Kodumudinathar Temple

Overview

The Kodumudinathar Temple is one of Shiva’s many temples. It is in a place called Kodumudi and is located near Erode, in an area that is traditionally known as Kongunadu. This shrine is believed to be one of the shikarams (crowning glories) of Kailash (abode of Shiva). It is regarded as the 6th of the seven Thevaram Sthalams (holy places that find place in the Tamil holy book ‘Tevaram’) in this region. Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar have composed the Pathigams. Sundarar composed his Namachivaayappatikam here several literary works praise the glory of this temple. Lord Bramha and Lord Vishnu are also enshrined at Kodumudinathar Temple. They are said to have worshipped Lord Shiva and so it is called Trimurthy Kovil (temple of three deities).

About The Temple

The Kodumudinathar Temple has a series of lion-faced pillars that testify to Pallava contributions. Endowments from the Pandyan rulers have given the name Paandikkodumudi to this shrine. There are several inscriptions recording endowments from various royal dynasties to this temple. Kodumudinathar Temple is east facing and is 640 feet in length and 484 feet in breadth. The vast temple has grand shrines to Siva as Kodumudinathar, Parvathi as Vadivudaiammai and Vishnu and Lakshmi as Perumaal and Thaayaar. Lord Magudeswarar (the one who plays the snake flute) is also called as Malai (hill) Kolundeeswarar and the goddess as Soundaryanayaki. The temple has 3 entrances on the east side. The shrines of Vishnu and Brahma can be accessed by entering through the central gate. To the north of the central gate is the entrance to the sanctum of Kodumudinathar. To the south of the central gate is the entrance to the shrine of Vadivudaiammai. Kodumudinathar Temple has been designed in such a way that the sun's rays illuminate the sanctum of Shiva and Ambal (goddess) for 4 days in Panguni (March-April) and Aavani (August-September).

The rare Vanni tree (of the pea family) is the sthala vriksham (dedicated temple tree) and does not flower or bear fruit. The tree is believed to be a 3000 year old living tree with one side having thorns and the other smooth. Lord Brahma has only three faces in this temple instead of the customary four with which he is shown. The Vanni tree is supposed to be his fourth face. Sages Agasthya and Bharadwaja had seen Lord Shiva’s wedding in this place. Naga (serpent) worship is popular here as the divine serpent Adisesha was instrumental in establishing the temple. The rare form of Lord Vyakrapada Vinayaka, with the feet of a tiger and the face of an elephant, can be seen on a pillar in the shrine of Perumal. As the devotee circumambulates inside the shrine of Maguteswarar, the images of Nardana Ganapathy, 63 Nayanmars (Shaiva saints), Kaveri Kanda Vinayakar, Somaskandar (the processional image), Agasteeswarar, Aarumugan (Muruga/Subrahmanya) with Valli and Devayani, Gajalakshmi and Vishnu can be seen on the sanctum wall. Other deities are an unusual Kunchitapaada Nataraja with both his feet on the ground and Goddess Sivakami, his consort, with the poet-saint Manikkavasar next to them. On the western side Vallabhi Ganesa, Sozhiswarar, Visveswarar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Saraswati and Sapta Matas are represented.

In the Perumal shrine, Lord Vishnu is in a reclining position with Adiseshan’s protective five-headed hood over his head. At the center of the sanctum wall you can see Brahma flanked by Sage Narada and Vasudeva. To the left are Garuda (Vishnu’s vehicle) and Sridevi (Lakshmi). On the right are images from the Ramayana like Vibheeshana, Hanuman carrying the Sanjeevi Hill of healing herbs northward with a bell on his tail, Sudarsana Chakra (Discus) and Bhoomadevi (Earth goddess). Right in the front you can see the Utsavar Moorthy.

As you circumambulate the sanctum in Kodumudinathar Temple you find many images of Alwars. Other sanctums outside include Brahma (open air sanctum) located under the Sthala Vriksham (temple tree), the Vanni Tree Hanuman again, Thayar Thirumangai Nachiyar (adjacent to Perumal) and Saneeswarar (Saturn).

About the Deity

The temple has large shrines that are dedicated to Siva as Kodumudinathar, Parvathi as Vadivudaiammai and Vishnu and Lakshmi as Perumaal and Thaayaar. Lord Magudeswarar (the one who plays the snake flute) is also called as Malai (hill) Kolundeeswarar and the goddess as Soundaryanayaki.

Legend and Stories

Kodumudinathar Temple, the Lord of Kodumudi is associated with the story of the test of strength that took place between Adiseshan (King of Snakes) and Vayu (Wind god). In this fight, 5 gems were scattered from the head of Adisesha. A red stone landed at Thiruvannamalai, an emerald at Eengoimalai, a blue diamond at Potikai, a ruby at Vaatpoki and a diamond in Kodumudi. The legend of Sage Agasthyar travelling to the south to tilt the balance of the earth is associated with Paandikkodumudi. Lord Vinayagar, at the behest of Lord Shiva, took the form of a white crow and pushed down the sage’s kamandalam (pot for water) and liberated the Cauvery to continue her flow. Surprisingly, River Cauvery, which flows southward from Karnataka, turns 90 degrees in front of the temple and flows eastward. The Ganesha in this temple is therefore called Kaveri Kanda Vinayakar, the one who saw Kaveri. One of the 275 important Shiva temples glorified by the Thevaram hymns, Lord Magudeshwara of Kodumudinathar Temple features in 11 songs of Sambandhar, 5 songs of Appar and 10 songs of Sundharar, all saint poets of Tamil literature. Sundarar composed his famous Namachivaaya Patdikam here. Saint Arunagirinathar has sung about Lord Muruga of this temple in his ‘Thirupugazh’.

Festivals

Brahmotsavam is celebrated in Chitirai. Aadipperukku, the 18th day of Adi (July-August) that celebrates the Cauvery in spate is a festive event where lighted lamps are set afloat in the river. The Aippasi Pournami (full moon day in October-November), Thaippoosam ( January-February when the star Poosam reigns over the skies) and Arudra Darisanam, (December-January—the day of Nataraja’s cosmic dance) are other festivals celebrated at Kodumudinathar Temple.

Offerings

Devotees perform abhishekam (ablutions) to Lord Vinayaka with pots of water equal to their age. Navagraha pujas are also performed to the nine planets and a Mangalsutra (necklace symbolizing marriage) is tied to a plantain/banana tree.

Significance

The Kodumudinathar Temple attracts devotees who are afflicted with adverse effects of the Ragu (snake) planet. Those facing adverse effects of serpent planets, Rahu and Ketu, install a stone serpent under the Vanni tree. People pray here for removal of obstacles in finalizing weddings and for the birth of a child.

Accessibility

The nearest airport is at Coimbatore. The temple is very near to Kodumudi railway station which is on the Erode - Tiruchy section of the Southern Railway. This Shivasthalam is situated about 40 km from Erode.

Temple Address

Arulmigu Kodumudinathar Temple,
Kodumudi,
Erode District 638151,
Tamil Nadu.