We have been blessed to have some very unique group of temples. Many of them are less explored or probably visited not knowing their greatness. Some of the temples might form a part of one or more circuits. Many a times we visit some temple as a part of one circuit but may not be aware of the special nature of the other circuit to which they are considered a part of.
We are in the process of exploring the Pancha KAA temples. This is a set of 5 temples which were considered to be in what were forests earlier. While some may not be well known or may not belong to some popularised group or a circuit, these temples are revered for their greatness when we go through their sthala puranams and by visiting the temples to observe the greatness of them first hand and have divine darshan of the lord. Given below are these five locations where the “Kaa” in their name refers to “kaadu” or forest. Some have slightly changed names but their original names convey the divine meaning.
The five temples are
1. Tiruvanaikkaa (referred as TIruvanaikkaval which is said to be incorrect)
2. Tirunellikkaa
3. Tirukolakkaa
4. Tirukurakkaa
5. Tirukodikkaa
Sri Jambukeswarar temple, Tiruvanaikoil ( Tiruvanaikaa)
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Phone : 91- 435- 241 7157
Location : Trichy 9 km Perambalur 8 kms
Nearest town : Thanjavur 60 kms
Important days : Noon Pooja
Important for : Success in education
Swami is Sri Jambukeswarar and Mother is Akilandeswari EPORT THIS AD
Jambukeswaram is one of the Pancha Bootha Sthalams of Siva, which represent water (Appu) after the Vennaval (Jambu) tree that is closely identified with the sthala puranam.
When Parvati once mocked Siva, he banished Parvati to be born in earth Bhulokam who on the banks of the Kaveri river created a water Siva Lingam for her worship indicating association of this place with water. Siva pleased, gave Her upadesam, as Her guru.
Siva shrine here faces west, while the Amman shrine faces east – indicative of a guru sthalam (though as in Thiruvamathur where Siva faces east and Amman faces west).
This temple, though not a maadakoil, is the starting point of the legend associated with Kochchenga Cholan. Pushpadantan and Maliavaan – two ganas of Siva –born on earth as an elephant and a spider worshipped the Siva Lingam which was under the Jambu (Vennaval, jamun) tree here.
Every day the spider wove a web, covered it with leaves – it’s very own way of worship. When the elephant saw this, got angry and removed the webbing, brought water from the Kaveri river, to worship the Lingam. The spider again wove a web as it did before, and in the morning, the elephant again took it apart. After sometime the when the spider realised what was happening, to put an end, the spider got into the trunk of the elephant and bit it. Unable to bear the pain, the elephant thrashed its trunk about so hard, that killed both.
The spider reborn as King Kochchenga Cholan and regarded as one of the 63 Nayanmars, remembering his previous birth, built temples (Maadakoils) with an elevated platform and entrance with uneven steps, so that elephants could not enter the plac
The name Tiru-Anai-kaa derive, from the fact that the elephant (aanai in Tamil) worshipped here and also considered one of the pancha-kaa kshetrams.
Kalamegha Varadan an illiterate devotee who once slept in the temple, accidentally ate the betel leaves that were meant for Amman. He woke up to become an extremely knowledgeable person and later a famours poet and saint. Considering this event and since Siva imparted jnana deeksha to Parvati here, devotees worship here for success in education.
As related to Jambu tree, Siva here is called Jambukeswarar and Vennavaleswarar (related to the Jambu tree), and Jalakanteswarar and Neerthiral Nathar since related to water.
Believed as the first temple built by Kochchenga), the temple was renovated many times and modified to current status today.
The 18 acre temple complex has seven gopurams, five prakarams and nine Teerthams. The garbhagriham is below ground level, with a constant stream of water in the shrine. The Stone lattice with 9 openings (equivalent to 9 openings in the body) outside the garbhagriham is a stone lattice represents the 9 teerthams – through which one can worship the moolavar. It is considered equivalent for a dip in all 9 teerthams.
