Thirukkuvalai Sri Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Thirukkuvalai Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai – 610 204, Thirukkuvalai Taluk, Nagapattinam District Phone: +91 4366 329 268 / 245 412 Mobile: +91 97862 44876

Diety

Kolilinathar Amman: Vandamar Poonkuzhali

Introduction

Brahmapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai Village in Thirukkuvalai Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. The Temple is also called as Thirukkuvalai Thyagaraja Temple and Thirukolili. Presiding Deity is called as Brahmapureeswarar / Kolilinathar / Kolili Natheswarar and Mother is called as Vandamar Poonguzhali / Brihannayaki. This Temple is considered as one of the SapthaVidanga Sthalams. This Temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram hymns. This Temple is the 240th Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 123rd sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This Temple is considered as one of the 44 Paadal Petra Sthalams where the Moovar (Thirugnana Sambanthar, Appar and Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams. Thala Virutcham : Thethaa tree Theertham : Brahma Theertham

Puranic Significance

The Temple is believed to be built in 3 rd Century CE. It is believed that this temple is considered as one of the Mada Temples built by Kochengata Chola, an early Chola Emperor. The temple was reconstructed in granite by the Later Cholas and extensively renovated by Pandyas, Vijayanagara Kings and Nayak rulers. It is believed that the Maragatha Linga (One of the Saptha Vidanga Linga) was brought from South East Asian country by Rajendra Chola I during his epic invasion of the South East Asia. Lord Shiva offered mounds of paddy to Sundarar via Kundaiyur Kizhar: As per legend, Sundarar used to feed the devotees of Lord Shiva in Thiruvarur. It is said that Sundarar used to pray Lord Shiva to give him paddy or gold so that he could carry out the holy task of feeding the devotees. Once, he visited this temple and prayed to Lord Shiva to help him in his noble cause. Meanwhile, there was another ardent devotee of Lord Shiva named Kundaiyur Kizhar lived in Kundaiyur village, located close to Thirukuvalai. He was also doing the noble cause of feeding the devotees of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and informed him that he would provide him mound of paddy in his place and instructed him to handover it to Sundarar. Kundaiyur Kizhar informed Sundarar about the presence of rice mound and invited him to take it for himself to feed the devotees in Thiruvarur. Sundarar visited Kundaiyur and was delighted to see the rice mound. He was also thinking about the difficulty in transferring the paddy to Thiruvarur. Finally, he pleaded Lord Shiva for help by singing a Padhigam. Pleased with his prayer, Lord Shiva instructed Bhoodaganas to shift the paddy from Kundaiyur to Thiruvarur.They shifted the entire paddy overnight to Thiruvarur. The place where Kundaiyur Kizhar offered the paddy is still can be seen in Kundaiyur Rishabhapureeswarar Temple. The incident is enacted every year on the day next to the day of Magam asterism in the Tamil month of Magam. A bronze image of Sundarar will be taken in procession from Thirukolili to Kundaiyur Rishabhapureeswarar Temple. The heaps of paddy will be measured in the platform in the Kundaiyur Temple and offered to Sundarar during this festival. Brahmapureeswarar: Once, Lord Vishnu and Brahma fought among themselves about their superiority. Unable to come to a conclusion, they approached Lord Shiva for deciding the winner. Lord Shiva appeared as an endless flame and challenged them to find his source. Lord Brahma took the form of a gander and flew to the sky to see the top of the flame, while Vishnu took the form of the boar Varaha, and sought its base. Neither Brahma nor Vishnu could find the source. Lord Vishnu conceded his defeat graciously, but Brahma lied and said he had found the pinnacle. Lord Shiva was angry of Brahma lies and cursed Lord Brahma not to have any temples in earth for his worship. Lord Brahma came to this temple, created the Brahma Theertha, worshiped Lord Shiva and got relief from the curse. As Lord Brahma worshipped Lord Shiva, he came to be called as Brahmapureeswarar.

Special Features

The temple is facing towards east with five tiered rajagopuram. There is a second level three tiered gopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram. A mandapam connects the rajagopuram with the second level gopuram. Dhwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam and Nandi can be seen immediately after the rajagopuram in this mandapam, facing towards the sanctum. Vasantha Mandapam can be seen immediately after the rajagopuram on the right side. The temple is facing towards east with five tiered rajagopuram. There is a second level three tiered gopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram. A mandapam connects the rajagopuram with the second level gopuram. Dhwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam and Nandi can be seen immediately after the rajagopuram in this mandapam, facing towards the sanctum. Vasantha Mandapam can be seen immediately after the rajagopuram on the right side. Nardana Ganapathy, Dakshinamoorthy, Bikshadana, Nataraja, Vishnu, Uma Maheswarar, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. The vimana over the sanctum is of single tier and follows vesara style. Mother is called as Vandamar Poonguzhali / Brihannayaki. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her shrine is like a separate temple.Thyagaraja Shrine is situated on the right side of the sanctum. The sanctum and Thyagaraja shrine shares the maha mandapam. This shrine is considered as one of the SapthaVidanga Sthalams. Thyagaraja of this shrine is called as Avani Vidangar / Oozhiparan. The dance form associated with the Thyagaraja is Birunga Nadanam / Vandu Nadanam. The Abhishekam is performed every day at 9.00 AM and 6.00 PM. Shrines & Idols of Sundarar with his wife Paravai Nachiyar, Nataraja, Sundara Vadivelan, Thyaga Vinayagar, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Indrapureeswarar, Chokkalingam, Annamalayar, Naalvar, Mahalakshmi, Chandran and Suryan can be seen in the inner prakaram. Vahana Mandapam is situated in the inner prakaram. Sthala Vriksham is Thetra Maram (Clearing Nut Tree).Theertham associated with this temple is Brahma Theertham, Chandra Nadhi, Indra Theertham, Agastya Theertham and Sakthi Theertham. Brahma Theertham is situated in front of the temple. Chandra Nadhi is flowing near to the temple. Indra Theertham is situated on the southern side of the temple and Agastya Theertham is situated on the western side. Sakthi Theertham is situated in the Parvati shrine in the form of well.

Festivals

Avani Vinayagar Chathurthi (Aug-Sep), Purattasi Navaratri (Sep-Oct), Aippasi Annabishekam (OctNov), Thiru Karthigai (Nov-Dec), Margazhi Thiruvadhirai & Sundays (Dec-Jan), Thai Pongal & Thaipoosam (Jan-Feb) and Masi Maha Shivaratri & Magam (Feb-Mar) are the festivals celebrated in the temple. Musukuntha Archana, Vasantha Utsavam and monthly pradoshams are also observed here.