalash fell and formed a Shiva linga. 

Sakkotai: Saint Sakkia was a staunch devote of Shri Shiva. He used to wear dress in Sakkia (buddhist) style and worship Shri Shiva at this temple. On his way to the temple he used to perform pooja to a stone and used stones instead of flowers. One day he forgot to do worship before taking his meals. He ran to the place where he used to worship the stone. When he reached the place, stones started falling at his feet from Kailash. Shri Shiva and Goddess Parvati appeared before him and blessed him. Lord Shiva made him one of the Nayanmars, hence he is known as Sakkianayanar. As a Sakkia worshiped at this place, the place got the name Sakkotai. 

Devi Parvati did penance here and married Shri Shiva at this place. Hence we have her idol in a shrine known as Tapasyaamman. 

As the middle portion of the kalash reached here during pralay, the place got the name Kalaynallur.

About the temple:

This is an east facing temple with one prakara and a single tier rajagopuram. It has a sculpture of Shri Shiva and Devi Parvati flanked by their sons – Shri Ganesha and Shri Muruga. The Shiva linga is a swayambhoo linga. At the 2nd entrance, there is a 3 tiered rajagopuram. Shri Shiva is east facing. At the front, there is a walled entrance. There is a mandap known as Nayakkar mandap. To the North we have Devi shrine facing south. At the entrance of maha mandap we have an idol of Shri Dandapaani and idol of Shri Nardana Vinayaka. In front of Shiva linga we come across balipeeth and Nandi in their usual position. The mandap is in the form of a forehead of a bat (vowaal in Tamil). Hence the mandap is known as Vowaal mandap. We come across idols of Shri Shiva and Devi Parvati in their bridal attire in the mandap. The koshta murthis are Shri Ardhanarishwarar, Shri Dakshinamurthi, Shri Lingodbhavar, Shri Bramha and Devi Durga. The idol of Shri Dakshinamurthi is unique. He has four hands, in his upper right hand he has a rudraksha mala, upper left hand – Agni, Lower right hand – Mudra, lower left hand – palm leaves. There is a halo (prabhaval in Marathi) around the head. There is a big Kallal tree behind him. The idol of Shri Lingodbhavar is made of green granite. It is behind the sanctum with Shri Maha Vishnu and Shri Bramha on either side. Here we get the darshan of trimurthis in one place. The shrine of Shri Chandikeshwar is located in the usual place. There is a separate shrine of Devi doing tapascharya (penance). She is known as Tapas amman (devi). She is standing on right leg with the left leg folded on thigh, right hand above her head with left hand on the stomach. Sapta matrikas are sculptured in a single stone. There are shrines of Nalavar, Navagraha, Vaayu linga, Prithvi linga, Thuyu linga, Shri Muruga with Valli and Deivanai, Gajalakshmi, Shri Bhairav, Shri Bhikshadanar, Shri Chandra, Shri Surya, Shri Shani, Shri Rahu and Sage Sakyanayanaar. 

Those who worshipped here: Shri Bramha, Sakkianayanar & Shri Shanishwar.  

Festivals: 

Vaikasi (May-June): Vaikasi Visakam

Aani (Jun-Jul): Aani Thirumanjanam

Aadi (Jul-Aug): Aadi Pooram

Aavani (Aug-Sept): Vinayakar Chaturthi

Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navarathri

Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Skanda Shashti and Annabhishekam

Karthikai (Nov-Dec): Thiru Karthikai, Karthigaideepam

Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathira

Maasi (Feb-Mar): Maha Magham festival and Shivarathri

Panguni (Mar-Apr): Panguni Uthiram

Masi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri, Mahamagam festival 

Weekly rituals on Mondays and Fridays 

Fortnightly pradosha pooja

Monthly worship on new moon day, full moon day and Chaturthi 

Prayers: People perform their 60th birthday (Shashtyabdha purti), 70th birthday (bhimaratha shanti) & 80th birthday (sadabhishek) at this place for blessings. 

