Sri Thaalamudaiyaar Temple, Tirukolakka, Sirkazhi - 275 Shiva Temples

15. Sri Thaalamudaiyaar Temple, Tirukolakka (Chola Nadu - North of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Sabthapureeswarar, Sri Thiruthalamudayar, Sri Thiruthalapureeswarar
Name of Goddess : Sri Osainayagi, Sri Osaikodutha nayagi, Sri Thonipranthambal
Holy water (Theertham) : Surya and Ananda Theerthams.
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Kondrai.
Thevaram : Sambandar - 1 ; Sundarar - 1
District : Nagapattinam.
Location : Sirkazhi.
Timings : 07:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 04:30 p.m. to 08:00 p.m.

For Complete List of 275 Shiva Temples : Click Here

This is the 15th sthalam on the northern side of river Cauvery. Saint Sundarar and Thiruganasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Legend has it that Tirugnana Sambandar was blessed with a pair of golden cymbals by Shiva, and the cymbals were blessed with tone by Parvati - Osai Kodutta Nayaki here at Tirukkolakka. The temple is also known as Taalam Udaiyar Kovil.

Interestingly this temple is located not too far off from the Bhramapureeswarar temple at Sirkazhi where Sambandar an infant was blessed (fed) with poetic abilities by none other than Parvati. The above incident is commemorated in the form of a grand festival at Sirkazhi, and on the same day, an image of Sambandar is brought in procession to the Taalam Udayar Temple.

Ananda Theertha tank opposite the temple, Vrushbaruda Darshan of Lord on the west of front entrance near a spring, Vahan mandaps while entering the temple, shrines of four Saivite saints, Adhikara Nandhi greet the devotees. Lords Vinayaka, Somaskanda, Subramania, Mother Lakshmi, Sani Bhagwan, Lord Bhairava and Sun shrines are in the prakara. Procession deities are safely kept in the mandap right of the prakara. Mother Ambika is in a separate shrine. Of the procession deities, noteworthy is the one of Saint Gnana Sambandar holding the golden plate. Lords Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthi, Lingodhbava, Brahmma and Mother Durga are on the goshta walls.

History / Legend:

Those aspiring excellence in music pray in the temple. It is noteworthy that Lord who gave the Thalam-plate to Ganasambandar and Mother who gave the sound, bless the devotees at the entrance of the temple. Indira and Sun had gained rich benefits from their prayers to Lord. Mother Mahalakshmi in the temple is a powerful and merciful Goddess pouring all boons to devotees. As the wedding of Mahalakshmi with Lord Vishnu took place here, the place is named Tirukolakka. Presently, the temple is known as Tiru Thalam Udayar Koil.

Saint Gnanasambandar, fed with the wisdom milk by Mother Parvathi, visited many Shiva temples singing his praise clapping his hands in ecstasy. Seeing the little saint clapping his hands, to relieve him from the pain of doing so, Lord gave him two golden plates, but they produced no sound. Mother infused the sound energy into them. Hence, Lord is praised as Thalapureeswarar and Mother Osai Kodutha Nayaki.

This is the first paadal petra sthalam for Gnana sambandhar, our child saint. He walked with this father to this shrine from Sirkazhi. On reaching here, he started singing on the Lord (who was then called Sapthapureeswarar). The Lord, feeling sorry for the little child (on a big mission) clapping his hands and singing, gave him a pair of Gold Cymbals (Jaalra). Gold cymbals do not produce much of a sound (due to its malleable nature). The Goddess interjected and gave it divine sound. It is due to this, the Lord became known as Thaalapureeswarar. And the Goddess as Osai Kodutha Nayaki (or Osai Nayaki, as the locals have shortened it).

The other mythological story for this temple is about Mahalakshmi. She is believed to have done tapas here to get reunited with MahaVishnu. And when that happened, the God and Goddess gave all devotees here dharhsan in Thirumana kolam (Marriage form). Hence the name of the temple as Kolakka.

Chithirai Tiruvadhirai festival in April-May is celebrated in Sirkali Sattainathar temple with the milk utsav on the second day. After this event, Saint Gnanasambandar comes to this temple, when Lord Shiva gives the golden plate to the saint. The saint returns to the first temple in a flower decorated palanquin. Theerthavari is celebrated on all Karthikai Sundays in November-December.

Those unable to speak and facing stammering problems bathe in the Ananda Theertha and pray to Ambika to bless them with the sound as she introduced the sound to a metal plate. (Osai in Tamil means sound. Kodutha means given and Nayaki Mother Goddess. Hence the name Osai Kodutha Nayaki. Lord gave the plate to the saint but it was Mother who gave the life to it with the sound). Devotees place honey at the feet of Mother, perform archanas and consume it then. As this is also the place where Mother Mahalakshmi performed penance on Lord Vishnu seeking His hands, women pray in the shrine on Mondays and Fridays for 6 weeks continuously with turmeric archanas to realize their wedding wish.

Location: This temple is located in Sirkazhi and is about 1 Km from Brahmapureeswarar temple in Sirkazhi.