Arulmigu Iraavatheeswarar Tirukoil

The Arulmigu Iraavatheeswarar Tirukoil is located in Kottaram and is dedicated to God Arulmigu Iraavatheeswarar. In this 2000 year old temple, the presiding deity is Iraavatheeswarar with goddesses Vantamar Poonkuzhali and Sugantha Kuntalaambigai. The sacred tree was Paarijaatham (not there now) and the holy water Vaanchiyaaru and Sooriya Thirtham. The temple has an old historical name of Tirukkottaaru. According to legend, as narrated in the Tiruvulayaadal Puranam, Indra was riding Iraavatham, his white elephant-vehicle who has 4 tusks. One day, Dhurvasa offered a lotus that had adorned the Sivalingam consecrated by the Sage at Kasi to Indra, who took the flower irreverently and placed it on the head of the elephant. The elephant took the flower with its trunk, threw it on the floor and stamped it with its leg. The sage cursed Indra and the elephant who wandered as a wild elephant for 100 years. The elephant went to many holy places and finally regained its original form at Madurai. Tirukkottaaru is one of the temples that Iraavatham came to as a wild elephant. Subha Maharishi worshipped here everyday. One day since he was late and the temple doors were closed, he became a bee, and went inside and worshipped his God. He remained there, the story goes and you can still see a beehive in the sanctum of the Prime Deity. Devotees must stay away from this hive. They say that honey is extracted from this hive every year and offered to the God. An image of Subha Maharishi can be seen at the back of the temple. Near the front Mantapam is the sanctum of Kumaara Bhuvaneswarar. The big Lingam that faces west is believed to have been set up by Sage Agathiyar and Subha Maharishi.