Mulavar: Brahmapurishwarar, Kolilinadar, Sri Kolilnatheshwarar
Devi: Brahmagujambika
Kshetra Vruksha: Teakwood tree (sagwan), Thetta (Hazelnut)
Puranik Name: Thirukolili,Thirukuvalai
Present Name: Thirukkuvalai
District: Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu
The temple is about 1500 years old. This is an east facing temple that has 5 tier Rajagopuram with 1 parikrama.
Sthala purana is depicted in a stucco image on the Rajagopuram. We come across flagstaff, balipeeth and Nandi in the main mandap at their usual positions. The viman (gopuram) on the sanctum is a single tiered stucco vesara viman. Lord Shiva is a swayambhoo linga of white sand. It is always kept covered with a metal kavach (kuvalai in Tamil). Hence the place is known as Thirukkuvalai.
In the koshta, we come across ArdhaNarishwarar, Lord Brahma, Nataraja, Narthana Ganapati, Lord Dakshinamurti, Bhikshadanar, Lord MahaVishnu.
Both Lord Shiva and Devi face east.
Other Shrines in the temple complex:
In the prakara, we come across shrine of Sundarar along with his wife Paravai. We have shrines of Tyagavinayaka, Vishwanadar and Vishalakshi. Besides this we come across the shiva linga namely Indrapurishwarar, Chokkalingar, Annamalayar. There is a shrine for Nalavar and Gajalakshmi. In a shrine, we come across all the navagrahas in a line facing the south. Tyagaraja shrine is on the right side of Sanctum Sanctorum where Brahmapurishwarar is a main deity. In the temple complex there are a lot of stone inscriptions referring to the work of Chola and Pandya kings.
Special features:
As the shiva linga is of white sand, it is always kept covered by a kavach. There is no abhisheka of shiva linga. On new moon day a special oil (Thailam in Tamil) is applied on the shiva linga and on other days puja is performed on the kavach.
Kshetra Purana:
According to Purana, Lord Brahma incurred a curse for telling a lie to Lord Shiva. Due to this, he could not continue with his work of creation resulting in the obstruction of duty of the Navagrahas. Hence Lord Brahma came to this place, created the sacred tirtha, made a shiva linga out of white sand and worshiped Lord Shiva. He got rid of his curse by the grace of Lord Shiva. Navagrahas started performing their duties once brahma got rid of curse. Hence Lord Shiva at this place is known as Brahmapurishwarar.
The place got the name Kolili as Navagrahas got rid of their curse. Bhima had incurred a curse by killing Bakasur. He worshiped Lord Shiva at this place and got rid of the curse.
Shaiva saint Sundarar used to feed devotees at Thiruvarur. For this purpose he used to pray to Lord Shiva and obtain gold for purchasing paddy. During his travel he went to Thirukkuvalai and prayed to Lord Shiva for help in his noble work. There was another Shiva devotee namely Kundaiyur who was also involved in feeding the devotees. Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and told him that he is blessing him with a mountain load of paddy to be handed over to Sundarar. Though Sundarar was delighted to receive the paddy he could not understand how to shift such a huge load of paddy. Sundarar sang a padigam (a sacred hymn) in praise of Lord Shiva and asked for help. A miracle took place and the Shiva gana shifted the entire paddy overnight and placed them in front of each house at Thiruvarur.
The river chandranadi is as sacred as river ganga.
Those who worshiped here: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Valari, Sage Agastya, Mukund Chakravarti, Pandavas, Navagrahas, and Omakantha.
Festivals:
- Avani (Aug-Sept) Vinayagar Chaturthi
- Purattasi (Sept-Oct) Navaratri
- Aippasi (Oct-Nov) Annabhishekam
- Thiru Karthigai (Nov-Dec)
- Margazhi (Dec-Jan) & Sundays - Thiruvadharai
- Thai (Jan-Feb) Pongal & Thaipoosam
- Masi (Feb-Mar) Mahashivaratri
Muchukunta Archana, Vasanta Utsavam and monthly pradoshams are also observed
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