The temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of
Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 37th Shiva temple on the southern bank of
Cauveri praised in Thevaram hymns.
One Rudrasanma was proceeding to Kasi for salvation. Lord Shiva wanted to make him understand that
this place itself was equal to Kasi. He
called Gundodhara to stop his journey taking the form of a serpent. When Gundodhara intercepted his journey as a
snake, Rudrasanma chanted the Garuda mantra. The snake fell down fainted. Lord
Shiva came their as a snake charmer. Rudrasanma understood who the charmer was. He fell at Lords feet. Lord told the devotee that his wish could be
realized from this place itself.
Only those chanting the name of Lord Uthavedeeswarar are
learned. As Lord Shivas marriage took
place here, any obstacle in wedding proposals would vanish if the devotee prays
here. Agni the God of Fire had a
grievance. Whatever he touched was
destroyed. He prayed to Lord and became
a useful energy to people.
Mother Parvathi fell in love with Lord and was determined to
have His hand. To realize Her aim, She
did not make parents her enemies. She
persuaded Lord Shiva to meet Her parents and seek their consent. Lord, an abode of all noble traits, did
so. They were happily married with the
consent of parents. This is a lesson
for modern lovers to follow without antagonizing parents of both sides.
Sage Bharatha desired to have Mother Parvathi his daughter
and performed intense penance. Lord made
Her born to the sage from a Fire Pit Homa Gunda. She grew and attained the marriageable age.
As Her sole desire was to have Lord Shiva Her own Lord, she
performed penance on the banks of Cauvery by making a Linga with sand. She also found a Shivalinga there and was
happy that Lord Shiva responded Her prayer. Lord appeared from the Linga and took Parvathi by hand. Mother requested the Lord to take Her with
the consent of Her parents. Lord too was
happy at the suggestion.
After a while, Lord sent Nandhi to Parvathys parents
according to the custom. They were very
happy at the offer. The day too was
fixed for the wedding. Lord came to this
place on His Nandhi the bull vehicle accompanied by the Uddhala tree to give
shadow on the way. Lord came to
Kuthalam, had mothers hand in marriage. Remembering the event, Lord Shiva left His sandals (padukas) and the
tree.
Moolavar: Ukthavedeeswarar,
Vedhasuwarar, Sonnavaararivaar
Pathigam: Tirunaavukarasar, Sambandar
Amman / Thayar: Arumbanna
Vanamulai Nayaki, Mughizhaambikai
Thala Virutcham: Uddhala
tree
Theertham: Padma,
Sundara and Cauveri theerthams
Agamam / Pooja: Kameekam
Old year: 1000-2000
years old
Historical Name: Tiruthuruthi
This sivasthalam temple is located at Kutthalam,9 Kms from Mayiladuturai towards Kumbakonam. The temple is about 1 Km. from
Kutthaalam bus stop. Tiruvelvikkudi, Tiruedirkolpaadi and Tirumananjeri are
other paadal petra sivasthalams in the vicinity of Kutthalam. By engaging an
auto at Kuththalam, one can visit all the 4 temples viz., Tiruthuruthi,
Tiruvelvikudi, Tiruedhirkolpadi and Tirumananjeri easily within half a day.
The place where Parvati grew to adulthood as Bharatha Maharshis
daughter is within the town of Kuttalam. Kuttalam itself has a number of
temples, and this one is known as the Ukthavedeeswarar temple. Very few people
know of the name Thiruthurutthi, which is the ancient name of the
place. The main deities in this temple are Ukthavedeeswarar and Parimala
Sugandha Nayaki.
It is believed that Shiva arrived here for the marriage and the
couple also departed from this place. The sthala vriksham here is the Kuttalam
tree, which is believed to have been brought from Kailas when Shiva arrived for
the wedding. Under the tree is a pair of Padukas, believed to be those of
Shiva, which he left behind when he left his father in laws place with his
wife.
This is a beautiful temple, with exquisite work on the gopurams.
While one fade of the gopuram depicted the child Parvati with her foster parents the rishi and his wife, another depicted the marriage, while another showed
various forms of Dakshinamoorthy. There was also one of Parvati praying to a
lingam.
Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthi in the temple. As a token of
His wedding event in this place, Lord Shiva had left His Sandals (Padukas) and
the Uddhala tree that accompanied Him from Mount Kailas to offer Him shadow on
the way. The devotee can have the darshan of the Padukas in the temple.
Maha Shivrathri in (February-March)
Panguni Uthiram in
(March-April)
Mondays of Karthikai (November-December) are the festival days of
the temple.
Those facing obstacles in wedding proposals pray in the
temple.
Realizing their wishes, devotees perform abishek to Lord and
Mother and offer vastras.
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from
5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Sri Arumbanna Vanamulai Nayaki- Uthavedeeswarar Temple,
Kuthalam (Tiruthuruthi), Nagapattinam district. Contact Number - +91 4364235 225, 94878 83800.
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.