Temple timings: 9am-noon, 5pm-7pm

Address: Shri Amrutakalasnathar temple, Sakkotai, 612401 Kumbakonam

Phone number: 4352414453; Cell – 9698460984

Courtesy: Various websites publishing information about temples in South India

Shri Koneshwarar Temple at Kudavasal

This is the 6th temple connected with Mahamagam festival. This is situated at Kudavasal in Thiruvarur district on the southern bank of Kaveri. The temple is more than 2000 years old. At this place, rim (mouth) of the kalash fell during the great deluge and formed a Shiva linga. Mouth of the kalash is known as Kudavayil in Tamil. Hence the place got the name Kudavasal. This is one of the 276 Padal Petra sthalam revered by Nayanmars. Shaiva saint Sambandhar got the divine darshan of Shri Shiva hence it is revered as Mini (Chinna in Tamil) Kailash. This is one of the 78 Mada-kovils built by the chola king Kochenkata Chola Nayanar, so that the elephants cannot enter the sanctum.

Mulavar: Shri Koneshwarar, Shri Suryeshwarar, Shri Bhrugunathar, Shri Konanathar, Shri Vanmeekanathar.

Devi: Shri Periyanayaki, Shri Brihannayaki

Sacred teertha: Amruta teertha

Kshetra vruksha: Plantain (banana tree) (Vaazhai in Tamil)

Puranic names: Garadadini, Kadalivanam, Vanmeekachalam

This temple is also known as Perunthirukovil

About this temple:

This is a west facing temple but without any rajagopuram. At the entrance we have beautiful sculpture of Shri Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It has 2 prakarams. We have to climb 24 steps to reach Shri Shiva’s shrine which is a common feature in all mada-kovils. This temple finds mention in Tamil literatures between 300 BC to 300 AD. The Shiva linga in this temple is swayambhoo linga. At the entrance to the temple we find Shri Garuda worshipping Shri Shiva which is a very rare site. We have a kshetra puran about this feature which is narrated later. In the outer prakaram, we come across the idol of Anumati Vinayaka. We find Shri Kashi Vishwanath shrine opposite to the entrance. In front of the entrance we have Shri Nandi and Dhwajastambha. After entering the temple we come across the shrine of Shri Brihannayaki who is in a standing posture with Abhay and Varad mudra. She is facing the south. There is no separate Goddess Durga in this temple as Devi Brihannayaki is worshipped as Brihan-Durga devi. Inside the temple we come across 3 tiered Rajagopuram. In the outer prakaram we find shrines of Idumban, Shri Dandapani and Goddess Saraswati. In the northwest of Devi’s shrine we have the shrine of Shri Muruga with his wives Valli and Deivanai, a peacock and a maha-mandap. Saint Arunagirinathar has sung a hymn on Shri Muruga at this temple. In this prakara we come across Kshetra Vruksha, Jack-fruit tree, Shrine of Navagraha, Shri Muruga, Goddess Mahalaxmi, Thirudhyanbindu muni, Saptamatrikas, Nalvar, Shaiva Saint Sundarar and Paravai-Nachyar. The 24 steps that we have to climb to reach sanctum of Shri Shiva is in front of Sundarar. Shri Nataraja and Goddess Shivagami idols are near Shri Shiva.  To reach sanctum of Shri Koneshwarar (Shri Shiva), we have to cross Mahamandap, Nandi mandap and Artha mandap. The Shiva linga is big with a square base (Avudayar in Tamil). Shri Shiva is facing the west. There is a scar on the linga caused by the sharp beak of Shri Garuda. Excepting Goddess Durga we find the usual Koshta moorthies. There is shrine of Shri Vinayaka who is first worshipped in the evening pooja known as Malaivazhipatu (worshipped in evening) Vinayaka. There is a shrine for twin Vinayakas and the Vinayaka worshipped here is Siddhi-Vinayaka. Opposite to the temple we have the sacred teertha, Amrut Teertha. On its bank we have the shrine of Aadi-Vinayaka. From the sanctum of Shri Shiva’s shrine, the tank and the gopuram of the Vinayaka temple we can have darshan. There are 2, Lord Bhairavas in this temple, one of them is without his mount the dog.

Idols in this temple: Shri Surya (in sitting position), Shri Moon (in standing position), Sage Suta worshipping Shri Shiva. There are shrines for Nalvars, Suta Maha Muni, Sundarar, Parvainachhar, Goddess Saraswati without Veena, Goddess Gajalaxmi and Saptamatrikas.

Special feature: It is believed that few drops of Amrut fell in the tank. Hence people take a dip here during Mahamagam festival. 

