This Shiva temple is located at Thiruthelichery in Karaikkal district, at the entrance of Karaikkal town (when we enter from Poraiyur). Thiruthelichery is now known as Karaikkalpathur. It is on the northern side of Karaikkal bus stand. It is about 2 km from Karaikkal, 12 km from Poraiyur, 7 km from Poovam, 22 km from Nagapattinam, 20 km from Thirukkadaiyur and 36 km from Mayiladuthurai. This is a Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri revered by Shaiva Saint Sambandhar. This temple must have existed in the sixth century. It was reconstructed by Chola kings. Later it was reconstructed again by Nattukottai Nagarthar.
Moolavar: Shri Parvatheeshwarar, Shri Shamivaneshwarar
Devi: Shri Swayamvaratapaswini, Shri Shaktinayaki, Shri Ampaduttakkannal
Ksehtra Vruksha: Shami / Bilva
Sacred Theertha: Surya Theertha, Guha Theertha
Puranic Name: Thiruthelichery, Karaikkalpathur
Historical Name: Mukti sthalam, Shiva sthalam, Surya sthalam, Guha sthalam, Gauri sthalam
Kshetra Puran:
1. According to Puran, Lord Surya did not love his wife Chhaya Devi. She was hurt by his behavior. Sage Narada informed her father about Lord Surya’s behavior. Her father cursed Surya to lose his luster. Lord Surya as an atonement created Bhaskar Theertha at this place and worshiped Lord Shiva. Pleased by his worship Lord Shiva absolved him of his curse. As Surya worshiped Lord Shiva at this place the place was praised as Bhaskar Kshetra.
2. Goddess Parvati took birth as Katyayani, daughter of Sage Katyayana. She did penance here, worshiped and later married Lord Shiva. Hence she is praised as Goddess Swayamwar Tapaswini and Goddess Parvati Amman. As Lord Shiva married her, he is praised as Lord Parvatheeshwarar.
3. According to Sthala Puran, there was a great famine at this place. The Chola king who ruled over this place prayed to Lord Shiva to save his people from starvation. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati came in the guise of a farmer and his wife. They ploughed fields and sowed paddy. There was a very good yield and people were saved from starvation. As Lord Shiva ploughed and sowed the seeds, the place is praised as Thirutheli (sow) chery (place).
4. According to Sthala Puran, Shaiva Saint Sambandhar once passed through this place after worshiping Lord Shiva at Thirunallaru. As he did not notice the temple, it is believed that Lord Vinayaka called him ten times. He made him turn back and made him worship the Lord at this place. As Lord Vinayaka called Sambandhar for worshiping the Lord at this place, he is praised as Koovi Azhaitha Vinayaka (meaning Vinayaka who called loudly). Hence in olden days this place was known as Koovi Azhaithat but later became Koilpathu.
5. When Shaiva Saint Sambandhar was on his way to this place he was intercepted by some people belonging to another religion at a place known as Bodhi Mangai. He was harassed and questioned about the powers of Lord Shiva. At that time Sambandhar sought the help of Lord Shiva for the solution. At that time a thunder fell at that place and still people were arguing with the Saint. They challenged him to a debate. Sambandhar asked one of his disciples to attend the debate and he defeated them. It is believed that they accepted defeat and embraced Shaivism.
6. According to Sthala Puran, Arjuna is believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed him in the disguise of a hunter. Heeding to the prayer of Arjuna, Lord Shiva agreed to fulfill his wish. Hence Lord Shiva is praised here as Shri Phalgun Lingam. And the sacred theertha is known as Phalgun Theertha.
7. According to the Sthala Puran, King Ambarisha worshiped Lord Shiva according to the advice of Sage Vasishtha. He was blessed with a child. Hence the Shiva Linga is praised as Rajalinga.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Goddess Parvati, Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Sage Markandeya, Arjuna, Surya, King Ambarish, Shaiva Saint Sambandhar.
