Monday, February 15, 2016

Amirthakateshwarar Temple, Sakkottai, Thanjavur

Amirtha Kalasa Nathar Temple, Sakkottai, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur
Amirtha Kalasa Nathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Sakkottai, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam, in Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Amirtha Kalasa Nathar / Amirthakadeswarar and Mother is called as Amirthavalli. This temple is situated on the southern bank of the river Arasalaru. This Temple is one of the twelve famous Shiva temples in and around Kumbakonam participate in the famous Maha Maham festival. This is one of the Saptha Sthana temples associated with Adhi Kumbeswarar Temple,Kumbakonam.


The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Thevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Sundarar venerated Amirthakateshwarar in Thevaram, compiled as the Seventh Thirumurai. This is the 185th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 68th Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. The temple is closely associated with Sakya Nayanmar, one of 63 saints associated with Saivism. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.



Legends
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History
This temple is also referred to as Kottai Shiva temple. It is believed that earlier this temple was surrounded by a big fortress with tanks (Akazhi) around it. The Akazhi was on both sides of the wall of the fortress. However, only the ruins of the wall and the tank can be seen. In his hymn, Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar sings about the glory and grandeur of this fort, its halls, this temple and its tanks. It is believed that a lot of Sakkiyas (Buddhist) used to reside here. Hence this place gets the name Sakkiya Kottai which has later been changed to Sakkottai.



This temple was built in granite by the Cholas. Later it was renovated by the Chola King Kulothunga-III and the later expansions are attributed to Thanjavur Nayaks. The Kumbabhishekam of the temple was held on 22 October 2015.  This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).



The Temple
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Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 09.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and from 05.00 PM to 07.00 PM.
Festivals
There are weekly rituals like Somavaram and Sukravaram, fortnightly rituals like Pradosham and monthly festivals like Amaavaasai (new moon day), Kiruthigai, Pournami (full moon day) and Chathurthi. Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Avani (Aug-Sept), Navaratri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan) and Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) are the festivals celebrated here. This temple is famous for conducting rituals for Sashtiyaptha Poorthy, Bheemaratha Santhi and Sadabishekam (60th, 70th and 80th birthdays respectively).
Religious Significance
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Literary Mention
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Prayers
People pray for various wishes. Devotees offer abishek, vastras to Lord and Mother and contribute for the renovation of the temple.
Contact
Amirtha Kalasa Nathar Temple,
Sakkottai (Thiru Kalaya Nallur) – 612 401
Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District
Phone: +91 435 2414 453
Mobile: +91 98653 06840 / 97882 02923 / 96984 60984 / 89736 21938
Connectivity
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