Thirukoteeswarar Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The temple is in Thirukodikaval, a remote village seven km north-east of Aduthurai, on the banks of the Cauvery.

Why devotees come here

Thirukoteeswarar Temple stands in the village of Thirukodikaval, on the northern bank of the Cauvery in Thanjavur district. It is dedicated to Shiva. The Saivite saints Appar and Sambandar sang its praises, and it is one of the Thevara Padal Petra Sthalam.

Legend says the temple is linked with the penance of Saniswarar, and with a visit by Yama and Chitragupta. The Saivite saints Appar and Sambandar sang its praises. The temple is one of the Thevara Padal Petra Sthalam.

The earliest inscriptions date from 750 AD, from the reign of the Pallava king Nandivarman. The present structure is believed to have been built in 979 by Sembiyan Mahadevi, mother of Uttama Chola. She rebuilt an earlier brick structure in granite. Inside the complex are shrines to Vinayaga, Muruga, Gajalakshmi, Surya, Chandra, Yama, Chitragupta and Nataraja, along with Saptha Kanniyar, Bhairavar, Bala Sani and Durvasa.

The temple is counted among those built on the northern banks of the River Kaveri. Festivals were once celebrated here in a grand manner, including the Maha Utsavam in Maasi and the Vasantotsavam in Vaikasi. The Brahmotsavam stopped for over a century before it was revived.

Festivals

• Revived after a long haltBrahmotsavam

  It stopped for over a century before it was revived. On its concluding day, Shiva and his consort gave darshan on separate Rishabha vahanams.

• Maasi monthMaha Utsavam

  Once celebrated grandly at the temple.

• Vaikasi monthVasantotsavam

  Once celebrated grandly at the temple.

Tips for your visit

• Thiruvalankadu lies two km south of the village, so it can help you find the way.
• The complex has separate shrines for many deities, so allow plenty of time to see them all.

Questions people ask