Choleeswarar Temple, Korakkavadi, Cuddalore
Choleeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located in Korakkavadi Village in Thittagudi Taluk in Cuddalore District
of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Choleeswarar and Mother is called
as Periya Nayagi / Brihannayagi. The Temple is situated on the banks of
Vasishta River.
The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with an entrance
arch. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the entrance facing
the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam
and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Choleeswarar and is facing east. He
is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Vinayagar, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and
Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar
Shrine can be found in his usual location. The Vimana over the sanctum is tall
and is richly decorated with stucco images of Ananda Sayana Vishnu, Nataraja
and other Hindu deities.
Mother is called as Periya Nayagi / Brihannayagi. She is
housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her shrine is situated to the left
side of the sanctum. Her idol is about 5 feet tall. There is a big idol of
Ambika at the entrance of her shrine. This Idol might be the original idol
housed in the sanctum in ancient times.
There are shrines for Vinayaga, Murugan, Bhairavar,
Suryan and Navagrahas in the temple premises. There are few inscriptions found
in the Adishtana of the temple. An inscription dated to 12th Century
CE talks about the gift given to Eesanathevar Madam by Vaanarayan. Also,
another inscription talks about the installation of Vinayaga in the Koshta by a
person named Maruthanthapuram Petran Perumal.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 4 Kms from Kariyanur, 10
Kms from Koogaiyur, 13 Kms from Tholudur, 19 Kms from Aragalur, 23 Kms from
Chinna Salem Railway Station, 28 Kms from Thittagudi, 101 Kms from Trichy
Airport and 120 Kms from Cuddalore. The Temple is situated on Tholudur to Attur
Route via Aragalur.
Location