Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavneswarar Temple, Thiru Chotru thurai, Tanjoore Dt.

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.

Thiru Navaloore, Vizhupuram Dt.

Thiru Navaloore: this temple is one of Nadu Nadu Devara Sthalams



The temple is 14 kms to NE from Ulundoorpettai on the banks of Kedila River. Now the place is known as Thiru Nama Naloore.







The main Raja Gopuram of the temple is of five tiers and there are two prakaram.







As we enter in we see Dwajasthambam.







Nandiis in a small mandapam




Sthala Vruksham is Naval tree (Kala Jaamun in Hindi). Teetham here is Gomukhi and River Garuda.









Main Deity is Swayambu Siva lingam known as Arulmigu Bakthajaneswarar facing East and his consort known as Sundarambikai Amman facing East in different sanctum.




The name of the place is Navaloore because of the Sthala Vruksham Naval tree.




As we go around the prakaram we see a sanctum for Sundra moorthy Nayanar with his consort Paravai Nachiar and Sangli Nachiar in the first prakaram. This is birth place of Sundarar. Dakshina Moorthy is seen on Rishba Vahanam in standing posture.




Other deities seen in the temple are Vinayakar, Subramanyar, Brahma, Vishnu, Chandikeswarar, Sukran, Navagraham and Bargaveeswara Lingam worshiped by Sukara Bagwan. Sooryan in Navagraha is facing west in this temple




There is a separate sanctum for Vishnu in-between main deity Lord Siva and Sundarambikai Amman. Lord Vishnu worshiped Lord Siva here.




Here we find four Siva Lingams. One was worshiped by Lord Vishnu in Ruth Yoga, Chandikeswarar worshiped second one in Tretha Yugam, Brahma worshiped third one, in Dwapara Yugam, and finally the fourth one was worshiped by Sundarar in Kali yugam.



Parvathi Devi worshiped Lord Siva here and she married to him. Sivapriyar worshiped Siva here and he was been recognized as Chandeeswarar. Garuda who became black due to the effect of poison of Nagaraja worshiped Lord Siva of this place. He was blessed by Siva and the poison was removed and got back his original colour.










Sthala Purana says once this place was known as Jambuvanam, where Lord Siva was in Swayambu lingam form even before four Yugams. It says Lord Vishnu, Chandeekeswarar, Brahma and Sundarar worshiped Lord Siva in all the four yugams respectively. Intially there was a small stone sanctum for Lord Siva. Later Chera, Chola and Pandya Kings constructed the temple with prakarams. Sukara Bagwan installed and worshiped a Siva Lingam in Varnasi for long period. Lord Siva was pleased with his worship and Lord bestowed him with Sanjivni Mantra which gives life to dead person.




Asuras made Sukra as their Guru. When there was a war with Asuras and Devas, Sukra the Asura guru, gave life to every Asura killed by Devas. So Devas approached Lord Siva to help them. Lord Siva swallowed Sukra, who was there for long time in meditating. Finally Lord Siva gave him a place in Navagraha and asked him to bestow mankind with wealth according to their good and bad deeds. Sukra installed, a Siva Lingam here in this place ”Thiru Navaloore” and worshiped. There is a belief one who visits the temple in this place are relieved of Sukra Dosha.



Sundarar sang Hymns on Lord Siva. Arunagiri nadhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan of this temple.

Thirumaani kuzhi Temple: Thiru Vaamaneeswarar, Cuddlore

Thirumaani kuzhi Temple: Thiru Vaamaneeswarar.

The place is about ten kms from Cuddlore on the bank of River Kedila. This temple is one of  the        Nadu Nadu Devara Sthalams.

The main Raja Gopuram is of five tiers and there are three prakarams.

As we enter inside we see Dwajasthambam

Nandi Devar is seen in small mandapam

Teertham is River Kedila and Swetha teertham.

