Rudrakodisvarar Temple, Thenkodi

Rudrakodisvarar Temple, Thenkodi
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Tiruvarur
Deity	Lord Shiva,
Location
Location	Thenkodi
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture

Rudrakodisvarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located at Thenkodi in Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India. ^{[1] [2]}

Vaippu Sthalam

It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Sambandar. ^[2] The west part of the place is known Panchanathikkulam Mel Setthi, the east part is known as Panchanathikkulam Kil Setthi and the middle part is known as Panchanathikkulam Nadu Setthi. ^[1]

Presiding deity

The presiding deity in the garbhagriha, represented by the lingam , is known as Rudrakodisvarar, Thenkodinathar and Dhanuskodinathar. The Goddess is known as Madurabashini ^[2] and Tiripurasundari. ^[1]

Specialities

As five rivers including Semman Nathi are found nearby, this place is known as Panchanathikulam. Sambandar in his Tevaram praises the deity as "Aroor Thillaiambalam". So many inscriptions are found in this temple. ^[2] This temple is also referred as Kodikkarai temple. It is also said that Thenkodinathar, the presiding deity of the temple was worshipped by Siddhas. It is said that one day Kodi would be taken away by the sea and on that occasion the deity would be kept at Panchanathikkulam and a temple would be built at that place. During Tamil month of Vaikasi, festival is held in the temple. ^[1]

Structure

At the entrance, in the facade Shiva is found sitting on his vahana along with his consort. The temple has prakara. In the prakara shrines of Vinayaka, Subramania, Surya, Bairava, Nadhalinga, Chandra and Saneesvarar. At the right side of the shrine of the presiding deity, the shrine of the goddess is found. Nataraja shrine is found without the deity. The processional deities belonging to this temple is kept in Tiruvarur. In the kosta, only Dakshinamurti sculpture is found. In 1970 Kumbabishegam was done to this temple. ^[1]

Location

The temple is located at Panchanathikulam east. This place can be reached from Thiruthuraipoondi via Maruthur Irattaikkadiyadi. ^[2]

References

1. பு.மா.ஜெயசெந்தில்நாதன், தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், வர்த்தமானன் பதிப்பகம், சென்னை, 2009
2. மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, தென்கோடி - (பஞ்சநதிக