Kotravaleeswarar Temple & Koviloor Mutt, Koviloor,
Karaikudi, Sivaganga
Koviloor
which is 2 kms from the busy town of Karaikudi is home to the beautiful
Kotravaleeswarar Temple and Mutt. As you enter this divine temple, you are
greeted by two fabulous chariots fashioned from concrete. The temple tank on
its eastern flank, called Madhu Puskarani, is serene and beautiful and at
sunset, the glittering waters, the pretty mandapam in the center of the tank,
the temple and the silhouette of coconut palms makes for a picture postcard
moment. Amazingly, even in the hot summer months when heat scorches Tamilnadu,
this temple tank is always brimming with water. The Mutt is an elegant
structure that is on the southern side of the temple.
Legends
Story behind the name Kotravaleeswarar:
The
Koviloor temple of Sri Kotravaleeswarar is quite ancient, about 1,000 years
old, and was built by a Pandya king -Veerasekara Pandiyan. In those olden days,
Koviloor was referred to as Saliwadi (Land of Rice) and Kalani Vasal (Land of
Agriculture). According to legend, King Veerasekaran went hunting in the
vicinity of Saliwadi village and lost his sword which he found later. He
initiated the construction of a temple at the spot and christened the deity
Kotravaleeswarar or Raja Katka Parameshwar (the God who saved the King's sword,
courage and in doing so, the citizens).
Story behind the name Thirunellai Amman:
Sri
Kotravaleeswarar Temple has another heart-warming legend associated with it. In
the days of yore, a devotee Sivagupthan lived in Saliwadi with his wife
Sudanmai and daughter Aradhanavalli. One day Sudanmai instructed her daughter
to go to their farm to guard the rice grains from birds. At noon, the mother
went to the farm and fed the daughter some curd rice, which the child happily
ate. However, later, Aradhanavalli came running to Sudanmai, asking for lunch.
A
surprised Sudamani discovered that her daughter had played truant – she hadn’t
gone to the farm, she had gone to play with her friends. Realization dawned on
the couple that it was Mother Universe who had come down and protected their
rice grains. They hurried to the temple where they saw Mother sitting there
smiling with traces of curd rice on her lips. The Goddess became known as
Thirunellai Amman (the Goddess who saved the rice grains).
History
The
Koviloor temple of "Sri Kotravaleeswarar" was initially built by one
Pandiya King "Veerasekara Pandiyan" approximately thousand years ago.
At that time Koviloor was known as Saliwadi (Land of Rice) and Kalani Vasal
(Land of Agriculture). It had been a laterite construction.
Later
during the 18th century, His Holiness Shri la Sri Mukthiramalinga Gnana Desika
Swamigal had started reconstruction work. Simultaneously he had established our
Vedanta Mutt, when it came to be known as Koviloor.
The
Temple
The
stately seven-tiered Rajagopuram is built according to the ‘Agama’ tradition
and the entire gopuram is covered with intricate and stunning sculptures. The
Koviloor temple is a dramatic illustration of Dravidian architecture. The
seated stone cows on the high temple wall are so realistic that you will find
yourself staring at them in amazement. The colonnaded naves, the superb
sculptures and the monolithic columns will delight lovers of art and culture.
On the
main road, two magnificent chariots constructed with concrete, on both sides of
entrance, welcome us to Koviloor Mutt and Temple and from that point a well
laid road, lead us to the southern tower of the temple. The temple is
surrounded by four broad Mada Streets. In front of the temple, on the eastern
side is the tank "Madhu Puskarani" with a mandapam in the centre of
the tank. Surprisingly, by the grace of the lord, the tank is always full with
water even during hot summer months.
On the
southern side, mutt stands like a palace with granite structure. Northern and
western side of the temple, residential quarters for the temple and mutt
employees are built. The main temple tower, Rajagopuram, is built with seven
tiers according to 'Agama' tradition. It is full of beautiful sculptures.
Lord
Siva, here, is known as Kottralishwarar and the Goddess is known as Thirunellai
Amman. The temple tank is right in front of the temple and is maintained well
with its circular pillared mandapam in the center. There is yet
another beautiful mandapam in Southern side of the temple which
has fabulous paintings on the ceiling made with natural dyes. In the center of
the ceiling the Rasi chakra is depicted.
Koviloor
Aadheenam
The
Koviloor Aadheenam, established at Koviloor, has an eventful and vibrant
history of 200 years, right from its founder Sri La Sri Muthuramalinga Gnana
Desikar, popularly known as Andavar of Koviloor. Koviloor is a divinely-charged
sacred place near Karaikkudi. This sacred place is also called Samivana
Kshetra, Shri Vallabha Vannivanam, Veerapandiyapuram, Saalivati, Kalanivaasal
and so forth. The most symmetrical and orderly structure of the great Temple of
Sri Rajakhadga Paramesvara and Salivatisvari or Thribhuvanesvari itself is a
well expressed manifestation of its meticulous care for the preservation of Sanathana
Dharma.
Each
part of the temple and its surroundings reflects how far order and harmony have
been meticulously maintained according to the Agamas and Vastu Shastras. The
precincts of the both the temple and the mutt nearby emit the pulsations of
harmony and order which constitute the ever relevant Sanathana Dharma. The
Koviloor Aadheenam highly deserves the merit of being called the First School
of systematic Vedantic Studies through the medium of Tamil. It was the Koviloor
Aadheenam that brought out for the first time the authentic and undistorted
Tamil versions of 14 important Vedantic Texts, which include Vedanta Sudamani,
Viveka Sudamani, Pancadasi, Bhagavad-Gita and Jnanavasishta.
The
teaching of Vedanta, which started with Sri Andavar Swamigal, has been
maintained in unbroken continuum. And now the establishment of the World
University of Traditional Science, Technology and Culture of India has been
conceived for the first time by Sri La Sri Nachiappa Gnana Desika Swamigal, the
Twelfth Head of the Koviloor Aadheenam. He hails from the lineage of the First
Head, Sri La Sri Andavar Swamigal.
Sri La
Sri Nachiappa Swamigal had his early education at Karaikkudi, but he got his
principal life-moulding education and training at the world-renowned
Kalakshetra, Chennai. He was endearingly and illuminatively brought up by Smt.
Rukmini Arundale, the Founder and Designer of Kalakshetra. Under the inspiring
patronage of Smt. Rukmini Arundale he went to Germany and gained a highly
acclaimed mastership in printing technology and photography. Having gained rich
experience in the technology of printing and photography in many foreign
countries like Japan, England, the United States etc., he has created a niche
for himself in the field of printing and publication.
On the
same day when he was enthroned as the Peethadhipati (i.e., Head of the Koviloor
Aadheenam), a nursery school was started by him. Gradually many schools have
been started at various places in Tamilnadu. He is sponsoring as many as 15 Veda-Agama
schools and Nadaswaram Schools. In the year 1995, he established the Indian
Institute of Indology. Now Swamigal has got himself deeply involved in the
immediate establishment of the World University of Traditional Science,
Technology and Culture of India.
Contact:
Koviloor
Aadheenam
Koviloor
– 630307
Via
Managiri
Sivagangai
District
Phone: (04565) 436846
Connectivity
This
temple is just about 7 Kms from the famous Pillayarpatti
temple. Karaikudi can be reached from Madurai and
Trichy which is at a distance of 70 Kms and 82 Kms respectively. Buses ply
from all the towns in Tamilnadu to Karaikudi and all the above temples are on
regular bus routes and are easily reachable.
References
