Thirukudavayil Koneswarar

The shrine is praised in the hymns of Saint Tirugnana Sambandar.  This is the 94th Shiva Temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in hymns .

Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthy in this Mada temple. Rays of Sun fall on the Lord for three days during Panguni month-March-April

Sri Koneswarar Temple, Kudavasal-612 601, Tiruvarur Dist.

Vinayaka of the temple is worshipped as Siddhi Vinayaka.  The Amrutha Theertham-sacred spring is outside opposite the temple.  On the bank of theertha is Sri Vinayaka in the name of Aadhi Gajanathar.  The structure is such that the Vimana of Aadhi Gajanathar is visible from the Lord’s shrine within the temple.  On the Masi Magam day, five deities-Panchamurthys, Lord Koneswarar, Mother Perianayaki, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga and Lord Chandikeswara visit the Amrutha Theertha for Theerthavari festival.

Lord Muruga as Gunavayil Kumaran graces from a shrine in the prakara praised by Saint Arunagiriar in his Tirupugazh hymns.  There is a shrine for Idumban too.  There are two Bhairavas, one without the dog vahan.  Sun and Moon grace the devotees in sitting and standing form respectively.   Those who had failed to perform the rituals for their ancestors pray to Sun and Moon seeking pardon.  Sage Soodha before Lord Shiva appears worshipping the Lord.  There are also shrines for four Saivite Saints, Sundarar (one among the four saints) with Paravai Nachiar, Mother Saraswathi without Her Veena Mother Gajalakshmi and Saptha Madhas

Lord Shiva, as a swayambumurthy is facing west from a square stage-Chatura peeta.  The scar caused by the sharp nose of Garuda the eagle is visible on the Linga.  Mother Perianayaki with all the attributes of Mother Durga graces the devotees from a separate shrine facing south.  She is worshipped as Bruhath (big) Durgambika.  There is no Durga in the Shiva goshta wall.  The temple was renovated by Kochengat Chola.  Saint Tirugnana Sambandar had mentioned this temple in his hymn as Ezhilkola Mada koil – beautiful mada temple.  As Lord Shiva granted his darshan from a high level place, it is praised as mini Kailash. 

Koneswarar, Soodha Maharshi, Sage Brughu and Thalappiar had worshipped Shiva here. The Lord is named Koneswarar as He loves (Ko) beings – Easwara-Lord.  As the mouth piece of Nectar pot (kudam) fell here, the place is called Kudavasal.  Lord is known also as Amudha Lingeswarar and Vanmeekanathar as He was in an Ant-hill-Vanmeekam.  Lord Kasi Viswanatha graces opposite the entrance.  The rays of Sun fall on the Lord for three days during March-April.

There are varieties of Vinayakas in the temple, Aadhi Gajanathar on the bank of Amudha Theertham, Anumadhi Vinayaka permitting devotees to proceed to main shrine, Maalai Vazhipattu Vinayaka-Vinayaka for evening worship to whom the first puja in the evening is dedicated and also a shrine for Twin Vinayakas

During the Great Floods-Pralaya, Lord Brahmma placed the Vedas in a nectar pot which too was washed by the floods and came to south.  To create the world again, Lord Shiva shot on the pot in the guise of a hunter.  The pieces fell at different places where Lord appeared as Swayambu Linga.  The mouth part of the pot fell at this place where too Lord appeared as a Swayambumurthy.  This was later covered by an ant-hill.  Vinatha, mother of Garuda was the slave of one Kathru.  Garuda wanted to rescue his mother from the bonds.  He flew to Devaloka and brought the nectar pot.  While returning, a demon tried to snatch the pot from Garuda.  He placed the pot on an ant-hill nearby and fought with the demon and defeated him.  When he came to take the pot, it was hidden in the ant-hill.  He tore the hill with his sharp nose and found a Shiva Linga there.  Lord granted darshan to him.  Garuda narrated the plight of his mother.  Lord rescued Vinatha from the bondage and made her free.  Garuda, as token of his gratefulness to Lord Shiva, built this temple.

  Moolavar : Koneswarar

  Amman / Thayar :  Perianayaki

  Thala Virutcham :  Plantain tree

  Theertham : Amirtha Theertham

  Agamam / Pooja : Karana Agama

  Old year : 1000-2000 years old

  Historical Name : Tirukudavayil

  City : Kudavasal

  District : Tiruvarur

  State :  Tamil Nadu

Thirumurai 2.22 திருக்குடவாயில்

1. திகழுந் திருமா லொடுநான் முகனும்

புகழும் பெருமான் அடியார் புகல

மகிழும் பெருமான் குடவாயின் மன்னி

நிகழும் பெருங்கோ யில்நிலா யவனே.

2. ஓடுந் நதியும் மதியோ டுரகம்

சூடுஞ் சடையன் விடைதொல் கொடிமேல்

கூடுங் குழகன் குடவா யில்தனில்

நீடும் பெருங்கோ யில்நிலா யவனே.

3. கலையான் மறையான் கனலேந் துகையான்

மலையா ளவள்பா கம்மகிழ்ந்த பிரான்

கொலையார் சிலையான் குடவா யில்தனில்

நிலையார் பெருங்கோ யில்நிலா யவனே.

