Thirukkozhambiam Sri Kokileswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Thirukkozhambiam Sri Kokileswarar Temple, Thirukkozhambiam, S.Pudur Post, Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluk, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu – 612 205, Tele: +91- 4364-232 055, 232 005.

Diety

Kokileswarar Amman: Soundaranayagi

Introduction

Tirukozhambiam Kokileswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Thanjavur district. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Kokileswarar. His consort is Soundara Nayaki. It is one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar saints Tirunavukkarasar and Thirugnana Sambandar. According to Hindu legend, a person named Chandan was reborn as a nightingale (kokila) due to the curse of Indra. He meditated upon Shiva and reassumed his original form here.This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 35th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Theertham (Holy water): Brahma Theertham Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree): Vilva tree / Jasmine plant

Puranic Significance

This ancient temple is believed to have been constructed by queen Chembian Maadevi, wife of the Chola King Kandarathithan. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).Thirukkozhambam enjoys a special place in mythology because it is linked to the legends of a few nearby Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams. At Therezhunthur, Lord Shiva cursed Goddess Parvathy which made her turn into a cow. Lord Mahavishnu played the role of a shepherd here. At Thirukkozhambam, Goddess Parvathy, who was in the form of a cow, worshiped Lord Shiva. During the worship, as the cow’s leg hit Lord Shiva by mistake, its hoof made a mark on the Shivalingam. At Thiruvaduthurai, again Goddess Parvathy (in the form a cow) worshiped Lord Shiva. It is here that Goddess Parvathy was relieved of her curse and got restored to her original form. At Thiruthuruthi (Kuthalam), Sage Bharatha performed a yagna and it is believed that Goddess Parvathy came out of the fire in the form of a child. At Ethirkolpadi, Lord Shiva was received as a groom by his father-in-law, Sage Bharatha. At Thiruvelvikudi, the wedding ceremony including the yagna (“Velvi”) was performed. This is the great place where the earthly wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy took place. At Thirumanancheri, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy granted their wedding darshan to everyone. It is believed that once Goddess Parvathi was cursed to be born on earth. She is believed to have appeared from the fire of Sage Bharatha’s “Kameshti yagna”. Sage Bharatha raised her as his own daughter. When she grew up and attained the marriageable age, the sage prayed to Lord Shiva that he help him find a suitable groom for her. Responding to his prayers, Lord Shiva appeared before him and told him that he would marry his daughter soon. The lord further told the sage that his daughter was none other than Goddess Parvathy herself. He also explained him that the reason for her appearance on earth was to grant her the wish of being married on earth. The hoof mark of a cow is visible on the base (Aavudayar) of the lingam. This is the reason why this place gets the name Thiru Kolambiam (“Thiru” is a respectful prefix and hoof means “Kolambu” in Tamil). Hence the lord here is also praised as “Sri Kozhambanathar”. Another legend is that once, Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma had a contest to determine who among them was superior. They asked Lord Shiva to be the judge. Lord Shiva agreed and appeared before them in the form of a flame. He challenged them to find the source of the flame. Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and flew up in the sky to see the top of the flame, while Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and sought its base. Neither Lord Brahma nor Lord Vishnu were able to find the source. While Lord Vishnu conceded his defeat, Lord Brahma lied and said that he had found the origin. Lord Shiva was furious with Lord Brahma’s lie. To punish him, Lord Shiva ordained that Lord Brahma would never have temples on earth in his name. To seek relief from this punishment, it is believed that Lord Brahma came to this place, created a spring and worshipped Lord Shiva. The spring created by him is known as Brahma Theertham. Another legend associated with this temple is that of Chandan, a scholar who was born as a nightingale due to a curse by Lord Indira. He came to this place in his nightingale form, worshipped the lord and was restored back to his original form. As a nightingale (Kokila in Tamil) worshipped the lord here, the lord is also praised as “Sri Kokileswarar”. It is believed that Lord Indira also performed penance here for a long time to seek relief from the curse inflicted by Sage Gautama.

Beliefs

Devotees believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed.

Special Features

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Murugan, Natarajar, Gajalakshmi, Chola lingam, Saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar), Suryan and Bairavar can be seen in the corridors. In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Vinayakar, Natarajar, Agasthiyar, Sattanathar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Arthanareeswarar, Pitchadanar, Durgai and Chandikeswarar can be seen. There is a relief where Queen Chembian Maadevi can be seen worshiping the lord. Behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either sides of Lord Lingothbavar, there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma in a worshipping posture. Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three lords (Trimurthys) – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is considered to be very auspicious. The stone idols of Natarajar, Agasthiyar, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Arthanareeswarar and Pitchadanar are beautifully carved.

Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Somavaram (all Mondays) in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr).