167. KAMARASAVALLI

KARAKODAGAESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 

Shiva: Karkodagaeswarar

Amman: Balambigai

Theertham: Sundara Theertham

Speciality:

During the Chola period this place was known as Chadhurvedhimangalam as Cholas gave this village as donations to the Brahmins. Brahmins conducted Vedha Parayana and a Sat Sanga was established.

Sukran Eri is on the back side of the temple.

This temple was built by Sundhara Chola, the Grand father of Raja Raja Chola, in the Year 962 CE. He was also called as Raja Kesari Varman.

Later in 1260CE the temple was renovated by Nayakkars.

Contributions were made by Pandyas and Hoysalas also.

Shiva is called as Thirunalloor Mahadevar in the 10th Century.

The basement of this temple is built of Granite stone.

The other structure of the temple is built of bricks.

Apart from the normal 5 deities in the Koshtas there are idols of Nataraja, Agasthya and Kalasamhara Murthy made of stone.

The Bhairavar of this temple is without dog and Jwala Kesa. 

The Natarajar, Sivakami Sannidhi is west facing.

The fine workmanship is seen in all the idols of the temple.

The other names of the place are Thirunallur, Chadhurvedhimangalam, Kamaradhivalli.

Kamaradhivalli which has been later changed to Kamarasavalli.

There is a carving of Karkodagan worshipping Shiva in the temple.

There are inscriptions and carvings on the pillars.

Shiva faces east and Amman faces south.

The Snake King Karkodagan performed penance to save his life in this place.

Shiva was earlier called as Soundharaeswarar.

The famous Nanu Iyer who was the disciple of Saint Thyagaraja, the carnatic music composer, belongs to Kamarasavalli. He has performed concerts in front of the temple.

This temple relieves all types of Sarpa Dhosha.

Ideal for people of Kadaga Rasi to visit this temple.

Inscriptions:

There are 45 inscriptions in the temple.

The inscriptions of the period of Rajaraja Chola I mentions about the gift of 16 Kalanju of Gold in the northern wall of the main shrine.

There are inscriptions of Rajendra Chola I also.

The inscriptions state that Sundhara Chola, Uttama Chola, Raja Raja Chola I, Rajendhra Chola I, Vikkrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola I, Kulothunga Chola II, and Kulothunga Chola III have contributed to the temple.

This temple has attained a lot of contributions and this has been specified in the history of the Chola Dynasty.

There are inscriptions about the Koothu conducted during the Thiruvathirai function and about the Vedha Parayana regularly conducted in the temple.

There is another inscription about the Judgement given by the Hoysala King Veerasomeswaran about a case in the village.

Another inscription refers that there was a mutt called Thirugnasammandhar Mutt and a Nandhavam called Pitchadhevan Nandhavanam. This Nandhavanam was used for making garlands and flower Malas for the temple.

Rathi and Kamarasavalli:

After Shiva burnt Kaman with his Third Eye his wife Rathi Devi ran to Shiva and pleaded to give back her husband. Shiva Stated that Manmadhan misused his abilities and powers in a wrong way and therefore his punishment could not be reversed. Rathi was advised to go to an Auspicious place and perform penance to achieve her wish.  Rathi Devi bathed in Kollidam river which is considered equal to River Ganga in the Village Nandhiyavoor and she worshipped the Kasi Viswanadhar temple there. After a long penance Lord Shiva heeded to her request and blessed her that Manmadhan would be visible only to Rathi's eyes. As Manmadhan was burnt births reduced as men and women were not attracted to one another. Rathi was happy and she thanked Lord Shiva for his mercy. Rathi went back to the Kamaloka with her husband. Since Rathi obtained this boon here this place was called 'Rathi Vara Puram'. 

The near by places whose stories are connected with this temple are Mathur Kailasa Vinayaka and Pazhayarai Vedhapureeswarar temple.

Here there is a temple pond called Sundara Theertham in front of the temple in which Rathi is said to have had a dip in the waters.

There is a 3.5ft statue of Rathi here.

Festival:

The Kamadhagana Utsavam which is a very important festival of this temple is celebrated in the month of Masi.

Every Masi full moon day the Kaman festival called Kaman Pandigai is celebrated here.

History:

Once Parikshith, the Grandson of Arjuna of the Pandavas, went for hunting in the forest. A Sage was performing Penance here. He disturbed him by Garlanding the Sage with a dead snake. The Sage grew furious. The Angry sage cursed Parikshith that he would be bitten by a Snake within the next 7 days and would die. Parikshith then came to know about the intensity of the curse from the other Sages. The 7th day he was bit by a Snake called Karkodagan, who was the King of the snake world and one of the Ashta Nagas. Parikshith son Janamajeyan heard about the death of his father by Snake bite. He grew angry. He conducted a Yaga in a very grand Manner with the aim of killing all the snakes belonging to the snake world in the Agni of the Yaaga. All the Snakes in the Boologa and Arava Loga were forced to come here by the Power of the yaga. They fell into the Agni that arose from the Yaaga Kundam one by one and got burnt. The Snake king Karkodagan came to a conclusion that all the remaining Snakes including him would also be killed in the fire in this manner. To save his life and the life of rest of the snakes he sought the help of Lord Vishnu and asked him to help him at this situation. Lord Vishnu directed him to this temple saying that only Soundharaeswarar could save all the snakes. Vishnu asked him to reach this place with his family and stay here and worship Shiva to get a Solution to his problem. Vishnu also told Karkodagan the way to reach this temple. Karkodagan came here with his family and worshipped Shiva and pleaded Lord Shiva to save him and the other snakes. Shiva appeared in front of him and blessed him that no harm would affect him and the snakes of the snake world. He gave a boon that all the snakes which were burnt would come alive and reach the Naga Loga safely. He also ordered Karkodaga that no snake should harm the people who come to worship him in Kamarasavalli all through their lifetime and also not to harm any one in the village.Since Karkodagan worshipped Shiva here Shiva was called as Karkodagaeswarar from then onwards. Till now nobody in the village have died due to snake bite.

All ill effects and Nagadhosha in the horoscopes of people who worshipped Shiva of this temple would be removed.