Shri Shiva is addressed as Vaanmiknathar as he was taken out of ant-hill by garuda. We have a number of Vinayaka shrines like Siddhi-Vinayaka, Anumati Vinayaka, Aadi-Gajanathar (in the temple tank) and Malai-Vinayaka

It is believed that Shri Surya worships Shri Shiva in this temple by directing his rays on the Shiva linga for 3 days in the month of Panguni (March-April). In the Tamil month of Thai on 3 days, the Sun’s rays fall on Shri Kashi Vishwanath.

Sanctum sanctorum of Shri Shiva’s entrance is narrow so that elephant do not enter. Sambandhar praised this temple in his hymn as Ezhilkola mada kovil (extremely beautiful in Tamil). Saint Arunagiri nathar has sung a hymn on Shri Muruga at this place. 

On Masi-magam day, 5 deities (Pancha-moorthies) namely Shri Koneshwarar, Goddess Periyanayaki, Shri Ganesha, Shri Muruga and Shri Chandikeshwar visit the Amrut teerth for Teertha-wari festival. 

Kshetra Purana: Shri Koneshwarar – Ko in Tamil means all living beings, Eshwarar means Shri Shiva. As the Lord loves all his beings, he is known as Koneshwarar. 

Shiva linga was found in the ant hill (vaanmeeka). Hence is known as Shri Vanmeeknathar. 

Presence of Garuda in this temple: This is a rare sight and it is explained in the following puran. 

Sage Kashyap had 2 wives, namely – Vineeta and Katru. Garuda was the son of Vineeta and was a staunch devotee of Shri Vishnu. Katru had poisonous snakes as her sons. Once Vineeta and Katru happens to see Shri Indra on his white horse named Uchhaihshravas. There was an argument between the 2 ladies about the color of the horse. There was a wager (betting) according to which if Katru proved that the tail of the horse was black then Vineeta and Garuda will be slaved to her forever. Katru approached her sons and requested to help her in winning the wager. Initially they refused but later on agreed to help her from getting cursed by their mother. One of her sons, Kargodaga (black snake) wrapped himself around the horse’s tail and breath his venom due to this the tail became black. When Vineeta saw only the black part of the tail (remaining portion was pure white), she accepted her defeat. When she told her plight to Garuda, he asked her for the remedy. Vineeta told him that his step-mother wants a pot containing nector from Devaloka so that they will be released from their bondage. Garuda went to Devaloka and defeated Devas in fierce battle. He informed Lord Indra that he will take the pot containing nector and only show it to his step mother as she does not deserve to drink the Amrut. He agreed to bring back the pot of nector safely. On the way to meet this mother, he had to fight a ferocious demon. Hence he had to keep the pot on a bush of Kusha-grass. When he came back after defeating the demon, he found that the pot sinking in a ant hill. When he cleared the ant hill with his beak, he found Shri Shiva (Amrutlingeshwarar) with pot in his hands. The Lord blessed and bade him to come back after releasing his mother from the bondage. After receiving the pot, Katru went to take bath placing it on a Kusha grass. In the meanwhile Shri Indra with help of Vaayu retrieved the pot. When Katru got back, she was disappointed as the pot was missing. She along with her sons, licked the droplets of nectar that had spilled on kusha-grass. Due to the sharpness of kusha-grass, their tongue got split (according to puran this is the reason that snakes have split tongue). Garuda came back to Shri Shiva, as per directive. Garuda constructed a temple for Shri Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He also constructed a sacred tank, Amrut teertha and installed Shri Ganesha who is known as Aadi-Ganesha. Hence Shri Shiva is known as Amruta nathar and Parvati is known as Amruta-valli. 

According to another kshetra puran, the nine sacred rivers (Ganga, Kaveri, Yamuna, Gautami, Narmada, Saraswati, Sharayu, Kanyakumari & Narmada) appealed to Shri Shiva for a solution to get rid of the sins left by the people in them. He transformed them into kumarikas and advised them to take bath in 3 sacred teertha on the southern bank of Kaveri when Sun is in Kumbha raas, Guru is in Simha raas and Moon in Magha nakshatra. They took bath in Kumbakonam (Mahamaga tank) then sacred tank Sakkottai (Kalashanallur) and finally came to this place. When they entered the sacred tank, the tank dried up. When they appealed to Shri Shiva, he told them that they should have taken dip first here then at Sakkottai and finally at Kumbakonam. Then he advised them to first worship Aadi-Ganesha at this place and Shri Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to puran, these sacred rivers perform this ritual every 12 years i.e. Mahamaga festival day. 

