Place where Saniswarar did penance

Thirukkodikaval, the centuries-old shrine with hoary past, is getting spruced up.

The renovation at sri Thirukotteswarar temple, Thiru Kodikaaval, is under way. Photo: S. Prabhu

Interesting facts

There are several inscriptions dating back to the Pallava period, in the 9th century AD, that provide interesting insights into the functioning of the temple, the deities inside the temple, the direction to the temple, the name of this place, the blowing of conches during puja time and the reconstruction and renovation efforts to convert into a granite structure.

An 872-873 AD inscription, relating to the rule of Maraanjadaiya Varaguna, refers to a gift of gold for lighting perpetual lamp for Goddess and Vinayaka. During the rule of Pallava Nandi Varma II, there was a gift of paddy for lighting lamp. Thiru Kodikkaval as per the inscription was referred at that time as Kannamangalam.

An 891 AD inscription reveals the conduct of tulabara ceremonies, performed by Vira Mahadevi, Queen of Pallava Nripatunga, for providing offerings and lamps to God. Yet another inscription that dates back to 910 AD and to the rule of Para Kesari Varma refers to the gift of land for blowing two conches in the temple.

The inscription of 981 AD refers to the reconstruction of the temple by Sembian Mahadevi, the mother of Uttama Chola and converting the then existing brick structure into a granite structure.

During the rule of Raja Kesari Varma Chola, there was an agreement to pay taxes on land endowed to the Thiru Kodikka temple with the objective of feeding devotees visiting the temple. The inscriptions also provide direction to the temple as being just North of Cauvery. A gift of land was made to the temple during his rule for supply of five pots of water daily from Cauvery for the sacred bath of the deity.

During Nandivarma’s rule, a gift of land was given for the nandavanam. A merchant gifted gold for the construction of Madivalagam. During Raja Raja’s (I) rule, in 996 AD, servants of the temple received money on the agreement that they would supply offerings to the Sun God. There are also inscriptions inside the temple dating back to the rule of Kulotunga, Vikrama Chola and Kopperunjinga II.