4. சுலவுஞ் சடையான் சுடுகா டிடமா

நலமென் முலையாள் நகைசெய் யநடம்

குலவுங் குழகன் குடவா யில்தனில்

நிலவும் பெருங்கோ யில்நிலா யவனே.

5. என்றன் உளமே வியிருந் தபிரான்

கன்றன் மணிபோல் மிடறன் கயிலைக்

குன்றன் குழகன் குடவா யில்தனில்

நின்ற பெருங்கோ யில்நிலா யவனே.

6. அலைசேர் புனலன் அனலன் அமலன்

தலைசேர் பலியன் சதுரன் விதிரும்

கொலைசேர் படையன் குடவா யில்தனில்

நிலைசேர் பெருங்கோ யில்நிலா யவனே.

7. அறையார் கழலன் அழலன் இயலின்

பறையாழ் முழவும் மறைபா டநடம்

குறையா அழகன் குடவா யில்தனில்

நிறையார் பெருங்கோ யில்நிலா யவனே.

8. வரையார் திரள்தோள் அரக்கன் மடியவ்

வரையா ரவொர்கால் விரல்வைத் தபிரான்

வரையார் மதில்சூழ் குடவா யில்மன்னும்

வரையார் பெருங்கோ யில்மகிழ்ந் தவனே.

9. பொன்னொப் பவனும் புயலொப் பவனும்

தன்னொப் பறியாத் தழலாய் நிமிர்ந்தான்

கொன்னற் படையான் குடவா யில்தனில்

மன்னும் பெருங்கோ யில்மகிழ்ந் தவனே.

10. வெயிலின் நிலையார் விரிபோர் வையினார்

பயிலும் முரையே பகர்பா விகள்பால்

குயிலன் குழகன் குடவா யில்தனில்

உயரும் பெருங்கோ யிலுயர்ந் தவனே.

11. கடுவாய் மலிநீர் குடவா யில்தனில்

நெடுமா பெருங்கோ யில்நிலா யவனைத்

தடமார் புகலித் தமிழார் விரகன்

வடவார் தமிழ்வல் லவர்நல் லவரே

the god whom eminent Tirumāl and Nāṉmukaṉ (Piramaṉ) praise.

the god who rejoiced when his devotees praise him with desire.

is being permanent in the big temple which is famous being fixed in Kuṭavāyil.

Civaṉ wears on his Catai a flowing river, a crescent and a cobra.

the youth who has a suitable bull drawn on his ancient flag.

is the god who is permanent in the big temple which has been in existence since a long time in Kuṭavāyil.

Civaṉ holds a young stag in his hand.

gave out the vētams holds fire in his hand.

is the chief who felt happy in having as a half the daughter of the King of mountains.

has a bow with which he can kill enemies.

who is permanent in the permanent big temple in Kuṭavāyil.

Civaṉ has a catai moving round having the cremation ground as the stage Umai who has beautiful and soft breasts to feel joy.

the youth who pratises dance is Civaṉ who stayed in the big temple which is permanent in Kuṭavāyil.

the master who is seated with desire in my mind.

who holds a young deer has a neck like the sapphire has as his abode the mountain of Kayilai the youth.

is Civaṉ who is permanent in the big temple that has been in existence since a long time in Kuṭavāyil.

Civaṉ has the water (of Kaṅkai) which has waves.

holds fire in his hand.

has no spiritual impurities.

collects alms in the skull.

able god.

has a trident which is capable of killing and which he brandishes.

is permanent in the big temple which has been in existence since a very long time in Kuṭavāyil.

Civaṉ wears a Kaḻal which makes a sound.

holds fire in the hand [[has the form of fire is another meaning.

]] who is exceedingly beautiful and dances when vētams are sung to the accompaniment of the drum according to the definition of music, yāl, and muḻavu.

dwells permanently in the big temple which has all beautiful things in full, in Kuṭavāyil.

the master who placed a single toe make him as a burden to the mountain, to destroy the arakkaṉ who had round shoulders strong as mountain is the god who felt joy in dwelling in the big temple which is like a mountain and which is permanent in Kuṭavāyil which has fortified walls as strong as the mountain.

Piramaṉ who is like gold and Māl who is in colour like the sable cloud.

Civaṉ rose high as a column of fire which has no comparison so that they both could not see him.

who has a good weapon which has the fine workmanship of the blacksmith, felt joy in dwelling in the big temple which is permanent in Kuṭavāyil,

the youth who is not influenced by the sinners who are amaṇar who torture their bodies standing in the sun and buddhists who cover their bodies with a large blanket and who repeat their doctrines very often.

is the great god in the tall and big temple in Kuṭavāyil.

on Civaṉ who is permanent in the tall great and big temple in Kuṭavāyil which has plenty of water in Kaṭuvāy [[Kaṭuvāy is a branch of the Kāviri;

there is another shrine on the bank of this river;

and known by its location as Kaṭuvāykkaraipputtūr, which has been sung by nāvukkaracar.

]] those who are capable of reciting the garland of tamiḻ verses done by the expert in Tamiḻ who is a native of pukali which has many tanks, are really good people.