Kulithalai Kadambavaneswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Kulithalai Karur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Kadambavaneswarar. His consort is Mutrila Mulaiammai. It is considered very auspicious to visit three Shivasthalams (Kadambar Kovil in the morning, Tiruvaatpokki (Ratnagiri) at noon and Tiruveengoimalai in the evening) on Mondays during the Tamil month of Karthigai. Kulithalai is 35 km far from Karur. The temple is too near the bus stand.
Temple`s Speciality:
Lord Shiva graces in the temple as a Swayambu Linga facing north. Seven Virgins (Saptha Kannikas) are worshipping Him from behind.
Significance:
It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. One of the Nayanmar Thirunavukarasar sung many hymns in praise of this temple.
General Information:
The temple graced by Lord Anugnai Vinayaka has its Vimana – tower above the sanctum sanctorum – is of Tridala design. The Rajagopuram has five tiers. Lord Shiva is facing north while Lord Dakshinamurthy on the Koshta (wall around the sanctum) is facing south. Lord Chandikeswara is facing west against traditional south and Lord Brahamma east against north.
Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai are above the Navagrahas - the nine planets to facilitate worshipping of those affected by Mars planet adverse aspects. Lord Muruga is the deity of Planet Mars. There is also a separate shrine for Sani Bhagwan – Saturn.
Greatness of Temple:
Saptha Kannikas, the Seven Virgins prayed to Lord Shiva to protect them from the sins caused by killing demon Doomralochana. Lord Shiva is believed to be their security in this place. He also destroyed the demon. Devotees consider Mother Chamundi here as Mother Durga. Hence, there is no special shrine for Mother Durga. Worships to Mother Durga are offered in Shiva shrine itself. Pujas during Rahukala time are performed to Lord Shiva and Mother Durga simultaneously.
Lord Shiva graces as Vamadeva Swayambu (facing north). Cauvery flows in front of the temple. Remembering the occasion of Lord Shiva granting darshan to the Saptha Kannikas, Lord visits Cauvery with Mother Ambica. Also Lords of 7 Shiva temples around the place visit Cauvery the same day, same time. It is a rare opportunity for the devotees to worship 8 Lord Shiva’s simultaneously.
The first part of Aipasi Tula Snanam (bathing in Cauvery in October-November is followed devotionally here with Kalai Kadambar (morning) Sokkar (midday) and Eengoinathar (evening) worships. Morning worship is considered very beneficial with multiple profits including the one of worshipping the Lord in Kasi in north. The place also has the reputation of being called Dhakshina Kasi – Kasi of South.
Mother Muttrila Mulai Ammai graces from a shrine facing east. Paramanathar is the guardian deity of this shrine with his hand on the forehead in a saluting form. People perform abishek to Paramanathar with honey and offer porridge made of Pasi corn, praying him to be a guardian of their houses too.
Lord Muruga worshipped Lord Shiva here for washing off the sin caused by killing of demon Surapadma. He graces from a shrine in the prakara with His consorts Valli and Deivanai with his six faces, described by Saint Arunagiriar as Lord of six military camps attributed to him. Lord Lingodbhava is on the Sanctum Koshta-wall around the shrine.
There are two Natarajas with Muyalagan under one and one without. Crescent moon shines on the head.
Temple History:
Devas of the celestial world had appealed to Mother Ambica to protect them from the atrocities of Demon Doomralochana. Mother took the form of Durga and fought with the demon. As his boons were very strong, he fought with equal might with Mother. Mother began to feel weak.
Lord Shiva deputed Saptha Kannikas to fight him. The demon could not stand their force and hid himself in the hermitage of Maharshi Kathyayana.
The virgins mistook the Rishi as the demon and eliminated him and thus incurred Brahmmahathi dosha – a sin that would make the sinner dark with a gruesome face. As advised by Ambica, they performed penance on Lord Shiva and got relieved of the sin when Lord granted them darshan from the Kadamba tree.
The temple graced by Lord Anugnai Vinayaka has its Vimana – tower above the sanctum sanctorum – is of Tridala design. The Rajagopuram has five tiers. Lord Shiva is facing north while Lord Dakshinamurthy on the Koshta (wall around the sanctum) is facing south.
Lord Chandikeswara is facing west against traditional south and Lord Brahamma east against north.
Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai are above the Navagrahas - the nine planets to facilitate worshipping of those affected by Mars planet adverse aspects.
Lord Muruga is the deity of Planet Mars. There is also a separate shrine for Sani Bhagwan-Saturn.
Singers:
The shrine is praised in the hymns of Saints Thirunavukarasar and Arunagiriar. Saint Thirunavukarasar advises his own heart to remember the Lord of Kadamba Vanam where he appears with his blue scar in the neck – Neelakanda – as the very Four Vedas and its six Angas and worshipped by those in the celestial world. This Temple is the 119th Devaram Paadal Petra Sthalam and 2nd Sthalam on the southern bank of Cauvery in Chozha Naadu.
Prayers:
Women believe that Lord Shiva would be their constant protector and submit all their grievances at his feet.
Pooja Timings:
Temple opening Time:
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
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