Amman’s shrine in the fourth prakaram, has two prakarams inside the shrine. When once Amman was extremely angry and the devotees scared to worship Her, Adi Sankarar fitted the Amman with earrings (tatakam), after which Her anger was reduced. The murtis of Vinayakar and Murugan were also installed in front of the shrine, to further ensure the peace.
The noon puja for Siva is unique, where the priest wears a saree and crown – representing himself as Parvati – and performs the puja to signify Mother’s tapas here and reinforcing the importance of Parvati’s role in Saivism and Siva worship.
The Temple architecture is breath taking with mandapams and numerous pillars. The fourth prakaram wall over 8000 feet long is called the Tiruneetru Madhil. During the construction of this wall, Siva came here in the form of a siddhar, and distributed holy ash (vibhuti) to the labourers. It is believed that the Vibhuti later turned into gold, proportionate to the wages that each of the labourers deserved.
If one proceeds beyond this prakaram, a separate shrine for Adi Jambukeswarar , considered as the original Lingam worshipped by Parvati and by the spider and elephant).
The murti of Ranganthar given by Rama and carried buy Vibishana, is now currently at the Srirangam temple. It is believed that Ranganathar stayed back so that He and Lord Shiva could be close to each other. Hence once a year even today, the utsava murti from the Ranganathar temple comes in procession to this temple and returns specially decorated.
The five sacred trees of Indralok are Parijatham, Karpakam, Mandaram, Harichandanam and Santhanam. Once they became proud of their celestial status that they ignored Sage Durvasa who cursed them to be born as nelli (gooseberry) trees, whose fruits are sour. The trees came to earth, prayed to the Lord, got relieved of their curse, and went back to heaven. It is believed Lord Siva stayed back to teach the world the goodness of nelli, as a Swambhu murti here and also blessed Sage Durvasa to overcome his anger. Since nelli is also called Amla, the Lord here is named Amlavanaveswar.
A Siva devotee saw in this forest that all the animals and birds living happily together. Devas visited every day. When he informed that king, He established a town, along with this temple and took the name of Amlanesan.
Uttama Cholan and his queen Padmai, who had no children, once visited this temple. At that time when a very young girl came and sat on the queen’s lap, a divine voice instructed them to bring the girl up as their own. The girl named as Mangalanayaki – was none other than Parvati and she came of marriageable age, she married Lord Siva here, on the first day of the Tamil month of Avani (August-September).
When Kakasura – an asura in the form of a crow – troubled Sita, Rama shot an arrow at the crow, who after trying various places, finally reached here for the protection of Lord Siva who requested Rama to pardon the crow.
Sage Susanam who killed his father in a fit of anger and afflicted with brahmahathi dosham, was narrated the aboave story. When he came to Tirunellikkaa and took at dip in the Teertham, and fed a crow. he got rid of the curse.
Since a Gandharva was cured of his leprosy by worshipping here, the place also has the names of Arunapuram and Kushtarogaharapuram, and the Teertham is called Brahma Teertham. This temple is considered a roga nivarani sthalam for leprosy.
During the week starting the 18th day of the Tamil month of Masi (February-March), and for a week starting the Krishna Paksha chaturti in the Tamil month of Aipasi (October-November), the rays of the Sun fall directly on the moolavar Lingam when the Pooja is performed. It is believed that Suryan himself performs this puja at the temple.
Sri Tirukoteeswarar temple, Tirukodikka
Temple Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Phone : 94866 70043 Shanmugananda Gurukkal
Location : Tiruvarur 41 km Nagappattinam 60 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 21 kms Myladuthurai 17 kms
Important days : Prathosham, Masi Amavasya
Important for : Multiple benefits for Pooja done here
The Lord is Thirukoteeswarar and the mother is Tiripurasundari, Vadivambigai. Initially this place was called Vetravanam, as it was a forest of Vetram, a type of bamboo, and Siva was called Vetravaneswarar.
