Thirukutralam

Coordinates: 8°55′45″N 77°16′9″E / 8.92917°N 77.26917°E / 8.92917; 77.26917
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Thirukutralam
Kutralanathar Temple
Cholas

Thirukutralam represents one of the five

Kutralam
. Kutralam is also known as Trikootaachalam.

Location

Courtallam is a popular tourist resort in Southern Tamil Nadu known for its waterfalls, amidst picturesque surroundings - and is a source of inspiration of many a literary work. Thousands visit this town when the waterfalls are in season.[2]

Legend

Agasthya
with his wife

As per

Tamiraparani River reaches is descent in flat land at this place. As per another legend, sage Urosamar floated a set of flowers in the river and the first flower reached the shore at this place. The sage established a temple for Kutralathanathar and worshipped the deity here.[4][5]

As per another legend, the king of celestial deities,

Brihaspathi, he landed at Papanasam. Since his sin (Papam locally) was expiated in this place, it came to be known as Papanasam.[4]

Temple structure

The temple has a

Bhrama and Vishnu. The presiding deity lord Shiva is called as Kuttralanathar and the Ambal his consort mother Parvathy is called as Kuzhalvoi Mozhiammai. The Tirikootamandapam here is the site of festivities here. Parvati's shrine is also of significance here and is regarded as one of the 64 Shakti Peethams. The Chitra Sabhai or the hall of pictures is located in a picturesque locale away from the main temple. Architecturally the Chitrasabha resembles that of the other Nataraja Sabhas elsewhere in Tamil Nadu, and its interior is decked with hundreds of murals, depicting images from the Indian epics. Natarajar is brought here during festivals from the Kurumpalaveesar temple. The sthala vriksham is Kurum Palaa and the Theertham is Chitranadhi. Nataraja is sported with Nritya Thandavam posture.[6]

Poems on this temple

Tirikootaraasappa kavirayar's well known work Kutrala Kuravanji glorifies this shrine. Kurumpalaveesar, sung in Tevaram was done by

Paadal Petra Sthalams
.

Festivals

Arudra Darisanam is celebrated in the Chitrasabha, and the Taandava Deepa Aradhanai carried out then is of significance here. In the annual festival Shiva appears as Bhrama, Vishnu, Rudra, Eswara, Sadasiva and Subramanya. Other festivals celebrated here are Vasanta Utsavam in Chittirai, Pavitrotsavam in Kartikai, Navaratri, Skanda Sashti, Chittirai Vishu and Aippasi Vishu. The ivory chariot used in processions is of great beauty.

Location

This temple is located roughly 5 km from Tenkasi. Tenkasi is connected with other parts of Tamil Nadu both by road and Train. Tenkasi can easily be reached by bus from Madurai and Tirunelveli. Bus services from Tenkasi to Courtalam are available. From Kerala through Punalur we can reach Courtalam.

References

  1. doi:10.1558/rosa.v8i2.197
    – via www.academia.edu.
  2. ^ "Tamil Nadu Destinations Kutralam Waterfalls". Tamilnadu.com. 18 February 2013.
  3. ISBN 9788184950243
    .
  4. ^ a b "Sri Papansanathar temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  5. ISBN 978-81-8094-432-1
    .
  6. ^ V., Meena. Temples in South India. Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 9.

http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=109

External links

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