This Shiva temple is situated at Thirukodikkaval on the Kumbhakonam - Kanjanur - Kathiramangalam route at a distance of 19 kms from Kumbhakonam. This is the second saptasthana Shiva temple associated with Kanjanur. This temple is one of the 276 Padal Pethra sthalam on the northern bank of river Kaveri. The present structure of the temple is about 1500 years old. There are stone inscriptions in this temple relating to the various renovation work undertaken by the Chola and Pallava kings.
Mulavar: Shri Kotishwarar, Shri Vedharavaneshwarar
Devi: Shri Tripurasundari, Shri Vadivambika
Sacred Teertha: Shringotbhava Teertha, river Kaveri and Mukkoditeertha
Kshetra Vruksha: A variety of cane (Pirambu in Tamil)
This temple was revered by Shaiva saints Shri Sambandhar and Shri Thirunaavkarassar.
The kshetra vruksha is known as Vedhara in Sanskrit meaning a type of Bamboo.
In Tamil, the word Ka means a beautiful garden. It is believed that all those sthalas whose names end with Ka are supposed to be surrounded by beautiful gardens long ago. Other such places of Shri Shiva are Thiruvainikka, Thirunallikka, Thirukurukka and Thirukolakka
About the temple:
This is a east facing temple with a five tier Rajagopuram, Balipeeth, Dhawajasthambha and Nandi in the usual positions. The mandap in which they are located has a three tier Rajagopuram. The main deity is a Swayambhu linga mounted on a square platform.
Koshta murthis are Shri Nardana Vinayaka, Shri Nataraja with Shri Shivakami Devi, Shri Dakshinamurty, Shri Lingodbhavar, Shri Brahma, Shri Ashtabhuja Durga, Shri Bhikshadanar, Sage Agastya, Shri Ardhanarishwarar and Shri Chandikeshwarar. The sanctum is in the form of a semicircular moat.
In the inner parikrama, we come across the shrine of Shri Karaiyetrum Vinayaka, Shri Shanmukha, Shri Nataraja, Shri Gajalakshmi, Shri Jyesthadevi, Shri Kalabhairav, Shri Surya, Shri Chandra, Shaiva saints Naalavar, Shri Bala Shanishwarar, Sage Durvasa, Shri Vishwanath, Shri Vishalakshi Devi, Shri Ekambareshwarar, Shri Kamakshi Devi, Shaiva saint Sundar with his wives.
The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandap (built by Maratha kings).
There is no Navagraha shrine in this temple. In the corridors, we come across a shiva linga of the four Vedas, three shiva lingas worshiped by three crore devatas, Shri Shani and Shri Yama facing each other, Shri Chitragupta and Sage Durvasa facing each other. In a single stone carving, we come across Shri JyesthaDevi (Shri Shani’s wife) along with their son Manthi and their daughter Mantha. Shri Brahma is in a small shrine in the corridor.
On the western side of parikrama, we come across idols of Nagalinga, Shri Kashi Vishwanath and Shri Vishalakshi. In the next shrine, we have Shri Shanmukha seated on a peacock with his consorts Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai. He holds a bow, arrow and weapons in his 12 hands. We come across the idol of Shri Gajalakshmi with her legs hanging down.
Salient features:
There is no Navagraha shrine in this temple. It is believed that anyone who worships Shri Shiva in this temple is relieved of the Shukradosha to a very large extent.
3 crores of devatas responsible for various mantras were relieved of their curse by worshiping Shri Shiva at this place.
According to the 12th chapter in Shiva Purana, Shri Yama has no authority to punish anyone in this place, hence there is no burial ground here. The dead are taken, for burial and last rites, to the other bank of the river.
It is stated in Purana that Shri Shiva graced and blessed a staunch vaishnav devotee.
Shri Vinayaka is addressed here as Shri Karaiyetrum Vinayaka (one who guides and saves) as he removes the hardships and difficulties.
The practice of offering material to God equal to one spoon weight known as Tulabaram was started at this temple by the Chola queen Shri Chembian Mahadevi.
Shri Shanishwar is addressed in this temple as Shri Balashanishwarar. He has Garud as his mount and holds a Shiva Linga on his head.
