Thirukoodalur

108 Divya Desam Temples, Thanjavur District

God

Vayyangatha Perumal, also Jagathrakshaga Perumal, facing east

Goddess

Padmasini Thaayar, facing east in Padmasana posture

Other Deities

Garuda, Aandal, Chakrathazhwar, Bhoovarahar, Vishwaksenar, Varadaraja Perumal with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi, Pillai Lokacharyar, Aalavandhar, Manavala Mamunigal, Ramanujar, Thirumangaiazhwar

Thirukoodalur temple also called Aaduthurai Perumal Temple is a large temple with a 5 tier Rajagopuram near the banks of the Cauvery River. Images from the Dasavatara are depicted on the Rajagopuram. The sacred tree here is the jackfruit tree upon which the knots of the branch has formed a large Conch shape. Thirukoodalur temple was in a dilapidated state and when work was started in 2003 the conch shape in the tree is said to have appeared and grown size as the work was completed. The present temple was built by Rani Mangammal (1689 – 1704) who ruled Madurai as a queen regent on behalf of her grandson. Her image is seen carved in one of the pillars. The lord here is in standing position in a posture about to weild the Chakra. The processional deity is also called Vaiyam Katha Perumal. The processional deity of the goddess is called Pushpavalli Thaayar. Thirukoodalur temple is beautifully located in the north banks of the Cauvery.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Chakkra Theertham, Cauvery River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vrikshan) – Jack Fruit Tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Vimaanam – Suthasthava Vimaanam

History

Thirukoodalur temple is said to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th Century CE, with later contributions from Pandyas, Vijayanagar Kings and Madurai Nayaks. Thirumangai Alwar (One of the 12 Alwars, 6 – 9th Century CE) has sung in the Divya Prabhandam about this Lord, making Thirukoodalur a 108 Divya Desam Temple.

Legend

Once when the Lord desired to take rest from his duties he chose this spot and moved in secretly. Sage Nandaga realized this and decided to wait for the lord to appear to have his darshan. In the meantime, all the Devas under Lord Indra were also looking for the Lord and they were told by the sage about the situation and gathered here at Thirukoodalur. The Lord realized that he cannot go on and decided to give his darshan to Sage Nandaga first and then to all the Devas. Since all of them gathered (Koodal) here the temple is called Thirukoodalur. The Lord is believed to have appeared in the dream of Rani Mangammal of Madurai and revealed the location of the Thirukoodalur temple which had been covered by the sand of the Cauvery River. She then built up the present day temple.

Another version is that this temple existed eveb before Lord Vishnu’s Varaha Avatar and this is where he entered the earth to retreive Bhoomadevi from the Asura Hiranyatchakan and came out with her at Sreemushnam.

A king called Ambareesh is believed to have been in deep penance towards the lord wishing for the mental and physical strength to do penance forever. Sage Dhurvasa in a stroke of envy tried to disrupt the penance, but in turn angered the Lord who stood up to weild his Chakra at him. The terrified sage fell at the Lord’s feet and apologized.

Directions

Thirukoodalur is 12 kilometers from Thiruvaiyaru in the Kumbakonam road.

Stay and Food

All the temples in this area can be visited by making your base as Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam has excellent places to stay. The food in Mangalambika is very good, though there are some other very good restaurants too.

108 Divya Desam Temples