Thiru Kottaram:
This place is One of 275 Devara Sthalam. The place Velangkudi is on the way between Kariakkal and Mailaduthurai. Thiru Kottaram is about a kilometer from Velangkudi.
The Raja Gopuram is of three tiers.
Main Deity is small Swayambu Lingam known as Iravadeeswarar and his consort known as Vandavar Kuzali Amman. She is seen in standing posture.
Sthala Vruksham is Parijatham and Teertham is Vanjiaru and Soorya Teertham. Previously the River was known as Kottaru and now it is known as Vanjiaru.
As we enter we find Dwajasthambam and Dwara Ganapathy. In front of this we see a mandapam, with sculpture of Lord Siva as Kailasanadhar To left we see Bala Ganapthy.
In this mandapam, we see pillars and the roof is in arch shape. Nandi is seen here facing the main sanctum of Iravadeeswarar.
Here in this mandapam to the right, we see Artha mandapam and Ambal sannidhi. From here we enter into Maha mandapam, were we see Natarajar and Sivakami Ammai, Lord Murugan, and Somaskandar. Next we enter into Artha Mandapam were, we see Boga Sakthy as Urchava Idoi to North West corner. Ganapathy and Nagarajar sculptures, is seen to either side of the entrance, which leads to main sanctum of Iravadeeswarar.
As we go around the temple we see other Deities like Ganapathy, Thirumaal, Kailasa nadhar, Nalwar, Paravai Nachiar, Subaka Maharishi, Nagarajar Subramanyar, Gaja Lakshmi, and Chandikeeswarar.
Due to the curse of Durvasa Muni, Iravadham lost its control and hit the clouds with its tusk. Rain started pouring down and water started flowing like a River. Iravadham worshiped Lord Siva with this water. Hence Lord Siva is known as Iravadeeswarar and the place as Kottaru which changed as Kottaram over a Period.
Purana says Agasthya Muni and Subhaka Maharishi worshiped Lord Iravadeswarar here. One day Subha Rishi was late in visiting the temple, by the time the door was closed. He took the form of Honey Bee and worshiped Lord Iravadeeswarar. Honeycomb is seen in front of the sanctum. In this temple once in a year, honey is collected from the homeycomb seen in the temple, which is used for the Abishekam of Siva Lingam.
There is a separate sanctum for Kumara Bhuneswarar and Siva lingam which was installed and worshiped by Agasthya Maharishi and Subhaka Muni.
Sambandhar sang Hymns on Iravadeeswarar.
The temple was built by Kulothunga Cholan in the year 1253AD. Stone inscriptions in the temple refer to the King as Maduranthagan Kulothunga Cholan.
Melai Thirumanajcheri / Edirkolpadi temple:
The temple is about 6kms from Kuthalam. The place Kuthalam is on the way to Mailaduthurai from Kumbakonam.
This is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam. Sundarar sang Hymns on Iravadeeswarar of this temple.
The temple Raja Gopuram is of five tiers.
Main Deity here, in this temple is Swayambu Lingam known as Iravadeeswarar and his concert Known as Sugandha Kunthalambikai.
As we enter in side we see Dwajsthambam and Lord Ganeshais seen at the bottom.
Sthala vruksham of the temple is Utthala Maram. Purana says this vruksham is seen only in this place.
As we enter in there is a small sanctum for Lord Ganesha, and we see Balipeetam behind.
Next we seeNandi Devarin small sanctum.
Within the temple we see Subramanyar, Gaja Lakshmi, Kala Bairavar and Saneeswarar sanctums. As we go around we see Bala Ganapathy, Natrajar, Dakshina Moorthy, Ligothbavar, Brahma, Raghu, Durgai, and Ganga Visarjanar as Kostha moortams.
This is Gopuram view of main sanctum from one side.
Meenakshi Sundareswar, marriage ceremony sculptures seen to one side of the Gopuram.
To one side Guru Dakshina Moorthy, sculpture is seen on top of the gopuram.
Dakshina Moorthy sanctumseen as we go around the main sanctum.
There is a small sanctum for Saraswathy Devi.
We see Ambal Sugandha Kunthalambikai in separate sanctum. She is seen in sitting posture, known as Sukhaasana posture. Ambal deity is small in size in this temple.
Sthala purana says Iravadham worshiped Lord Siva here hence he is known as Iravadewarar. Durvasa muni, once gifted a lotus garland to Indra, which was given to him byLord Siva. Indra took the garland and placed it on his elephant Iravadham,which did not know the value of the garland, and threw it down and stamped. Muni was unable to control his anger and he cursed Indra and Iravath. Indra realised his mistake and asked him to excuse and to let him know the way to get rid of his curse.
Iravath came down to earth and worshiped Lord Siva in many temples. When it came to this place and worshiped, Iravath got rid of its curse and was blessed. Indra also worshiped Lord Siva of this place and he was blessed.
