Thirukutralam

Thirukutralam

Thirukutralam Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Other names	Kutralanathar Temple
Geography
Coordinates	8°55′45″N 77°16′9″E / 8.92917°N 77.26917°E / 8.92917; 77.26917Coordinates: 8°55′45″N 77°16′9″E / 8.92917°N 77.26917°E / 8.92917; 77.26917
Country	India
State/province	Tamil Nadu
District	Tirunelveli
Culture
Primary deity	Kutralanathar (Shiva)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Kutralam 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.^[1] Kutralam represents one of the 5 Pancha Sabhas of Nataraja - Chitra Sabhai. The five dance halls of Shiva are Chidambaram, Madurai, Tiruvalankadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam. Kutralam is also known as Trikootaachalam.

Mythology

The sage Agastyar, at Shiva's request, proceeded southward to stabilize the balance of the earth, and relieve the instability caused by the multitude of entities at Shiva's and Parvati's wedding in the Himalayas, to wait for a glimpse of the divine couple. There he is said to have created the Shivalingam here by shrinking an image of Vishnu, hence the name Kutralam.

Temple structure

The temple has a conch shaped temple(prakaram(closed precincts of a temple)) plan and is referred to as Sangakkovil. In the shrine, Shiva showed himself as 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.

Poems on this temple

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

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

↑ "Tamil Nadu Destinations Kutralam Waterfalls". Tamilnadu.com. 18 February 2013.

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

External links

Shaivism

History	History of Shaivism

Deities	Shiva (Bhairava * Ishana * Sadyojata * Vamadeva) Devi Durga Kali Parvati Sati Ganesha Kartikeya Nandi Virabhadra

Texts	Shvetashvatara Upanishad Shivarahasya Purana Shiva Purana Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta

Mantra/ Stotra	Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Om Namah Shivaya Shiv Chalisa Shiva mahimna stotram Shri Rudram Chamakam Shiva Sahasranama Shiva Tandava Stotram

Philosophies	Shiva Advaita Pashupata Shaivism Kashmir Shaivism Shaiva Siddhanta Lingayatism

Jyotirlingas	Bhimāśankara Ghuṣmeśvara Kedāranātha Viśveśvara Mallikārjuna Mahākāleśvara Nāgeśvara Omkāreśvara Rāmeśvara Somanātha Tryambakeśvara Vaidyanātha

Temples	Amarnath Brihadeeswarar Kailash Mansarovar Katasraj temple Lingaraj Temple Meenakshi Tirunelveli Pancha Bhoota Stalam Annamalaiyar Ekambareswarar Jambukeswarar Kalahasti Thillai Nataraja Panch Kedar Kedarnath Tungnath Rudranath Madhyamaheshwar Kalpeshwar Pancha Sabhai Ratna Sabai Pon Sabai Velli Sabai Thamira Sabai Chitira Sabai Tiruchengode Thirukutralam Vadakkum Nathan List of Shiva temples in India

Traditions	Kanwar Yatra Lingam Rasalingam Maha Shivaratri Pradosha Shiva Puja Siddha Vibhuti Other names

Category

Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu

Chennai	Ashtalakshmi Kovil Chennakesava Perumal Temple, Chennai Ekambareswarar Temple, Chennai Ettampadai Kalikambal Temple Kapaleeshwarar Temple Madhya Kailash Mallikesvarar Temple, Chennai Marundeeswarar Temple Nandeeswarar Temple Parthasarathy Temple Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Prathyangira Devi Temple, Shollinganallur Ravishwarar Sri Balaji Temple, T. Nagar Tiruvalithayam Vadapalani Andavar Temple Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple Jagannath Temple

Tirunelveli district	Ayikudi Balasubramanya Swami Temple Kulashekharanatha Mahalingam Temple, Pathai Nellaiappar Temple Sankaranayinarkoil Thirukutralam Thirumalai Kovil Vaithya lingam temple Vanniappar Temple

Vellore district	Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Tirukannamangai Engan Murugan Temple Kalyana Varadharaja Perumal Temple Kothandarama Temple, Thillaivilagam Nadutariappar Temple Paampuranathar Temple, Thirupampuram

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, October 05, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.