Othakalmandapam Putridankondeeswarar Temple, Coimbatore

Address

Coimbatore-Pollachi National Highway,

Othakalmandapam,

Coimbatore District, Tamilnadu – 641032

Phone: +91 98422 03577

Moolavar

Putridankondeeswarar

Amman

Poonkothai Nayaki

Introduction

Othakalmandapam Putridankondeeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the Othakalmandapam village, Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu. The Presiding deity is called as Putridankondeeswarar, and Mother is called as Poonkothai. Here the Putridankondeeswarar and Poonkothai, are facing east side in the temple. This temple is about 1000 years old. Putridankondeeswarar Othakalmandapam is on the Coimbatore to Pollachi Highway and about 13 kilometers from Coimbatore.

Puranic Significance

Putridankondeeswarar Othakalmandapam is said to be about 1000 years old by the priests serving here. The temple was apparently relocated from the opposite side in recent times.

One of the Cholas who ruled the Kongu region consecrated and worshiped a Shivalinga in this area. It seems that he also worshiped the Lord here in the same name as Puttidankondeesuvar. The temple has been ruined due to floods. Following that, the Shivanatiyars here together established a full-fledged worship hall and engaged in the restoration of the temple. The five storied Gopuram, Sanctum Sanctorum, Artha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Flag Tree, Ganesha, Subramaniyar and separate sanctums were constructed and Kumbabhishekam was conducted on 5.4.1995.

Putridankondeeswarar Othakalmandapam is a medium sized, east facing temple with the typical slender tall vimaanas that are seen in this region. The temple has a 5 tiered Rajagopuram at the east and two Prakarams. The inner prakaram has both the god and goddess shrines and is completely covered. In the outer prakaram are Ganesha and Muruga. The Muruga idol is about 5 feet tall. After this is Theerthalingeswarar for whom ablution can be performed by the devotees.

Beliefs

A prayer box is placed here. In it, the requests made by the devotees to the Lord are recited in the daily Velvi Puja and found to be resolved.

Special Features

Pujas according to Tamil method: Generally in other shrines the archers recite mantras in Sanskrit language. But the pujas are conducted in this temple only according to the Tamil method. It is only in Tamil that Thiruvasakam, Shivapuranam and Devara songs are sung and special abhishekam and decorative pujas are conducted for Puttidankondeeswarar.

Temple Structure: It is said that ‘gopura darshanam is a million blessings’. While coming from a distance, you can visit Mukha gopuram and Mulasthana Gopurams in this temple. As soon as we enter the temple, we can have darshan of Putitangkonditeeswarar which is visible to our eyes. But we should visit the flag tree, altar etc. in front of it.

Due to renovations done a few years ago, the sanctum sanctorum is slightly elevated. Inside it, Lord Putitangkondeeswarar is seated as Linga Thirumeniyar. Adishesha has risen over him like an umbrella. To the right, are 63 blessed Nayanmars standing in praise of the Lord. By worshiping them, we will get God’s grace completely. Dakshinamurthy in the south, Annamalai in the west, Brahma in the north, and Goddess Durga in the south of Moolavar sannidhi.

Chandikeshuvarar is standing in a separate sanctum. To the left of Swami, Mother Parasakthi, who saves the universe, is raised in this temple with the title of ‘ Poonkothai Nayaki’. Mother is seated in a tirukola with four tirukarams facing east. She is shown holding lotus in both her hands and Abhaya hasta mudra in the other two hands. To the south of Amman Sannidhi is Icha Shakti, to the west is Kriya Shakti, and to the north is Jnana Shakti. There is Nataraja-Sivakami Ammal Sannidhi. Nataraja, the master of dance, graces here as Ananda Thandeshwarar.

Festivals

Chitra Poornima in April-May; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Vinayaka Chathurthi in August-September; Navarathri in September-October; Maha Shivrathri in February-March are the festivals celebrated in the temple.