This is the third shiva temple of the sapta sthanam. It is situated on the southern bank of river kaveri. This is one of the 276 padal pethtra sthalams revered by three Shaiva saints Appar, Sundarar and Sambandhar. The temple is situated at Thiruchotruthurai in Thiruvaiyyaru taluka of Tanjavur district.
Mulavar: Odhavaneshwarar, Chotruthurai-nadar, Tholayachelvandar, Sri Oppilllachelvar,
Devi: Annapurni, Tholayalachelvi, Oppilaambika
Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva, Rishyagandha (Panner flower tree in Tamil)
Sacred Teertha: Kaveri, Kudamurutti, Surya Teertha,
Puranik Name: Thiruchotruthurai, Gautamashram
The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. The temple is facing the east. There is no rajagopuram. In its place there is a sculpture of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva seated on rishabh (nandi). There are two prakarams or parikramas. At the second entrance there is three tiered gopuram. The temple is about 2000 years old built by chola kings.
Shrines and Idols:
In the main hall (artha mandap) we have Lord Muruga’s shrine. The idol is very huge with six heads and twelve hands, known as Shanmukha. The shrine of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva face east. Goddess Parvati’s shrine is on the right side of Lord Shiva and she is in a wedding posture. Stone sculpture of sage worshiping Lord Shiva. Another stone sculpture depicts war between two groups. There is an idol of Kaal Samhar murti. In the mahamandap, Nandi faces the sanctum sanctorium. There is an idol of Lord Ganesha and Kashi Shiva Linga. There is an idol of a devote couple who got a akshay patra from Lord Shiva. In the inner corridor, we have shrine of Mahaganapati, AdhikarNandi, Lingodbhavar, Navagraha, Surya, Bhairava, Sapta Matrikas, Panch Bhuta Linga and Sapta Sthana Linga and AyyarAppar. The koshta murtis, Lord Ganesha, Lord Dakshnimurti, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Goddess Durga, and Chandikeshwar exist in their respective places. To the right side of sanctum, we have the shrine of Subramanya facing the east, Mahasiddha, idol of a gana worshiping Lord, balipeetha, Nandi and Dhwajasthambha. Devi Annapurni in her wedding attire is in a separate shrine. There is also Nandi facing her shrine at the entrance. We have Subramanya, Ganesha and Mahalshmi idols also.
Those who worshiped here:
Ramalinga Vallarar, Ganesha, Surya, Indra, Sage Gautam obtained salvation at this place. Hence the place is known as Gautamashram.
Kshetra Purana:
Lord Indra got rid of his curse which he had incurrred due to Sage Gautama.
After Lord Shriram went to forest, King Dasharatha came to worship Lord Shiva at this place.
It is believed that once upon a time rice instead of unhusked rice was grown at this place due to the grace of the Lord Shiva and Devi Annapurni.
It is believed that once upon a time the lake nearby had rice instead of water due to the grace of Lord Shiva, so that no one in the region died of starvation without food. So Lord Shva is known as chotruthurai-nadar (who gave not only food but also salvation to the souls).
Once there was a very severe famine, a staunch devotee known as Arulalan, along with other men, women and children was starving. The priest too had stopped coming to the temple. Arulalan who was sitting in the dark corner of the temple, cried to the lord and dashed his head against the steps of the entrance to the temple requesting the lord to save them. Suddenly there was rain and the whole area was flooded. A bowl (patra) came floating in the flood water. At that time Arulalan heard a celestial voice stating that patra was a akshaypatra which will help him to feed the people. He did as per the command of the celestial voice and got rid of the starvation and the famine in the region. Hence Lord Shiva is known as chotruthurai-nadar and devi as Annapurni.
As Goddess Parvati provided abundant food (rice) she is known as Annapurni. This is one of the seven places where Lord Shiva fed his devotees.
Festivals:
- Chitrai (April-May), Sapta Sthanams festival and Brahmotsav,
- Avani (August-Sept) Ganesh chaturthi,
- Purattasi (sept-oct) Navaratri,
- Aippasi (Oct-Nov), Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival,
- Kathigai (Nov-Dec), Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam,
- Thai (Jan-Feb) Makar Sankranti,
- Masi (Feb-Mar) Shivaratri.
- Besides this the daily rituals, weekly pujas and fortnightly pradosh pujas are conducted. Arudra darshan
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