Sage Durvasa cursed the Devas for having recited the mantras with the wrong intonations. Efforts by Devas to remove their curse was in vain and when Durvasa told them that only Siva could help them, they refused to listen to him as well as Lord Vishnu. Their effort at Kasi could not get mantra siddhi. When they requested Durvasa, the sage installed a Bhairavar at whose request Lord Vishnu Himself came to this place and performed pujas followed by the Devas, who finally were relieved of their curse after worshipping Siva here. It is said that the relief came on new moon day (amavasai) in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March).
Since Siva released the devas off the curse, he is called Tri-Koti-easwarar, now known to be Tirukoteeswarar and hence the name for the place.
When Vaishnavite Azhvars and sages went to worship Vishnu at Tirumala, A divine voice told them to get darsanam of Tripurasundari Amman at Vetravanam. They couldn’t cross the river with cauvery in spate and hence on AGastyar’s prayers Vinayakar got them across to safety. When they reached they were amazed that Tripurasundari Amman appeared to them in the form of Vishnu.
The Karaiyetriya Vinayakar installed by Agastyar is made of mud, and only oil (thaila kaapu) is applied to the murti, and no abhishekam is done to it.
Lokakanta leading a sinceful life after killing her husband, due to repentance at later stage, came and settled down here. When Yama and Chitragupta came to take her after her time, Siva’s ganas did not let them do so. When Yama complained to Siva he cursed and told them no life can be taken at this place. After severe penance, Yama and Chitragupta bathed in the temple’s Sringodhbhava Teertham on the day of Chitra Pournami and Siva relieved them of their curse. They bless the devotees here removing the fear of death in them. There is no cremation ground in the village of Tirukodikkaa and the dead are taken across the river to the neighbouring village for performing final rites.
The five places which survived the pralayam Including this temple are Adi Kumbeswarar, Tiruppurambayam, Srivanchiyam and Vedaranyam. Brahma stayed here during the pralayam, so as to be able to resume creation once things settled down.
Hara Datta was returning from this temple one evening, when it became dark and started raining heavily that he could not see anything. When he prayed to Lord Siva, There appeared an old man who asked him to follow. Upon reaching home, Hara gave some prasadam from the temple, to eat. When he saw the prasadam in the shrines of Siva, Amman, Vinayakar, Murugan, and Nandi in the following morning he realized that the Lord himself was the old man.
It appears when Durvasa came to worship Siva, fearing his urge to ignore here, Mother ensured that she went in front of Siva leaving him with no choice.
Kaveri river here is Uttara-vahini as she turns to a northward direction near the temple.
Performing any japam/pooja at this temple blesses the devotee with the power of having performed it ten times.
With no Navagraham here, In a rare occurance Sani has a separate shrine, close to Yama. Sani is known as Bala Sani, holding a Siva Lingam on his head, and has a bird/eagle as his mount (No crow).
Sri Kundala Karneswarar temple, Tirukuakkaa, Nagappattinam
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : 04364-258785
Location : Sorkazhi 10 km Nagappattinam 68 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 22 kms Myladuthurai 18 kms
Important for : Anjaneya
Ramayanam is connected with this as well nearby Kutram Porutha Nathar temple at Thalaignayiru.
After the war in Lanka and based on Sage Agasthya’s advise, Rama and Sita undertook a pilgrimage to atone the sin of having killed Ravana and came to Thalaignayiru, where they were to get and install a rare Lingam before sunset. While bringing a lingam from Kasi, Anjaneya overcame the resistance by Bhairavar and then by Sani (who cursed him to loose his tail) but this caused a delay, and hence Sita made a Lingam out of river sand, and completed the pooja under Agastyar’s advice. Upset Anjaneya felt that the sand Lingam would not be strong and tried to move it with his tail and also lost his tail – and his powers – in the process. Realising his mistake, he prayed to Lord Siva who pardoned him.
