Kottur Kozhundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvarur
Kottur Kozhundeeswarar Temple is a Hindu
temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located at Kottur in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu.
Presiding Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Kozhundeeswarar / Sameevaneswarar /
Akraparameswarar and is facing west. Mother is called as Mathupaashini / Thenar
Mozhiyal / Thenambal / Madhura vachanambika and is facing east. The historical
name of the place is Indirapuram. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar.
There are two temples in this village; the one on the
west side has been glorified by the Thevaram while the other is praised by Thiruvisaippa
(Keezhkotur Mani Ambalam). This is the 228th Devaram Paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam and 111th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery
in Chozha Nadu. This Shivastalam is located in the vicinity of Thirukkalar. Sthala Vriksham is Vanni tree. There are nine
Theerthams for the temple, like Mulliaru, Sivagangai, Brahma, Siva, Amudhu,
Indra, Vishwakarma, Mandai and Aramba Theertham.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
The Temple is having three tiered Rajagopuram and is
facing west. There are two inner corridors, Prakara in this temple. At the
entrance, Dwajasthambam and Nandi in front facing main sanctum can be seen. Presiding
Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Kozhundeeswarar / Sameevaneswarar / Akraparameswarar
and is facing west. Mother is called as Mathupaashini / Thenar Mozhiyal / Thenambal
/ Madhura vachanambika and is facing east. Shiva faces West and Ambal faces
East in the Upadesam Sannidhi formation.
The Pradosha Kala Murthy (time between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00
p.m. is observed as Pradosha kala according to Hindu almanac) is in a separate shrine
in the form of an idol. The Arthanareeswara (half Shiva-half Ambica) form
will be visible on the Linga when milk abishek is performed on Masi Magam day
during February-March. Narthana Ganapathy, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothpavar,
Brahma, Durgai and Sandeswarar are the Koshta Idols.
Natarajar, Sivakami and Manickavasagar Idols are found
in the Sabha Mandapam. These Idols are found in a village Mayilaerupuram during
ploughing. Sthala Vriksham is Vanni tree. There are nine Theerthams for the
temple, like Mulliaru, Sivagangai, Brahma, Siva, Amudhu, Indra, Vishwakarma,
Mandai and Aramba Theertham.
There are shrines for Vinayaka, Muruga, Viswanathar,
Visalakshi, Vishnu with his consorts, Chandran, Naalvar, Lord Muruga, Rambha in
penancing style, Gajalakshmi, Bhairava, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodhbava,
Akoraveerabadra, Nandikeswara, Vallaba Ganapathi, Nataraja, Brahmma, Mahishasuramardhini,
Navagrahas Umamaheswarar, Arthanareeswarar, Meenakshi Sundareswarar and
Chandikeswarar.
At around 1 km east of this temple there is a
Thiruvisaippa temple, sung by Karuvur Thevar. The main deity is called Iravatheeswarar.
This is the place where the bell of Airavatam, the elephant fell. Aani Pournami
is the day on which the Lord performed his dance.
Temple
Opening Time
The temple remains open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and
5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Festivals
Six worship services are offered in this temple each
day. Vaikasi Visakam Brahmmotsavam (May-June), Aadi Pooram (July-August),
Navarathri (September-October), Karthikai (November-December) and Vaikasi
Visagam are the festivals celebrated in the temple. An image of Arthanareeswarar
can be seen on the Shivalingam when it is bathed with milk, during festival
days such as Maasi Magam.
Singers
The temple is worshipfully mentioned by Saint Thirugnana
Sambandar in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 228th Devaram Paadal
Petra Shiva Sthalam and 111th Sthalam on the south side of River
Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.
Prayers
Rituals for ancestors can be performed in this place. Devotees
perform abishek, archanas and offer vastras to Lord.
Contact
Kozhundeeswarar Temple,
Kottur, Thiruvarur District
Phone: +91 – 4367 – 279
781
Mobile: +91 – 97861 51763
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 15 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi,
15 Kms from Mannargudi, 10 Kms from Thirukollikadu, 7 Kms from Thirukkalar, 28
Kms from Thiruvarur and 108 Kms from Trichy. This place is located on the main
road from Mannargudi to Thiruthuraipoondi. Nearest Railway Station is located
at Thiruthuraipoondi and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.
