Kodumbalur Idangazhi Nayanar Temple, Pudukottai

Address

Kodumbalur Idangazhi Nayanar Temple, Kodumbalur Village, Illupur Taluk, Pudukottai District- 621316

Deity

Idangazhi Nayanar

Introduction

Idangazhi Nayanar Temple is a Shiva Temple dedicated to Idangazhi Nayanar, one of 63 Nayanmars, located in Kodumbalur Village in Illupur Taluk in Pudukottai District of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple was built in honor of him in recent years.

Puranic Significance

Idangazhi Nayanar was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty fourth in the list of 63 Nayanars. Idangazhi was born and lived in Kodumbalur, currently in Pudukottai District of Tamil Nadu, India. The life of Idangazhi is described in the Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century CE), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. Idangazhi is described as the ancestor of the Chola King Aditya I (c. 871 – c. 907 CE) in the Periya Puranam. Idangazhi was the chieftain of the kingdom of whose capital was Kodumbalur. He was a staunch devotee of the god Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism. He is said to have been descended from the Yadavas of Dwarka, who migrated to South India with the sage Agastya. He is sometimes also described to be part of the Kalabhara dynasty, flourished in the Kalabhara interregnum, a period between 3rd and the 7th century CE. He lived and governed by Shaiva ways and made arrangements for worship of Shiva in temples as per the Shaiva Agama scriptures. There was another devotee of Shiva in Konadu. He had taken the vow of serving and feeding Shiva’s devotees. However, once he became poor over time and could not get food to feed a devotee of Shiva. To complete his vow, he entered the royal granaries to steal rice, but was caught red handed and arrested by the guards. The arrested devotee was presented to Idangazhi, who understood the rationale of the intended burglary. He pardoned the devotee and let him free. He realized the futility of a full go down when devotees of Shiva were going hungry. Idangazhi made announcements throughout the kingdom that devotees of Shiva can come and take away not only rice from the granary, but also other riches from the treasury, as much as they wanted. Idangazhi was instrumental in the spread of Shaivism and thus gained the grace of Shiva. Idangazhi Nayanar is specially worshipped in the Tamil month of Aippasi, when the moon enters the Krittika Nakshatra (lunar mansion).

Special Features

This temple is facing towards east. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. Sub shrines of Vinayaga and Murugan can be seen at the entrance of the Ardha Mandapam. The Sanctum houses an idol of Idangazhi Nayanar. A colossal Nandi idol housed in a modern Mandapa can be found opposite to this temple.