Rudrakoteeswarar Thirukazhukundram

Rudrakoteeswarar Thirukazhukundram

Saivite Temples, Thirukazhukundram Taluk

God

Rudrakoteeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Rudrani (Also called Abirami Nayaki), facing south

Other Deities

Sanctum niches – Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Durga. Inner Prakaram – Veda Vinayakar, Veda Murugar, Naalvar, Vinayaka, Sivalingam, Muruga with consorts, Bhairava, Surya, Chandran, Navagraha

Rudrakoteeswarar Thirukazhukundram is a large east facing temple with a 5 tiered Rajagopuram at the east. There is a temple tank to the north east just outside the Rajagopuram. After entering through the Rajagopuram you come to the outer Prakaram with a small garden. A high wall separates the outer and inner Prakarams. Nandikeswara is seen with his wife here as a carving. The inner Prakaram is entered through a Mahamantapa and an Ardhamantapa. Two large Dwarapalakas are on either side of the Sanctum Sanctorum’s entrance.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Rudrakoti Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Maha Vilwam (Aegle marmelos), with 9 leaves in each stalk

History

Rudrakoteeswarar Thirukazhukundram dates back to the 2nd Century CE and is older than the other two temples here.

Legend

Lord Shiva deputed 1 Crore Rudras from his body to kill the evil beings that emanated from the churning of the ocean for Amrut. They after performing their duty asked for salvation from killing so many beings and Lord Shiva advised them to come here and seek relief at Rudrakoteeswarar Thirukazhukundram. The Lord appeared to each one of them as a Lingam and they performed ablutions and worshiped.  Rudra is the chief amongst the Five elements, representing Fire. While Kasi, Chidambaram, Thiruvarur, Annamalai, Kancheepuram and Kalahasti are Lord Shiva’s body parts, Rudrakoteeswarar Thirukazhukundram is considered his Heart.

Directions

Rudrakoteeswarar Thirukazhukundram is 300 meters south of the Sangu Theertham Tank in Thirukazhukundram. Refer our map for exact location

Stay and Food

None locally except tea and snack shops. A couple of small restaurants are available around the eastern gopuram of Baktawatsaleswarar Temple and one just below the climb to the hill temple.

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