Kaithalanathar Temple, Rettakurichi, Cuddalore
Kaithalanathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Rettakurichi Village near Veppur in Thitagudi Taluk in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Kaithalanathar / Kaithavanatheshwarar / Vaanakathavanathar / Vaanakathavanatheswarar and Mother is called as Anukoolambigai.
Legends
As per legend, the village was blessed with prosperity and greenery. Most of the villagers were involved in dairy related activities. The Villagers used to sell the milk locally as well as in surrounding villages and town. The villagers decided to build a Temple for Lord Shiva. The construction activities were started and was going smoothly. A Villager used to take the milk pot regularly in his cart to the nearby villages for sale. His cart capsized by hitting a stone and all the milk got poured on the stone.
This incident was happening daily. The villager got
angry and tried to remove the stone with a shovel. When the shovel hit the
stone, blood started oozing out from the stone. The villager carefully
excavated the site and found a Linga at the spot. He called the villagers to
the spot. The villagers decided to install the Shiva Linga in the newly
constructed Temple. As the sanctum entrance was small, they installed the Shiva
Linga at the entrance and built a new entrance.
History
The Temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old
and belonged to Chola Period. The Temple was constructed by Parantaka Chola I. The temple was praised in the
hymns of Rettai Pulavar. Hence, the village came to be called as Irattai
Kurichi and later got corrupted to Rettakurichi.
The Temple
The Temple is facing towards east with three tiered Rajagopuram. Mother is called as Anukoolambigai. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her Shrine is situated immediately after the Rajagopuram. There is a 16 pillared Mandapam in front of her shrine. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found in this Mandapam facing the sanctum.
This Mandapam might be part of the ancient Maha Mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam, Ardha Mandapam and Sanctum. The Maha Mandapam is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (Vovval Nethi Mandapam). Presiding Deity is called as Kaithalanathar / Kaitha Vanatheshwarar / Vaanakathavanathar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). Vinayaga, Vishnu, Brahma, Dakshinamoorthy and Durga are the Kosha idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. There are shrines for Murugan, Vinayagar, Kotravai and Mootha Devi in the temple premises. Sthala Vriksham is Vanni Tree.
Inscriptions
There are about 4 inscriptions in the temple premises.
Three inscriptions are dated to Chola period and are found in the sanctum
walls. One of the inscription can be seen near the Vishnu Idol on the western
wall of the sanctum dated to 14th regnal year of Parantaka Chola I
(921AD). Second inscription can be seen near Dakshinamoorthy idol on the
southern wall of the sanctum. Only the Meikeerthi of Rajaraja Chola I is
visible, and the remaining lines were hidden behind the newly built wall for Dakshinamoorthy
Idol. Third inscription can also be seen in the sanctum walls. Fourth
inscription dated to 17th Century CE can be seen in the inscription
slab found on the right side of the gopuram.
Festivals
Chithirai Thiruvizha, Maha Shivaratri and Monthly
Pradoshams are the festivals celebrated here.
Connectivity
The temple is located at about 13 Kms from Veppur Bus
Stand, 13 Kms from Veppur, 14 Kms from Pukkiravari Railway Station, 26 Kms from
Chinna Salem Railway Station, 29 Kms from Thittagudi, 34 Kms from Virudhachalam
and 118 Kms from Trichy Airport. The temple is situated on Virudhachalam to
Salem Route.