Those who worshipped here: Shri Garuda, Shri Agni, Shri Jatayu, Sage Suta, Sudama, Thalappiyar, Brigu rishi and Thirunapindu (he was cured of his leprosy by Shri Shiva at this place). 

Prayers: People worship Shri Shiva, Shri Surya and Shri Chandra in this temple. They believe by doing so, they will be absolved of the sins for having not performed the shradha ceremony for their ancestors. Devotees worship Shri Shiva for prosperity and wisdom. People worship for the welfare of their children. People worship for not having fulfilled wishes of their mothers to Shri Shiva to get peace of mind and atonement. Those having problems in getting married light ghee lamps on lime cups during Rahu kaal in Goddess  Durga’s shrine. 

Important festivals: 

Vaikasi (May-June): Vaikasi Visakam

Aani (Jun-Jul) Aani Thirumanganam

Aadi (Jul-Aug) Aadi Pooram

Aavani (Aug-Sept) Vinayakar Chaturthi

Purattasi (Sept-Oct) Navarathri

Aippasi (Oct-Nov) Skanda Shasti and Annabhishekam

Karthikai (Nov-Dec) Thiru Karthikai

Margazhi (Dec-Jan) Thiruvathira

Maasi (Feb-Mar) Maasi Maham and Shivarathri

Panguni (Mar-Apr) Panguni Uthiram

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple timing: 7am to noon; 4pm to 8.30pm

Temple address: Sri Koneshwarar Swami temple, Kudavaul (Kudavasal) Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu 612601

Courtesy: Following sites 

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and

https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/

Shri Gautameshwarar (Upavedanadeshwarar) temple

This is 5th of the 12 Shiva temples connected with Mahamagam festival. This temple is on the southern bank of Mahamagam tank. This is believed to be the place where string (sacred thread) around the kalash fell and a Shiva linga was formed. This is very small temple and much details are not available.

Moolavar: Shri Gautameshwarar, Shri Upavedanadeshwarar

Devi (Consort): Shri Saundaryanayaki

Sacred teertha: Mahamagam tank

The temple is more than 1800 years old.

Idols and shrines in the temple:

We come across the idols of Shri Nardhana Ganapati, Shri Maha Ganapati, Shri Dakshinamoorthy, Sage Gautama, Shri Muruga with his consorts Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai, Shri Gajalaxmi, Shri Lingodbhavar, Shri Bramha, Shri Chandikeshwar and Shri Anjaneya. These include the koshta moorthies also. There is a separate shrine for Navagraha. There are separate idols of Shri Surya and Shri Shanishwarar. Idols of Shri Gajalaxmi and Shri Saraswati are near Shri Bhairava. 

Kshetra purana:

The temple is associated with grand pralay which led to the formation of Mahamagam tank. This is the place where the string (sacred thread) fell during the pralay.

Sage Gautama was doing annadana at this place. In order to defame him, his enemies sent a magical cow into his ashram. While Sage Gautama was fondling the cow, the cow disappeared. Sage Gautama felt he was responsible for the disappearance of the cow and hence he worshiped Shri Upavedanathar. Shri Shiva blessed him and gave him a papavimochan i.e. freed him from a sin of killing a cow. As Shri Shiva removed the sin of Sage Gautama, he is known as Shri Gautameshwarar. 

Prayers: 

Sin of killing the cow is removed by worshipping Shri Gautameshwar after taking a bath in Mahamagam teertha. People perform pooja on Ashtami for Shri Bhairava for removal of fear. Worshiping in this temple is beneficial for persons born in the zodiac sign of Scorpio. 

Festival:

Thai (Jan-Feb) - Makar Sankranti 

Masi (Feb-Mar) - Shivaratri, 10 days of Mahamagam festival

Chitrai (April-May) - Brahmotsav

Avani (August-Sept) - Ganesh chaturthi, 

Purattasi (Sept-Oct) - Navaratri 

Aippasi (Oct-Nov) - Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival 

Karthigai (Nov-Dec) - Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam

In addition daily rituals are held in this temple.

Temple timings: 6 am to noon; 4.30 pm to 8pm

Courtesy: Following sites 

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and

https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/