Special Features:
1. Lord Shiva at this place existed in all four yugas. This place existed as Brahmavanam in Kritayuga, Shamivanam in Treta yuga, Anandavanam in Dwaparyuga and Mukti Vanam in Kaliyuga.
2. The procession idol of Lord Shiva is praised as Kirat Murti. He is present along with Goddess Parvati. The idol is very unique and very beautiful. In this idol, Lord Shiva is in the form of a farmer with a plough over his shoulder and Goddess Parvati as his wife.
3. There is a relief of Goddess Parvati worshiping Lord Shiva (as a farmer).
4. There is a relief of Lord Surya and Saint Sambandhar worshiping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
5. There is an idol of Arjuna worshiping Lord Shiva who is in the form of a hunter (Kirat Murti).
6. This is the birth place of Karaikkal Ammaiyar who is one of the Naayanmars.
7. The sun’s rays fall on the Shiva Linga for ten days in the Tamil month of Panguni.
8. At this place Lord Surya was absolved of his curse.
9. Lord Shaneeshwarar is in a separate shrine along with his wife.
10. Kshetra Vinayaka is praised as Lord Sambandhar Vinayaka.
11. The Shiva Linga worshiped by Lord Surya is praised as Bhaskar Linga.
12. Lord Vinayaka had called out to Shaiva Saint Sambandhar 10 times, hence this place is also known as KovilPathu.
About temple:
This is a west facing temple with an entrance arch which has stucco images of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva on Rishabh along with Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga on either side. There is a five-tiered Rajagopuram. The temple has two prakarams. Dhwajastambha, Balipeeth and Nandi are after the Rajagopuram. This is the birth place of Karaikkal Ammaiyar Naayanmar. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga facing the west. The rays of the Sun fall on Shiva Linga for ten days from the tenth day of Tamil month Panguni. The sacred theertha is in the front of the temple. The Ardha Mandap and Maha Mandap are on the left side. In the sanctum the Shiva Linga is praised as Lord Paarvatheeshwarar. It is believed that the Shiva Linga existed in all four yugas. It is under a silver mandap which looks very beautiful. There are Dwarapalakas on either side of the sanctum standing on the lion's head.
Koshtha murtis: Lord Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Lingodbhavar, Lord Brahma, and Goddess Durga. Lord Chandikeshwarar’s shrine is in the usual position.
Lord Shiva is also praised as Maha Lingam, Brahma Lingam (worshiped by Lord Brahma), Raja Lingam worshiped by Amaresan, Bhaskara Lingam worshiped by Lord Surya.
In the prakaram we come across the following idols and shrines. Lord Vinayaka, Lord Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Lord Lingodbhavar, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Chandikeshwarar, Lord Nataraja, Lord Chandrasekhar, Shaiva Saint Nalvar, Navagraha, Lord Bhairav, Lord Surya, Lord Chandra, Goddess Durga and sixty three Naayanmars. Goddess Ambika is in a separate west-facing shrine. Lord Shaneeshwarar is in a separate shrine in the prakaram. Kshetra Vinayaka is praised as Lord Sambandhar Vinayaka. In the prakaram, we also come across Lord Nataraja with Goddess Shivakami, Lord Somaskanda, Goddess Pidari Amman, Lord Kashi Vishwanath with Goddess Vishalakshi and idol of Kirat Murti.
Prayers:
1. Devotees worship Goddess Swayamwar Tapaswini for removal of marriage obstacles.
2. Devotees worship Goddess Parvati for child boon.
3. Devotees worship for knowledge and education of their children.
Poojas:
Regular daily rituals, pradosha puja and other weekly and monthly pujas
Some important festivals:
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Paddy spring festival
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri
Purattasi (Oct-Nov): Navaratri
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Panguni (Mar-April): Panguni Uttiram (utsav on Uttara Phalguni nakshatra)
Timings:
7 am to 12 noon, 4 pm to 8:30 pm.
Address:
Shri Paarvatheeswarar Temple,
At-Post Thiruthelichery (Kovilpathu),
Karaikkal,
TN 609602
Phone number:
+91-4368221009, 9786635559
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