Sthala Vruksham is Kondrai

Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Vaamaneeswarar and his consort known as Ambujakshi Amman in separate sanctum facing east.

Something unique in the temple is we see Beema Rudrar screen in front of Lord Vamaneeswarar. Beema Rudrar is always guarding Lord Siva here. First pooja is performed for Beema Rudrar. The screen is lifted and the pooja for Lord Vaamaneeswarar is performed.

As we go around the inner prakaram we see Selva Ganapathy, Udhavi Ganapathy, Arumugan, Nalwar, 63 Nayanmars, Saptha Madhar, Pancha Moorthys, Gaja Lakshmi, Bairavar, Navagraha, Vishnu Lingam, Soorya and Chandran.

Thiru Annamalaiyar seen at the back of main sanctum

Sri Durgai sculpture seen to side wall of main sanctum

We see beautiful sculptures on the walls related to Sthala puranam

Sthala Purana says Lord Vishnu descended down as small Brahamin boy named as Vaamana. He went to King Maavli and asked for three feet of land by his foot. King agreed to give land forVaamana.

Immediately Vaamana took to his original form and measured earth and space for two feet by his foot. King Maavali bowed his head down for Vaamana to rest his feet on his head for the third one. Vaamana did so and it was the end of King Maavali’s life.

As a parihara for the death of King Maavali, Lord Vaamana worshipped Siva lingam here .Hence the place is known as Maani kuzhi and Lord Siva as Vaamaneeswarar.

Thiru Gyana Sambandhar sang Hymns on Lord Vaamaneeswarar. Arunagiri Nadhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan of this temple.

Thiru Nellikaval temple, Mannarkudi.

1. Thiru Nellikaval
   
   
   
   The place Thiru Nellikaval is about 18 kms from Thiruvarore to Thiruthuri poondy route of Thiruvarore district.
   
   
   
   This temple is One of 275 Siva Devara sthalam.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Raja gopurm of the temple is of three storeys. We see Nandi Devar in a small mandapam before the Dwajasthambam of the temple.
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arulmigu Nellivana Nadhar and his consort known as Mangala Nayaki amman. Here in the month of Feb/ March evening sun rays falls on the deity for a week.
   
   
   
   Sthala Vruksham of the temple is Amla Tree (nelli) and teertham known as Brahma teertham and Soorya Teertham.
   
   
   
   Brahma, Vishnu, Soorya, Chandran, Sani, Gandharva and sacred trees Deva Lokam, worshipped Lord Siva of this place.
   
   
   
   Sthala purana says five sacred trees of Deva lokam were proud about their power of giving anything, to one who worships them. They did not respect Durvasa muni due to their ego. Muni cursed them to become, amla tree on earth. Lord Siva as a Swayambu lingam was found under the amla tree to free them from the curse of Muni, and to know the importance of Amla. The sacred worshiped Lord Siva found under the tree, and returned back to Indra lokam. Since the Siva Lingam was under the amla tree he is known as Nellivana Nadhar, and the sthalam as Nellikaval.
   
   
   
   Once Siva devotee worshiped Lord Siva of this place and to his surprise he saw, Devas worshiping Lord Siva and leaving the place before dawn and wild animals were very friendly in this place. He reported this to Chola King.
   
   
   
   King was happy to know, about this. He cleared the land and constructed temple for Lord Siva. The Lord is known as Amla kesan and later days Chola king was known as Amlakesa Cholan. His son Uttama cholan and his wife paduma malai worshiped Lord Siva of this place to bless them with child. At that time a small girl came and sat on the lap of king and they heard a voice (Akasha vani) announcing that goddess herself is the small child on their lap. She should be named as Mangala Nayaki and treat her as their child.
   
   
   As the girl grew older one day when she went to Thiruvarore temple to worship Lord Siva they heard a voice announcing the time and date of marriage of Mangla Nayaki with Lord Siva. Marriage took as per the voice predicted.
   
   
   
   Thiru Gyanasambandhar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this place.