This is the 12th Shiva temple associated with Mahamagam festival. At this place some drop of Amrut from the kalash fell into a well which later on got the name Amrut Kinaru (well). This temple is situated at Kottaiyur, a village at about 4 km from Kumbhakonam on the Kumbhakonam SwamiMalai route. This is one of the saptasthana temples associated with Aadi-Kumbheshwarar temple. It is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam revered by the Shaiva saint Shri Thirunavurarasar. It is on the Northern bank of the river Kaveri. Saint Arungirinathar who revered Shri Murugan of this temple by singing a hymn in praise of him.
Mulavar: Shri Kodeeshwar Swami, Shri Kailashnathar
Devi: Shri Panthadu (pandu = ball; adu = play) nayaki, Shri Kanthugageethambal
Puranik name: Koteeshwaram, Herandpuram, Vilvaranyam, Bahuraja puram, Chozheeswaram
Sacred teertha: River Kaveri, Kodi teertha, Amrut kinaru
Kshetra vruksha: Castor (oil) plant, Bilva
Kshetra purana:
The temple is associated with Mahamagam festival and maha pralay.
Prince Suruchi: He was son of the king Sathyarthi of a northern kingdom (Thiriharta). The prince was cursed by Sage Badri to become a devil as the prince had disturbed sage during his penance and disrespected him. Sage Vyasa advised the king to come to this place along with his son to worship Lord Shiva so that the son can be absolved of the curses and the sin. The prince obeyed advice of Sage Vyasa. He took a dip in the teertha and worshipped Lord Shiva. He got rid of his curse and got his original form and glory. The king renovated the temple and made endowments for its upkeep.
Kottaiyur:
It is believed that Shri Shiva appeared in the midst of castor plants (Erundum in Tamil), Ammanaka plants. The main Shiva linga seems appeared to be formed out of fruits (seeds) of castor plant. Its texture is similar to the outer appearance of jackfruit. Hence Lord is known as Shri Koteeshwarar and the place is known as Kottaiyur.
Shri Koteeshwarar: Sage Badrayogi visited many Shaiva temples in order to regain his lost spiritual power. Shri Shiva who was very much pleased with his devotion, blessed him with His darshan by showing one crore (Kodi) images of himself along with one crore images of Shri Vinayaka, one crore images of Shri Parvati Devi, one crore images of Shri Murugan and one crore images of Shri Chandikeshwarar. Hence Shri Shiva is known as Shri Koteeshwarar. It is believed that any good deed (punya) or bad deed done at this place, gets multiplied one crore times.
Pandhadu nayaki:
As stated earlier, there is a ball under the feet of Shri Parvati Devi. Originally people believed that by coming to this place, there bad deeds (sins) gets multiplied one crore times, so people used to avoid coming to this place. Later on it became known that by worshipping the Shri Parvati Devi, their sins are kicked away just like the ball under Her feet. Hence all sorts of people come here to get rid of their sins and at the same time increase the good deeds (punya) done by them.
Manuneedhi Chozha:
The king Manuneedhi Chozha was famous for delivering the right justice. Once a calf of the cow was killed by the wheels of the chariot driven by his son. The king had installed a bell for the people to express there grievances. The cow came to the palace and rang the bell demanding justice for his son’s deed. When the king came to know about this incidence, he drove his chariot on his son’s body and killed him so that he will have the same pain as that of the cow in losing the calf. The Lord appeared and blessed him.
Heranda maharshi (Sage Atri):
Sage Atri did penance at this place under castor plants. Castor plants in Tamil is known as Heranda. Hence he is addressed as Herandar. There is a separate shrine for him in this temple. Heranda Maharshi is believed to have brought back Kaveri from patala loka. Once Aadi-Shesha came out of patala loka at Thiruvalanchuzi, he made a big hole (beela dwaram in Tamil) was formed at this place due to his act. River Kaveri who was flowing nearby started flowing through the hole into patala loka. The Chola king who was ruling the place got worried as the river stopped flowing through his land. He worshipped Lord Shiva so that she could come back from the patal loka. It is believed that Shri Shiva in his divine voice advised him that if a king or a sage sacrificed his life by entering the hole the river will come back again. The king sought the advice of Sage Heranda and confirmed that the divine voice that of Shri Shiva. When the king decided to enter the hole, in order to save the people, the Sage interrupted him and himself went into the hole as he felt that loss of king will be a great loss to the people of the kingdom. He brought back river Kaveri. Though he entered at Thiruvalnchuzhi he came out at Thiruvalampuram. He worshipped Lord Shiva at Thiruvalampuram and attained salvation.
