Kuttralanathar Temple, Courtrallam – The Temple
The
present Kutralanathaswami temple was constructed by the Chola monarch Rajaraja
Chola I and built the wall around the inner corridor. Archaeologists claim that
there was a Vishnu shrine on the left of the prime deity. The Pandya kings
built the sanctum, ardha mandapa, separate sanctum for goddess Kuzhalvai Mozhi
Amman and Pillayan Kattalai mandapa. Nayak rulers constructed the temple for
Parasakthi, periphery wall, inner streets, Sangu Street, new sanctums for some
associate deities.
The
ancient sanctum meant for Vishnu is now being converted as Vahana room. Kings
of Vadakarai Aadhikkam of Sokkampatti built the Tirikooda mandapam, Pasupirai,
Thattodi, Vaitheeyappa Vilasam, the Mahamandapam of Kuzhalvai Mozhi Amman,
Sangu Veethi and Kalpavuthal at Vasantha Veethi. Other Names of the Shrine are
Trikootaachalam, Tirukkutralam, Mukthiveli, Nannagram, Pithur Kanda,
Theerthapuram, Thirunagaram & Vasanthaperur.
After
entering through a 3 tier Rajagopuram there is a big mandapam called Vasantha
mandapam. The Rajagopuram has lot of cute Sudhai sirpams with 3 kalasams on the
top. Then comes the mandapam with Dwajasthambam, Nandhi and palipeedam. In
the mandapam pillars, Chinna Pattar and Periya Pattar Kings reliefs who had
built this temple can be seen. The temple has a conch shaped temple (prakaram (closed precincts
of a temple)) plan and is referred to as Sangakkovil.
The
temple was in the shape of a conch when it was a Vaishnavite shrine. It is
so now too. The devotee can observe this form on his/her way to
Shenbagadevi temple. Conch represents the power of Mother Mahalakshmi. The
sound gives energy. Hence, conch is blown during Shiva pujas. In the shrine,
Shiva showed himself as Brahma and Vishnu. Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthy in the temple. The
presiding deity lord Shiva is called as Kuttralanathar and the Ambal his
consort mother Parvathi is called as Kuzhalvai Mozhi Ammai.
The
finger prints of Sage Agasthya on the Linga are still visible. The
Tirikootamandapam here is the site of festivities here. Parvati's shrine is
also of significance here and is regarded as one of the 64 Shakti Peetams. The
Wedding festival is celebrated on the Aipasi Pooram star day in
October-November. Lord and Mother visit the Agasthya shrine that day to
grant their wedding darshan to the sage. The story further goes that while sage
Agasthya converted this Perumal temple as a Shiva temple, he changed Sridevi as
Kuzhalvai Mozhi Nayaki and Bhoodevi as Parasakthi. Mother Parasakthi is on
a peeta of Sri Chakra design.
As
Bhoomadevi was changed as Parasakthi, this peeta is also praised as Dharani
Peeta – Dharani means Earth or Bhoomi. Nava Sakthi Puja is performed on
full-moon night here as the peeta is said to represent the collective grace and
power of nine Ambikas. The main Nivedhanas are milk and Vada the popular
dish of Tamilnadu. As Sakthi is furious in nature, A Shivalinga called
Kamakoteeswara is installed before the peeta to soften her.
Devotees
worship Parasakthi in the Dharani Peeta on Fridays and Navarathri days with
kumkum mixed with rosewater to realize their wishes. The peedams of Annavi
Pillai and the other deities are seen in front of this shrine. Along the
periphery of this shrine are seen idols of Kailasanathar on the southern side
and Sri Durga on the northern side and rest room of the deity.
Lord
Vallaba Ganapathy graces this holy place. Lord Muruga in the temple
prakara appears with a bow in his hand with his consorts Valli and Deivanai facing
each other. There are a number of Shivalingas on the water falls rocks as if
performing abishek to Lord. The water from the falls - performing abishek
to Lord - is considered very sacred bringing benefits to devotees bathing here.
There is a shrine for sage Agasthya and one for his disciple Shivalaya Muni
opposite. The statue of Shivalaya Muni is placed under the feet of Sage
Agasthya as a mark of respect to his Guru.
