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The Lord of the temple is praised in the hymns of Saint Tirunavukkarasarar. This is the 13thShiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in hymns.

Entering the temple, a vast prakara welcomes the devotee. Southeast of this prakara is the Shrine of Mother Ambica facing east. She is praised Oppilambikai and Annapoorani. As Lord Shiva Chottruthurai Nathar is pouring endless wealth on His devotees, He worshipped as Tholaya Selvar.  Mother Annapoorani is half of Shiva taking all care of Her devotees.  Poverty and ailments vanish from those who place themselves at Her feet.

Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga are on the two sides of Rajagopuram. Next is the large Mandap with Lord Nataraja Sabha, leading directly to the sanctum sanctorum. Lord Arumughas shrine is on the south prakara facing east and shrine of Lord Mahavishnu facing east followed by a sculpture depicting Sage Gautama worshipping the Lord. Proceeding further after worshipping Adhikara Nandhi we have the darshan of Tholaya Selvar Chottruthurai Nathar.

As the very name of the Lord Chottruthurai Nathar suggests, Lord not only offers adequate food to His devotees but it also means that He ensures total salvation to the souls. The place, Tiru Chottru Thurai is one among the seven places where Lord fed His devotees.  This is the third among the Ezhur seven places beginning from Tiruvaiyaru, Tirupazhanam. Saints Ramalinga Vallalar and Arunagiriar had praised this temple in their hymns.  Lords Brahmma and Vishnu, Sage Gautama, Sun God and Indira worshipped Lord in this temple. Indira got a highest position. Sage Gautama attained salvation.

The wedding festival of Nandhi Bahagwan and Suyam Prakasai daughter of Sage Vyakrapada is celebrated on the Punarvasu star day in the month of Panguni (March-April).

Brahmmotsavam is celebrated for Lord Aiarappar in Chithirai (April-May).  On the final day of the festival, Nandideva Suyam Prakasai and Aiyarappar Aramvalartha Nayaki begin their festival journey in separate palanquins from Tiruvaiyaru at about 6.00 a.m. and reach Tirupazhanam where they are received by Lord Aabathsahayar and Mother Periyanayaki. They join the group and proceed to Tiruchottruthurai. They are received at the border by Lord Chottruthurai Nathar and Mother Annapoorani. Feeding takes place here. The procession continues towards Tiruvedikudi.

Once, a severe famine struck the place. A Shiva devotee, Arulalan by name, men, women and children were suffering from starvation. Arulalan cried to Lord that He should come to rescue the people to save them from starvation deaths. The priest stopped coming to the temple long back. A temple staff coming to light a lamp in the evening also fell down due to hunger. The temple was dark. Arulalar, sitting in the dark temple wept and dashed against the entrance steps and cried for help. It suddenly began to rain incessantly and the whole place was inundated with flood water.

A bowl came floating in floods. Arulalar picked it up. He heard a voice saying that it was a Akshaya Patra which will never go dry and would be feeding the people to quench their hunger. Rice, dal, ghee and curry poured from the divine bowl. Peoples joy knew no bounds.  

Moolavar: Odhavaneswarar, Chottru Thurai Nather, Tholaya Selva Nathar

Amman / Thayar: Annapoorani, Tholayaselvi

Thala Virutcham:Vilwa

Theertham:
Cauvery, Suryatheertham

Pathigam:
Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar

Old year:
1000-2000 years old

Historical Name:
Tiru Chottru Thurai

This temple is located 4 Kms from TiruKandiyur at Tiruchottruthurai and is about 13 Kmsfrom Thanjavur. Town bus facilities are available from Tiruvaiyaru. Another paadal petra sivasthalam Tiruvedhikudi is located 3 Kms to the south from Tiruchottruthurai. Tholaiyaselvanathar Temple is a Shivasthala located at Tiruchotruthurai, Thanjavur District, 2.5 km from Tirukkandiyur.

The deities are Othavaneswarar and Annapoorneswari. According to the legend, it was here that the food for the marriage of Nandi was prepared by Arularar and his wife. The Lord presented them with an Akshaya patram for this purpose, and this story is immortalized in the temple with images of Arularar and his wife holding the Akshaya patram outside the main sanctum of the deity.

This is quite a large and well maintained temple, and in the outer pragaram are groups of lingams, replicas of those in the Saptha Sthaanam temples, Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, etc. Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy.

Maha Shivrathri is very devotionally celebrated in the temple in (February-March).

Those facing delays in wedding pray to Nandhi Wedding festival celebrated in Chithirai (April-May) for removal of obstacles in their case.

Devotees offer vastras to Lord and Mother and contribute for the temple renovation projects.

The temple is open from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. only.

Sri Chottru Thurai Nathar Temple, Tiruchottruthurai Post-613 202. Via Kandiyur, Tiruvaiyaru Taluk, Thanjavur district. Contact Number +919943884377. 
Do:
  • Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
  • Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
  • Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
  • Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
  • Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

  • Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
  • Do not smoke at Temple.
  • Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
  • Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
  • Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
  • Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
  • Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
  • Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
  • Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
  • Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
  • Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
  • Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.