Deities and shrines in this temple:
Shrines of Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi, Shrine of Kodi (crore) Vinayaka, Shri Kodi Muruga, Shri Gajalaxmi Devi, Shri Nataraja, Shri Somakandha, Shri Mahalaxmi Devi, Navagraha, Shri Bhairava, Shri Jwarakeshwarar, Shri Shanishwar, Shri Surya, Shri Chandra, Mahalinga, Shri Shasta, Shaiva saints Naalavar, Panchbhoota lingas, Sage Herand (Sage Aatri muni) are in the corridor and hall.
At the entrance to the sanctum we come across shrine of Shri Vinayaka on the left and Shri Dandayudhpaani (Shri Muruga) on right side. We come across Shri Nandi, Balipeeth & Dhwajastambha at there usual positions. Residing deity Shri Shiva is facing East. The Shiva linga has a texture similar to the outer surface of jackfruit. We get a feeling that it maybe made of castor seed. We find water droplets coming out from top of the lingam.
The koshtamoorthies are Shri Nardana Vinayaka, Shri Dakshinamoorthy, Shri Bhairava, Shri Brahma, Shri Durga Devi & Shri Chandikeshwar. Shri Parvati Devi’s shrine (Panthadunayaki) faces the south. She is depicted with a ball under her feet as if she is playing with the ball. People worship her, as there is belief that she tosses away their sins like kicking the ball at her feet. Her shrine has a separate corridor with many beautiful sculptures on the wall. There is a beautiful sculpture depicting story of Chola king – Manuneedhi Chola at the 2nd entrance. Shri Murugan is praised here as Shri Kodeesubramanya and is seen here with his consorts Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai. The idol of Shri Vinayaka is known as Shri Kodi Vinayaka. We come across number of small Shri Vinayaka sculptured on the idol. He is believed to be Swayambhoo. At the time of renovation of the temple, even after digging 20 ft, he could not be moved as they could not reach the base of the idol. In the Navagraha shrine, the idols are big on their mounds. Shri Surya and Shri Chandra are on the chariot pulled by horses. Idol of Shri Durga Devi is Ashta bhuja Durga and she has her right leg a step ahead of her left leg. Kodeetirtha is a well which never dries. People believe that this water will purify them from sins and will cure all their diseases. It is believed to be created by Sage Heranda for performing abhisheka of Shri Shiva. The utsav Vinayaka idol with his consorts Riddhi and Siddhi resembles that of the idol at Thiruvalanchuzhi. There is a separate shrine for Sage Heranda (Aatri muni) in the front hall. He is depicted in meditation posture. Those who worship here – Shri Shriram, Shri Bramha, Shri Indra, Sage Narada, Sage Markandeya, Sage Atri (Heranda), Prince Suruchi, King Sathyarthi
Festivals and daily rituals:
Thai (Jan-Feb) - Makar Sankranti
Masi (Feb-Mar) - Mahashivaratri, 10 days of Mahamagam festival
Chitrai (April-May) - Brahmotsav
Aadi (Jul-Aug): Aadi Pooram.
Avani (August-Sept) - Ganesh chaturthi,
Purattasi (Sept-Oct) - Annabhishek, Navaratri, arrow festival.
Aippasi (Oct-Nov) - Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival
Karthigai (Nov-Dec) - Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam
Margazhi (Dec-Jan) Thiruvathira, Arudra Darshan
Panguni (Mar-April) Uttara nakshatra festival
Weekly rituals on Monday and Friday special pooja;
Fortnight pradosh pooja,
Monthly poojas on new moon day, full moon day, chaturthi and Kritika nakshatra.
Prayers:
Worshipping Lord Shiva here gives the benefit of worshiping in one crore Shiva temples. Good deeds gets multiplied one crore times by worshipping here. Worshipping here benefits knowledge and education & removes evil effects. It is believed that by spilling water on the head from the Amrut kinaru (well) purifies the mind.
Temple timing: 6.30am to noon; 4.30pm to 7pm
Courtesy: Various blogs and websites
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