Kozhundeeswarar Temple

Overview

One of the 276 Thevara Paadal petra sthalams.Around 14 kilometres South East of Mannargudi and 14 kilometres North West of Thiruthuraipoondi; close to the main road. Temple is reverentially said by Saint Tirugnana Sambandar in his Thevaram psalms. This is the 111st Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery lauded in Thevaram psalms. Vaikasi Visakam Brahmmotsavam (My-June), Aadipooram (July-August), Navarathri (September-October), Karthikai (November-December) are the celebrations celebrated in the temple.  The Pradoshakala Murthy (time between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. is seen as Pradosha kala as indicated by Hindu chronological registry) is in a different holy place as a symbol. The Arthanareeswara (half Shiva-half Ambica) structure will be obvious on the Linga when milk abishek is performed on Masi Magam day amid February-March.  Annual festivals are conducted on the eve of Masi Magam and Vaigasi Visagam.Worshipped by Brahma, Indra, Airavatha and Indrasena.Sambandar composed the Pathigam.

About the Temple

The three tier Rajagopuram – main tower – faces west. There are two inner corridors, Prakara. There are shrines for Vinayaka, Muruga, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Gajalakshmi, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodhbava, Akoraveerabadra, Nandikeswara, Vallaba Ganapathi, Nataraja, Brahma, Mahishasuramardini, Bhairava, Navagrahas and Chandikeswara.Swayambu facing west.

Legend/Story

Artist of the divine world Ramba was reviled to go to Earth for a few wrongs she conferred. She performed extreme retribution confronting the temple's Lord squeezing her cleared out leg, bowing the privilege and putting the left hand on the right leg and the right hand on the head encompassed by blazing flame to retreat to her place. Evil spirit Vruddhasura was bugging the Devas in a horrendous manner. Their ruler Indira spoke to Lord Brahma for insurance. He said that Indira needed to recover the bone of Sage Thatheesi, make a vajrayudha weapon of it and ought to apply it on the evil spirit and that alone could slaughter him. Master Brahma additionally clarified the quality's mystery of the savvy's foundation. Before joining the agitating the milk sea, every one of the Devas depended their weapons with the sage. The sage essentially put every one of their weapons securely in his mouth and proceeded with his atonement then. Every one of the weapons dissolved and converged with his spine making it supernaturally solid. At the point when Indira drew closer the wise and communicated his motivation and wish, the sage smoothly separated with his spine. Indira murdered the evil spirit with the weapon yet acquired the Brahammahathi dosha the effect of the most astounding sin.

Indira drew closer his Guru for arrangement. He exhorted him to go to earth and perform Shiva puja and that he would discover a Shivalinga at a spot under a Vanni tree made of drops of nectar. Master likewise prompted Indira to make a spring and perform abishek to Lord with the water then. Indira took after the Guru's guidance circumspectly and liberated himself from the wrongdoing. As Indira adored Lord here, the spot was named Indirapuram furthermore Kottur as his white elephant Iravadham drew a line (kodu in Tamil) in the spot.

Festivals

Vaikasi Visakam Brahmmotsavam (My-June), Aadipooram (July-August), Navarathri (September-October), Karthikai (November-December) are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Significance

Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthy. Indira, to get the backbone killed the sage and then killed the demon and incurred the Brammhathi dosha. Devotees perform abishek, archanas and offer vastras to Lord.

Accessibility

Road

Kottur is 15 km from Mannargudi on the Tiruthuraipoondi road.

Railways

Tiruthuraipoondi

Airport

Trichy

Temple Address