the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

According to legend, when Saint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this place with his followers, the river Vettaru (Mulliyaru) was flooded and nobody dared to operate the boats. He came to this place after visiting the rest of the four Aaranya sthalams and he wanted to complete his worship in this temple. He sang a Pathigam Kottame kamazhum koḷḷam puthur nattam ... ..… and crossed the river on a raft along with his followers. The beauty of this pathigam is that it helped his stay afloat without the help any boatman even during the torrid conditions. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy gave darshan to him on the river bank itself. It is believed that this incident took plave on the day of Deepavali. Everybody was waiting for Sambanthar’s arrival but he was getting delayed due to the floods. As the time for the last pooja was nearing, the priests were in a dilemma about what they should do. At this point, it is believed that the lord’s divine voice was heard saying that Sambanthar would arrive shortly and that they should wait for his arrival before conducting the day’s last pooja (Ardhajama pooja). This event is celebrated even now on the Deepavali day (new moon day in the Tamil month of Aippasi) when the idol of Sambanthar is taken in a procession to the other side of the river and then brought back to the temple. On his arrival at the river bank, the idols of Lord Vilwavaranyeswarar and Goddess Soundara Nayaki give dharisanam to Sambanthar. There is a small shrine for Saint Thirugnanasambanthar on the other side of the river bank of Vettaru. This shrine is known as Nambar Koil – nambar refers to the saint. This river is also known as Odam Pokkiya Aaru. As per Sthala Puranam, Lord Shiva himself tells the Panchatchara Mantra – Na Ma Si Va Ya – to the people who die in this place. The lord tells this mantra in the right ear of the deceased and bless them with salvation. Hence this place also gets the name Panchatchara Puram. Lord Shiva is believed to have given darshan of his cosmic dance to Sage Dhurvasar here. Also, Lord Shiva is believed to have given his wedding darshan to Sage Agasthiyar. It is believed that Lord Vinayakar, Lord Brahma, Arjunan, Ganga, Kaveri, serpent Adhiseshan, sages Biruku, Kasyabar, Vashistar, Vamadevar, Kanva, Idaikkadar, King Kochenget Cholan and King Varaguna Pandiyan have worshiped the lord here.

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 113th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This temple is one of the Pancha Aaranya Sthalam. Saint Thirugnanasambanthar sang a pathigam here in order to keep his raft afloat on a flooded river. He crossed the river without the help of a boatman to reach this temple. This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. In front of the main tower, there is an arch in the outside corridor with beautiful sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, Vinayakar and Murugan. According to legend, in ancient times, this region was a forest densely covered with Vilva trees. Vilvam trees are also called Koovilam and hence this place gets the name Koovilambuthur. Later it has been changed to Kollambuthur. These Vilva trees are said to have grown on the place where the celestial nectar Amirtham fell on earth. This sthalam is considered as auspicious as Kasi. This ancient temple is situated on the bank of the river Vettaru (Mulliyaru), a tributary of the river Cauvery. This river is also known as Agathiya Cauvery. The historical names of this place are Panchatchara Puram, Kandeepavanam, Brahmavanam, Koovilambuthur and Thiru Kalampur. As per stone inscriptions, this temple was built by Chola Kings Kulothungan-III and Rajarajan-III. There are five Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams at different places in Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Thiruvarur regions which are collectively revered as Pancha Aranya Sthalams. Thirukkollamputhur is one among them. Pancha means five and Aranyam / Vanam means forest in Tamil. In ancient times, these regions were densely forested. These five temples are – 1. Sri Mullaivananathar Temple at Thirukkarukavur with Mullai forest; 2. Sri Satchi Nathar Temple at Avalivanallur with Paadhiri forest; 3. Sri Paathaaleswarar Temple at Thiru Aradaipperumpazhi (Haridwara Mangalam) with Vanni forest; 4. Sri Aapathsahayeswarar Temple at Thiru Irumpoolai (Alangudi) with Poolai forest; and 5. Sri Vilvavaneswarar Temple at Thirukkollamputhur with Vilva forest. Sage Agasthiyar is believed to have said that worshiping the lord in these five temples in a single day is very auspicious. By doing so, all our sins will be absolved and we will break free from the repetitive cycle of birth and re-birth. These temples should be visited in the same order given above at the following times - early morning, morning, noon, evening and night. It is believed that Saint Thirugnanasambanthar worshiped Lord Shiva at these temples in this order. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). Devotees believe by participating in this festival they would be blessed with prosperity and happiness. Those suffering from mental ailments can worship the lord here to get relief. Devotees also believe that by worshiping the five Aaranya temples in a single day, they will be freed from the harmful effects of any planetary position in their horoscope.

Boat festival (Odaththiruvizha) on the day after the new moon in the Tamil month of Aipasi (Oct- Nov) is celebrated in a grand manner. Brahmotsavam is celebrated here on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May). Other important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July), Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Somavaram and Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan), Thai Poosam and Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Pradosham is also observed regularly.