Thirukkolakka Sri Sapthapureeswarar Temple 15th of 63 on the north bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Chidambaram

Visited on: 23^rd July, 2016 and 5^th November, 2016.

Note: Presently this temple is under renovation and the expected date for Consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) is 5^th July, 2017.

Location

Thirukkolakka is situated on the outskirts of Sirkazhi and is about 1.5 kms away from the Sirkazhi bus stand. It is about 4 kms away from Sirkazhi railway station.

Sirkazhi is on the Chidambaram to Mayiladuthurai route.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams near this place are – Sirkazhi, Thirumullaivasal, Thiruvenkadu, Chayavanam, Poompukar, Mahendrapalli, Thirukkurukavur and Achalpuram.

General Information

Moolavar

Sri Thalapureeswarar, Sri Shabdapureeswarar, Thiru Thalam Udaiyar

Ambal

Sri Osai Nayaki Ambal, Sri Osai Kodutha Nayaki, Sri Thvaniprathambal

Theertham (Holy water)

Surya Theertham, Ananda Theertham

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Kondrai

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar)

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 15^th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This east facing temple has no main tower (Rajagopuram) or dwajasthambam (flag post). But there is an arch at the entrance.
• Saint Thirugnanasambanthar received golden plates (“thalam”) from Lord Shiva here.

History of the Temple

The historical name of this temple is Thirukkolakka. However, it is now known as Thiru Thalam Udayar Koil.

Legend

It is believed that the wedding of Goddess Mahalakshmi with Lord Mahavishnu took place here.

Lord Shiva here is believed to have been worshipped by lords Indira, Suryan and sages Agasthiyar and Kanva Maharishi.

This is the first pilgrimage temple of Saint Thirugnanasambanthar after he received the blessings of Goddess Parvathy at Sirkazhi. He also rendered his first hymn there. It is believed that when Sambanthar was rendering his pathigam (hymn) here and clapping his hands in ecstasy, Lord Shiva noticed that the young child’s hands had gone red from pain. In order to relieve him from the pain, Lord Shiva gave him two golden plates (“Thalam”). Since striking two gold plates does not produce any sound, Goddess Parvathi infused divine energy into them to make them produce musical notes.

Hence, the lord is praised as “Sri Thalapureeswarar” and the Goddess “Sri Osai Kodutha Nayaki”. “Osai” means sound, “Kodutha” means given and “Nayaki” means Goddess in Tamil. The temple’s name “Thiruthalam Udayar Koil” is also derived from this legend.

Deities in the temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of lords Periya Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Somaskanthar, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahalakshmi, Durgai, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar, Saneeswaran, Suryan, Chandran and Bairavar can be seen in the corridors.

Goddess Osai Nayaki graces from a separate temple. Lord Vinayakar and Lord Dandapani can be seen on either side of her shrine.

Salient Features

Procession idol of Lord Natarajar can be seen with Goddess Sivakami and Sambanthar. Sambanthar is holding the two golden plates in his hands which he is believed to have received from the lord here. There is another idol of Sambanthar where he can be seen holding a cup.

In his hymn of this temple - “Nalum innisaiyal… …”, Saint Sundarar mentioned the golden plates that Sambanthar received from the lord.

Greatness of this temple

Lord Shiva gave the plate to the saint but it was Goddess Parvathy who infused it with sound. Those facing speech impairment can visit this temple, place honey at the feet of Goddess Parvathy and consume the honey after performing poojas. It is believed that by doing so, devotees can be cured of their speech problems. Furthermore, when this happens devotees make an offering of gold plates (Thalam) to the lord here.

Interestingly, there is a story that a mute child was able to speak by the grace of Lord Shiva of this temple in the year 1979. His father donated a golden "thalam" which can be seen at this temple. This temple also maintains a list of such miracles and till date there are about 473 recorded incidents.

Important Festivals

In the neighbouring temple at Sirkazhi, the second day of Brahmotsavam - “Thirumulaippal Urchavam” is celebrated in a grand manner for Saint Thirugnanasambanthar. After this event, the procession idol (Utsavamoorthy) of Saint Thirugnanasambanthar is brought to the Thirukkolakka temple. The event where Sambanthar was given the golden thalam is symbolically celebrated on this day. Thereafter, the idol of Sambanthar is taken back to Sirkazhi temple in a palanquin bedecked with flowers (“Poo Pallakku”).

Other important festivals celebrated in this temple are –

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), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan),

Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar).

Pradosham and Karthikai are also observed regularly.

Temple Timings

From 07.30 AM to 11.30 AM and 04.30 PM to 08.00 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Sapthapureeswarar Temple,
Thirukkolakka,
Sirkazhi Post and Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,
Tamil Nadu – 609 110.
Tele: +91 4364 274 175.