The
temple has five entrances representing four Vedas and the one being the way of
Pilavendhan who came to enjoy the dance of Lord Shiva. In Manakola Nathar Shiva
Shrine, Lord Shiva is in his wedding posture and it is located in the
prakara. Lord Vishnu with Mother Mahalakshmi offering his sister Ambika to
Lord Shiva in wedding, Lord Brahmma as priest conducting the wedding rituals,
Sages Agasthya and Brungi are also in this shrine. Those facing delays in
their wedding proposals worship here with turmeric, rosewater abisheks offering
fragrant garlands and Payasam – porridge Nivedhana seeking a suitable match.
There is
a shrine for Perumal in the temple praised Nannagara Perumal blessing devotees
with boons of their needs. Lord Krishna also is nearby. Special pujas are
performed here on Rohini Star days and Purattasi Saturdays in September-October.
This Perumal was in the Shiva shrine earlier. A small shrine is constructed
around the jack tree, the sacred tree of the temple with Adhi Kurumbala Easar
in the form of a Peeta. The tree yields fruits throughout the year but no one
picks them.
It is
strange that the fruits are of Shivalinga form. Kuttrala Kuravanji, an
ancient Tamil literature portraying the life of the Kurava community devoted to
Lord Shiva, describes that all the fruits are but Shivalingas. During
important festival days, this fruit is offered to Lord Shiva as Nivedhana. There
is also a jack tree in the prakara dating back to centuries. This tree is
revered as Lord Shiva by devotees offering him all pujas.
Arjuna
lost in Kasi – now Varanasi - his small box containing the Shivalinga he was
worshipping. Surprisingly, he got it back in this place. He left this
Linga here itself after his usual worship. This Linga is in the Prakara in
a separate shrine. Those who had lost anything worship in this shrine for
recovery of the object they missed. Arjuna got back this Linga on the
Panguni Uthiram day in March-April. Special pujas are performed in the
shrine on this day. From this shrine, the devotee can have a view of the
Linga, Vinayaka facing west, the vimana Tirikooda hills and the Kuttralam
falls.
The
design of the Dwarapalakas is different as if they are in a conversation. This
was a Vaishnava temple earlier. One Dwarapalaka is asking the other whether
Saga Agasthya came there and the other replying in the negative. The devotee can
worship all the Pancha Boodha Lingas representing water, Earth, Fire, Vayu and
the Space here.
Of the
five stages of Lord Nataraja dance – Golden, silver or Rajatha, copper, Ratna
and Chitra - The Chitra Sabhai or the hall of pictures is located in a picturesque
locale away from the main temple. Lord Nataraja graces in the form of a
painting. Architecturally the Chitra Sabha resembles that of the other Nataraja
Sabhas elsewhere in Tamilnadu, and its interior is decked with hundreds of
murals, depicting images from the Indian epics. Natarajar is brought here
during festivals from the Kurumpalaveesar temple.
The Sthala
Vriksham is Kurum Pala and the Theertham is Chitra Nadhi. Nataraja is sported
with Nrithya Thandavam posture. Kurumpalaveesar, sung in Thevaram is associated
with the Sthala Vriksham Kurumpalaa. Tirikootaraasappakavirayar’s well-known
work Kutrala Kuravanji glorifies this shrine.
Temple Cars:
The
unique feature of the temple is that it has 5(five) temple cars.
1. Lord
Vinayaga temple car
2. Lord
Muruga temple car
3. Lord
Nataraja temple car
4. Lord
Swami temple car
5. Goddess
Amman temple car
Allied Temples List:
1.
Koothai Temple
2.
Chithirai Sabha
3.
Kutrala Nangai Amman Temple
4.
18th Step Karupusamy Temple
5.
Chinna Thambi Temple
6.
Arasadi Vinayagar Temple
7.
Aparana Pillaiyar Temple
8.
Pandri Madasamy Temple
9.
Thirugnana Sambandha Vinayagar
Temple
10.
Shenbagadevi Amman
temple
11.
Nan Nagara Pillaiyar Temple
12.
Nan Nagara Pandri Madasamy
Temple
13.
Thittappillayar Temple
14.
Pasupatha Sastha Temple
15.
Paattapathu Sastha
temple