Sthala purana also says Baratha Muni who belong to Thirumananjchery, was the one who performedLord Siva and Parvathy marriage at Vaelvikudi. After the ceremony was finished he invited new couple Lord Siva and Parvathy to visit his place. Lord Siva agreed to do so. When Lord Siva and Prvathy came to this place Thirumanajcheri, Baratha muni went forward to welcome newly married couple Lord Siva and Parvathy.
So the place is known as Edirkolpadi which means going forward to welcome. Now the place is known as Melakoil.
By worshiping Lord Siva here marriages are settled. One who has lost their wealth and jobs also worship Lord Siva,and they are blessed by him like Indra who worshiped and got back his wealth and post.
The temple is about 6kms from Kuthalam. The place Kuthalam is on the way to Mailaduthurai from Kumbakonam.
This is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam. Sundarar sang Hymns on Iravadeeswarar of this temple.
The temple Raja Gopuram is of five tiers.
Main Deity here, in this temple is Swayambu Lingam known as Iravadeeswarar and his concert Known as Sugandha Kunthalambikai.
As we enter in side we see Dwajsthambam and Lord Ganeshais seen at the bottom.
Sthala vruksham of the temple is Utthala Maram. Purana says this vruksham is seen only in this place.
As we enter in there is a small sanctum for Lord Ganesha, and we see Balipeetam behind.
Next we seeNandi Devarin small sanctum.
Within the temple we see Subramanyar, Gaja Lakshmi, Kala Bairavar and Saneeswarar sanctums. As we go around we see Bala Ganapathy, Natrajar, Dakshina Moorthy, Ligothbavar, Brahma, Raghu, Durgai, and Ganga Visarjanar as Kostha moortams.
This is Gopuram view of main sanctum from one side.
Meenakshi Sundareswar, marriage ceremony sculptures seen to one side of the Gopuram.
To one side Guru Dakshina Moorthy, sculpture is seen on top of the gopuram.
Dakshina Moorthy sanctumseen as we go around the main sanctum.
There is a small sanctum for Saraswathy Devi.
We see Ambal Sugandha Kunthalambikai in separate sanctum. She is seen in sitting posture, known as Sukhaasana posture. Ambal deity is small in size in this temple.
Sthala purana says Iravadham worshiped Lord Siva here hence he is known as Iravadewarar. Durvasa muni, once gifted a lotus garland to Indra, which was given to him byLord Siva. Indra took the garland and placed it on his elephant Iravadham,which did not know the value of the garland, and threw it down and stamped. Muni was unable to control his anger and he cursed Indra and Iravath. Indra realised his mistake and asked him to excuse and to let him know the way to get rid of his curse.
Iravath came down to earth and worshiped Lord Siva in many temples. When it came to this place and worshiped, Iravath got rid of its curse and was blessed. Indra also worshiped Lord Siva of this place and he was blessed.
Sthala purana also says Baratha Muni who belong to Thirumananjchery, was the one who performedLord Siva and Parvathy marriage at Vaelvikudi. After the ceremony was finished he invited new couple Lord Siva and Parvathy to visit his place. Lord Siva agreed to do so. When Lord Siva and Prvathy came to this place Thirumanajcheri, Baratha muni went forward to welcome newly married couple Lord Siva and Parvathy.
So the place is known as Edirkolpadi which means going forward to welcome. Now the place is known as Melakoil.
By worshiping Lord Siva here marriages are settled. One who has lost their wealth and jobs also worship Lord Siva,and they are blessed by him like Indra who worshiped and got back his wealth and post.
- Melayoor / Thiruchaikadu:
The place is also known as Chayavanam. This temple is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam.
The place is about 3 kms to Thiruvenkadu, and 15 kms SE, of Seergazhi Town.
Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arul Migu Chayavaneswarar facing east and his consort Sri Kuilinum nunmozhi Ammai, facing South. Cauvery and Iravadam are teertham of the temple.
Chai means korai in Tamil. The place was full of these type of grass, and hence the name Chayavanam / Chaikadu. This is one among, six places considered equal to Kasi.
As we go around the temple we see a mandapam, resembling a chariot, with chakra and horses attached to the main temple. The Vimanam of the mandapam is Indra Vimanam. Inside the sanctum in the maha mandapam we see Lord Murugan with Vel. Archakar of the temple said, the idol of Lord Murugan was found in the sea.
Purana: Indra’s mother worshipped Lord Siva of this place daily. Indra tried to take the Swayambu Lingam to his place Indralokam, by doing so his eye sight started diminishing. Eyarpagai Nayanar was blessed by (Prathyaksham) Lord Siva here.
Indra as Iravadam worshipped Lord Siva, here. Upamanyu muni worshipped Lord Siva.
The Iravada teertham is seen in front of the temple.
Sambandhar and appar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this place.
[Sambandhar][Eyarpagai Nayanar][Charriot][indra Vimanam]
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