Kuttralam Sri Kuttralanathar Temple, Tirunelveli

Address

Kuttralam Sri Kuttralanathar Temple, Kuttralam, Tenkasi Taluk, Tirunelveli District, PIN 627802 PH:04633-283138

Diety

Kuttralanathar Amman: kuzhal vai mozhi ammai

Introduction

The present Kutralanathaswami temple was constructed by the Chola monarch Rajaraja Chola I and built the wall around the inner corridor. Archaeologists claim that there was a Vishnu shrine on the left of the prime deity. The Pandya kings built the sanctum, ardha mandapa, separate sanctum for goddess Kuzhalvai Mozhi Amman and Pillayan Kattalai mandapa. Nayak rulers constructed the temple for Parasakthi, periphery wall, inner streets, Sangu Street, new sanctums for some associate deities. Thala Virutcham : Jack tree – Kurumpala in Tamil Theertham : Shiva Madhu Ganga, North falls, River Chitra Agamam / Pooja : Magudagamam

Puranic Significance

Due to an unmanageable crowd of Devas, Rishis to attend the Wedding of Lord Shiva with Mother Parvathi, north began to sink due the heavy weight and south began to rise up. To balance the ground level, Lord Shiva called Sage Agasthya to go south and said his single weight alone could solve this problem. Lord also assured the sage that he would be able to have the wedding darshan from Kuttralam itself, because, he changed Vishnu to Shivalinga and worshipped Him according to Makudagama rules here. Agasthya took the command of Lord and reached Kuttralam. But the Dwarapalakas of the erstwhile Vishnu temple denied entry to the sage. The sage, though upset, went to the nearby Ilanji Kumaran temple, made a Linga with the white sand and prayed for Shiva darshan. Lord Muruga appeared before the sage and suggested that he may enter the temple as a Vaishnava, make Perumal a Shiva and worship his Lord. Agasthya entered the temple with Tiruman Nama on thefrehead, Tulsi mala around the neck and worshipped holding Lord Shiva in his heart. The conch in Vishnu’s hand changed into deer, Tulsi into crescent moon, Tilak as forehead eye and the ratna in the chest as the serpent. Agasthya pressed the head of Vishnu with his hand letting it go down and down till it got the form of a Linga. Agasthya got the Shiva Parvathi wedding darhsan immediately here itself. It is still believed that the Devas are worshipping the Lord in the temple during the day and Sage Agasthya during the night. The finger prints of Sage Agasthya on the Linga are still visible. Lord Shiva worshipped by Agasthya at Ilanji is praised as Iruvaluka Nayaka. It is suggested that devotees should worship Iruvaluka Shiva first before proceeding to Kuttralam for full gain. The temple was in the shape of a conch when it was a Vaishnavite shrine. It is so now too. The devotee can observe this form on his/her way to Shenbagadevi temple. Conch represents the power of Mother Mahalakshmi. The sound gives energy. Hence, conch is blown during Shiva pujas.

Beliefs

Those mentally retarded and suffering from skin troubles get all relief with a bath in the falls and prayer to Lord Kuttralanathar. Those suffering from intense headache use the Thaila Prasad (Oil Prasad) and rub it on their foreheads for cure.

Special Features

The finger prints of Sage Agasthya on the Linga are still visible. The Tirikootamandapam here is the site of festivities here. Parvati’s shrine is also of significance here and is regarded as one of the 64 Shakti Peetams. The Wedding festival is celebrated on the Aipasi Pooram star day in October-November. Lord and Mother visit the Agasthya shrine that day to grant their wedding darshan to the sage. The story further goes that while sage Agasthya converted this Perumal temple as a Shiva temple, he changed Sridevi as Kuzhalvai Mozhi Nayaki and Bhoodevi as Parasakthi. Mother Parasakthi is on a peeta of Sri Chakra design. Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthi in the temple.

Festivals

The temple is lit with one lakh lamps on Aadi new moon day in July-August. 10 day Purattasi Navarathri for Parasakti in September-October; Brahmmotsavam in Aipasi (OctoberNovember) and in Panguni (March-April); Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January; Thai Float festival in January-February; Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the other festivals celebrated in the temple.