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.
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
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