SREE VILVARANYESWARAR THIRUKOLLAMPUTHUR NEAR KORADACHERI

SREE VILVARANYESWARAR THIRUKOLLAMPUTHUR NEAR KORADACHERI
(ஸ்ரீசௌந்தரநாயகி உடனுறை ஸ்ரீவில்வாரண்யேஸ்வரர், திருக்களம்பூர்)

Thirukollampudur also known as Thirukalambur is 6 kms North of Koradacheri.
Koradacheri is  around 20 kms from Thiruvarur towards West and is about 46 kms east of Thanjavur.    It can also be approached from Kudavasal, which is 6 kms from here.  Koradacheri has a railway station by that name and all passenger trains from Nagore/Karaikal to Thanjavur and Trichy stop at this station.   Koradacheri also has a bus stand, a small distance away from the highway connecting Thiruvarur and Thanjavur.  Local buses from Thiruvarur stop in the Bus stand and there are Mini Buses connecting other villages nearby.  The express buses stop in the Main Road, the highway.   It is wiser to get an auto which is available in plenty in the local bus stand for going around various temples near Koradacheri.  As the Autodrivers knew exactly where the temples are and also are useful, in case the temple is closed and has to be opened.  This is because, the Archakas have been nominated more than one temple and they move from one to the other.   Many of these temples around Koradacheri can be best seen from 9 am than early morning.

                                                   Sree Vilvaranyeswarar

Sree Soundaranayaki

The place is on the banks of River Vettaru and also has other names such as Brahma Vanam, Kandeepa Vanam and Panchakrapuram.   The place is on the southern side of River Cauvery.  This is one of the Thevara Hymns Sthalam.  The entrance gopuram is 5 tiered.  Opposite to the temple is the temple tank Brahma Theertham.   The temple has two prakarams. Even at the entrance there vinayagars on either side of the entrance arch.   On the entrance to the 72 feet high, 5-tiered inner gopuram, Poyya Vinayagar on the southern side and Dhandapani on northern sdie are on the Gopuram walls.  On the inner prahbefore one enters for the darshan of main deity, on the right is Soundaranayaki facing South, which is a tall vigraha. Vilvaranyeswarar is a Swayambhu Lingam facing east                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         On the outer walls of the sanctum is Vinayagar and Dakshinamurthy on the Southern side.  In Kanni moolai that is southwest, a smallm beautiful Valampuri vinayagar blesses the devotees. Next is the somaskandar on the western side, followed by Gajamuththeeswarar, Panchalingam and the valli devayanai sametha Subramanyar followed by Gajalakshmi.  On the western wall of sanctum is big Lingothbhavar.  On the northern side of the sanctum is Durgai and Chandikeswarar.   Then there is Bhairavar and Palliyarai.  On the eastern end in the Prakara is Navagrahas. 

                                 Thirugnasambandar with companions in boat

Legend has it that when Saint Thirugnanasambandar came here, there was floods and no boatman was available to cross the river and to reach the temple. Seeing this, Thirugnanasambandar told the companions with him to fetch one of the boats and they got in and he sang hymns in Thevaram and reached the temple.  This day every year is celebrated in this temple- on Pradhamai after New moon day of Tamil month Aaipasi (October-November).

Stone inscriptions point to the period of 3rd Kulothungan and 3rd Rajaraja Chozha and names of the deities are given in that as Thiru kollambhoodudayar and Azhagiya Nachiar.  Lord Brahma and Arjuna have prayed in this temple.  Brahma worshipped for Brahmmahathi Dosha.  

Though timings have been given as 8 am better to be at the temple at 9 am.
Sthal Vruksham is vilvam.