Saint Arunagirinadar has sung hymns in praise of Shri Muruga in this temple.
Shakti Upasak Shri Bhaskaracharya had composed Saubhagya Bhaskaram, a book in Shri Tripurasundari Devi's shrine. This book explains the meaning and significance of Shri Lalitasahasranaam. It is believed that this book was approved by Shri Tripurasundari Devi herself.
River Kaveri at this place is a Uttaravahini i.e. she flows from south to north.
It is considered auspicious to take bath in the river at this place on a Sunday during the Tamil month of Karthigai (Nov-Dec) and worship Shri Shiva.
Since Shri Yama and Shri Chitragupta can be worshiped together at this place, it is believed that one can be relieved from the fear of death at this place.
Kshetra Purana:
According to Purana, three crores mantra devatas had misused the mantras. Hence Sage Durvasa cursed them. In order to get rid of the curse, they came to this place. By worshiping Shri Shiva at this place they got rid of the curse. Hence Shri Shiva is known as Shri Kotishwarar and the place got the name Thirukotikka. This incidence is mentioned in detail in Shiva Purana (known also as Adi Shaiva Rudra Koti Samhita). In the Sayugya Kand, briefly in 33 chapters, it is stated that this was explained in detail at Naimisharanya to Sanakadi munis and Suta munis.
A staunch shaiva devotee named Shri Haradatta Shivacharya of Kanjanur used to visit the nearby Shiva temples. He used to return to Kanjanur to perform ArdhaJama puja. One day he had darshan of Shri Shiva at Thirukotikka temple and he was stranded due to thunderstorm and he could not reach Kanjanur for performing the ArdhaJama puja. At that time an old man appeared from nowhere in the rain and guided him to Kanjanur so that he can perform puja in time. As a token of appreciation Shri Haradatta gave the prasad to the old man. The next day, to his surprise, when he went to temple in Thrukotikka, he found the remains of the prasad he had given in front of Shri Shiva, Shri Nandi, Shri Devi, Shri Vinayaka and Shri Subramanya shrines. This indicated that the Lord himself came to guide and get the puja performed.
Some vaishnav seers (known as Alvars) went to Tirupati for the worship of Shri Venkatesha. There, a celestial voice of Shri Venkatesha directed them to Shri Tripurasundari Devi at Thirukotikka. It also told them that they will have his darshan at Thirukotikka. When they reached bank of the river Kaveri at Thirukotikka, the river was in spate. They were stranded on the back. At that time Sage Agastya appeared on the bank and he directed them to worship Shri Vinayaka for help in crossing the river. When they started worship of Shri Vinayaka, the flood waters made way for them to cross the river and reach the temple. When they reached the shrine of Shri Tripurasundari Devi, she gave them darshan as Shri Venkatesha.
Darshan for Sage Durvasa: Once Sage Durvasa reached Thirukotikka after having the darshan of Shri Nataraja at Dakshin Chidambaram known as Thirukkalar. And he desired to have darshan of Shri Nataraja on the day of Arudra Darshan at Thirukotikka. He entered the shrine of Shri Shiva to have darshan of Thirukotishwarar. As he was in a hurry to have darshan, accidentally he went past the shrine of Shri Ambika. Observing this, Shri Tripurasundari felt that Sage Durvasa may start to have the feeling, like Sage Bhringi, that Shri Shiva and Shri Shakti are different. She went and stood in front of Sage Durvasa, hence we find the shrine of Shri Tripurasundari Devi in between the idols of Sage Durvasa and the shrine of Shri Shiva.
Festivals and Pujas:
Avani (Aug-Sept): Ganesh chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aipassi (Oct-Nov): Skanda shashthi and Annabhishek
Thai (Jan-Feb): Makar Sankranti
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thirukarthigai deepam.
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Maasi (Feb-March): Mahashivarati
Besides this, daily puja is performed in the shrines and Pradosha puja is performed regularly on pradosha days.
Temple timing: 7 to 12 in the morning, 4.30 to 8.30 evening
Address: Shri Kotishwarar Temple, Thirukotikkaval post, Thiruvidaimarudur Taluka, Tamil Nadu 609802
Phone number: 91-04352450595
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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