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Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavneswarar Temple:




The place is about 15 kms from Tanjavoore and 4 kms from Kandiyoor.
This temple of Chotuthurai is one of the Devara Sthalam, on the south bank of River Cauvery. This is third temple of the Ezhur (Seven) sthalams, where Lord fed is devotees.









Main Raja Gopuram is of three tiers




The temple has single prakaram only. As we go around the prakaram, Sanctum of Annapoorani Amman is in the south east, Lord Arumugan facing east is seen in a shrine facing south.








Lord Maha Vishnu sanctum is seen facing east. We get to see Gautama Muni worshiping Lord Vishnu here.









Lord Vinayakar and Lord Murugan are seen near the temple entrance to either side.









We see a mandapam and Adigara Nandi is seen in front of the mandapam. We see Natarajar in the mandapam which leads to the Artha mandapam and main sanctum of Lord Oudhavaneswarar.




Sthala Vruksham is Vilvam. Teertham is River Cauvery and Soorya teertham.










Main deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavaneswarar with his consort known as Annpoorani Amman facing east. She is seen in a separate sanctum in SE while go around the prakaram.










Brahma, Vishnu, Sooryan, Indran and Sage Gautama worshiped Lord Siva in this place. Sage Gautama attained Mukthi in this place.










Sthala Purana: Once due to severe famine people were starving. The temple was not taken care off at that time. A devotee of Lord Siva named Arulalan worshiped Lord Siva to overcome the severe famine. He banged his heads to the steps and cried out for help from Lord Siva. There was heavy down pour and the place was flooded. There was a bowl floating in the water which was picked by Arulalan. He heard a voice announcing, the bowl is Akshya Patra which gives food always without any bounds. It will never go dry and it can help in feeding the people to get rid of their hunger.




Since the Lord here has helped to get rid of famine and gave Akshya Patra which gave food, Lord is praised and named as Thiru Chotru Thurai Nadhar. (Chotru means food).





Saints Sundarar, Thiru Navakkuarasar and Thiru Gyana Sambandhar sang Hymns on Lord Siva of this temple. Arunagirinadhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan here. Thiru Ramalinga Vallalaar has praised and worshiped Lord here.

Neivanai: Swarnakateswarar Temple.



This place is about 15kms from Ulundoorpettai, Vizhupuram, TN. This is one of the Devara sthalam of Nadunadu.












Main Deity Swayambu Lingam known as Chandra Shekarar / Vennaiappar seen under Rudraaksha Pandal and his consort known as Neelamalar Kanni in standing posture. She resides in separate sanctum. Here in the temple Lord Siva is seen in the centre of Soolam as Urchavar Idol which denotes Ardanareeswara tathvam.








Adikara Nandi is seen with both palms together here.




During the month of Feb/ Mar (Masi Tamil month), Early morning sun rays falls on Lord Siva and we see change of different colours.



Sthala Vruksham is Punnai and Teertham is well water, which is in front of Ambaal sanctum.



Other deities seen in the temple as we go around the prakaram are Vara Siddhi Vinayakar, Murugan with Valli and Devani is seen seated on peacock, Kasi Viswanadhar, Visalakshi, Natarajar seen in separate sanctum, Navagraham, Chandeekeswarar and Bairavar.



Lord Vishnu is seen seated with Mahalaksmi with both her palms together, on his left lap as Lakshmi Narayanar. Their eyes are closed as if they are meditating.



Lord Siva Himself built a dam with paddy hence the place is known as Nelanai which later changed into Neivanai.



Thiru Gaynasambandhar, during his pilgrimage reached this place in the night. He had difficulty in tracing the path. Lord Siva asked Ambikai to guide Sambandhar to reach the temple. “She” met Sambandhar in nearby place, known as Ethalavadi. When he reached the temple, Sambandhar worshiped Lord Siva who gave a wonderful darshan for him. In excitement he danced and sang Hymns on Lord Siva. The idol of Gyana Sambandhar is beautiful in dancing form. Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar are seen in the sanctum.




Sthala puranam: People of this region did not worship god because of their wealth and luxury. In order to teach them a lesson Varuna was asked to pour down as rain causing heavy disaster. Lakes and tanks began to breach. People started worshiping “God” to rescue them. Lord appeared as a youth and asked them to bring their paddy bags from their homes to build dam. They looked upon the youth as their saviour. He said “God” is the one who gives prosperity and they should be grateful to Him. He gave them pot full of Gold to recover their loss and disappeared. Lord appeared before them as Swayambu Lingam. They raised a temple for Lord and named him as Swarnakateswarar

Kamakoore: Sri Chandrasekara Swamy Temple.



The temple is about 7 kms from Arani, Tiruvannamalai Dt. The temple is very old and it needs renovation. Pooja is performed only twice daily.








The temple has a raja Gopuram and as we enter we see Dwajasthambam, and to the side we see Sanctum for Lord Ganesha.



The place is known as Kamanagar and Kamathoore is changed into kamakoore in present days. There is a sanctum for Kamakshi ammai hence the name for the place is Kamathoore in olden days.



As we go around, after worshipingLord Ganesha, we see entrance in south side for Lord Siva Temple. Here we have darshan of Adigara Nandi and we see Natarajar sannidhi in front of us. Here Lord Natrajar’s posture is different from other places. Here his left leg is on the floor and the right leg is placed from the back of left one in twisted form. The dance Mudra of this kind is known as Chatura Thandavam.



After worshiping Natarajar, we cross dwarabalakar and enter into artha mandapam. In Garbagraham Lord Chandrasekar Swamy is in Linga form. His consort known as Amirthambikai in standing posture is seen in separate sanctum to the side.



As we go around the temple we see sanctum for Arumuga swamy seated on peacock with his consorts Sri Valli and Devani. Arunagirinadhar has sung Thirupugazh on Lord Arumugan of this temple.



As we proceed there is a sanctum for Sahasra Lingam. There is a separate sanctum for Kamakshi ammai who is known as Tripurasundari in this temple. She is holding flower in one hand and sugarcane to the other hand. Sri Chakkram is installed in the sanctum.