Then he had a divine voice imploring him to install his own Lingam at this place (Tirukurakkaa). When to test his devotion, Siva made one of his earrings (kundalam) disappear, Maruti cut one of his own (as he was born with it) and offered it to the Lord. There is also another story in which Siva comes as an old brahmin seeking his kundalam as alms, he readily gave by cutting it off. Pleased with Hanuman, Siva restored his tail and his powers, and gave darshan, with the kundalam on His ears – and he his hence called as Kundala Karneswarar.
The original name of Tirukurangukka (kurangu in Tamil = monkey) over time has changed into Tirukurakka. To Suffix with “val” to the name of all KAA Kshethrams is considered incorrect).
Since Anjaneya lost his tail due to Sani’s curse, Siva ordained that all the Navagrahams reside in Anjaneyar’s tail. Therefore, there is no separate Navagraham shrine at this temple. Here uniquely Anjaneyar is depicted as worshipping Lord Siva.
It is believed that the vilvam tree here yields fruit shaped like Siva Lingams, and the monkeys worship Lord Siva here with this fruit, during the Tamil months of Chitirai and Vaikasi.
Sri Sabdapureeswarar temple, Tirukolakkaa
Temple Timings : 7.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. 4.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : 04364 274 175
Location : Tiruvarur 65 km Nagappattinam 67 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 60 kms Myladuthurai 23 kms
Important days : Chithirai Thiruvathirai festival
Important for : relief from Speech difficulties and Impairement. Proficiency in music. Employment. Business ventures
The lord is sabdapureeswarar and the mother is Osai Koduththa Nayaki;Dhwanipradhaambaal
Vishnu after his Narasimha avataram to quell the atrocities of the demon Hiranyakashipu, had imbibed asura characters and hence and caused fear among the celestials. While Siva taking the form of Sarabha (a creature with two heads, two wings, eight legs of the lion with sharp claws and a long tail), subdued Narasimha by drawing out the latter’s negative energies and keeping Narasimha under His control, Lakshmi worshipped Siva so that Vishnu would get back to her. As advised when she performed penance at kondrai vanam, Siva wsas pleased and arranged the wedding of Vishnu and Lakshmi here.
There are many interpretation to the name. One is that Lakshmi (Thiru) appeared in her bridal attire (kolam) and hence the place came to be known as Tirukolakkaa. Another refers to Lakshmi’s Tirumana Kolam getting corrupted to Tirukolam with the addition of KAA to represent forest. Another refers to kolahalam, referring to festivities at their wedding.
Sambandar came from SIrkazhi to Tirukolakkaa sang a pathigam using his soft hands for beat, as a result of which his hands turned red. Pleased by the devotion of the child, Siva blessed Sambandar with a pair of golden cymbals, and Parvati infused them with music and the power of sound. They are therefore revered as Thalamudaiyar and Osai Kodutha Nayaki. Since Sabda refers to speech, Siva here is called Sabda Pureeswarar. This is therefore a prarthana sthalam for Speech problems and those aspiring for proficiency in music.
The puranam of Sambandar also illustrates that Siva provided the cymbals with no sound and Parvati infused them with the ability to produce sound. It is to be understood that in the Ardhanareeswarar concept, Siva and Parvati are one.
When Indra and Suryan had a dispute as to who was more powerful. After their worship Lord Shiva made Indra as the lord of the celestials, while Suryan was made the lord of the planets. Suryan’s ascension is observed in this temple in Karthigai month
The parents of children who have attained speech are supposed to have donated a pair of golden cymbals here, which are kept on display at the temple. Such incidents recorded number over 500 as of date.
The beautiful Lingodhbhavar is flanked by Brahma and Vishnu. There is no raja gopuram or a dhwajasthambam. Parvati has a separate temple abutting the Siva temple, within the premises. The temple’s annual festival witnesses the procession of Natarajar with His consort Sivakamasundari, and Sambandar holding the golden cymbals.
