Choleeswarar Kuttalam

Choleeswarar, Kuttalam

Saivite Temples, Nagapattinam District

God

Choleeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Parimalasugandanayagi, facing south (also Soundarya Nayagi)

Other Deities

Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara, Sidhivanayak, Muruga with consorts, Gajalakshmi, Balamuruga & Balavinayaga at entrance, Paadhala Saneeswarar

Choleeswarar Kuttalam is an east facing temple with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. The Saneeswara here is without his mount, the crow, and also mostly underground. In an attempt to relocate the idol it was discovered that the base stone of the idol seemed to go very deep underground and it was decided to leave it as it is. Hence the name Paadhala (underground) Saneeswarar

Holy Water (Theertham) – Agnitheertham (temple tank of days past)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Choleeswarar Kuttalam is believed to be more than 1200 years old. However, the exact history is not known.

Legend

Sage Bharatha is believed to have found a girl child here at Choleeswarar Kuttalam temple as he was performing a yaga for progeny. The child stopped crying only on his touch. He adopted the child and as became a woman she refused marriage. In her anger, the sage saw the Navarasa (nine expressions) on her face at one go and rushed to the Lord to find out the truth. She was revealed as Goddess Parvati herself by Lord Shiva. The sage is said to have fixed the marriage here in this temple and the marriage is believed to have taken place in Mount Kailash. Shiva is also said to have cursed Saneeswara and relieved him of the curse here at Choleeswarar Kuttalam. King Nala is said to have worshiped Saneeswara here and then advised to proceed to Thirunallar.

Directions

Choleeswarar Kuttalam is about 10 Kilometers west of Mayiladuthurai on the Kumbakonam Road. Also, visit the more important nearby Vaitheeswarar Temple.

Stay and Food

None locally. Nearest is Mayiladuthurai.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples