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Tirukkodikka Temple
This temple is located at near Kumbhakonam, Mayiladuturai. The deity worshipped here is Shiva.

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Tirukkodikka TempleTirukkodikka Temple represents the five `Kaa`s or `Solai`s. All gods (Koti) have worshipped here and there are countless gardens (kavu), hence Kotikka. Tirukkodikka is the 37th in the series of the Tevara Stalams located in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri.

Legends: Shiva escorted a devotee Haradatta to Kanjanur nearby, and mysteriously disappeared. Vasishtar installed an image of Ganapati made out of earth. It is believed that the Alwars were asked by Venkatar of Tirupati to worship Tripurasundari here before offering worship at Tirupati. Agasthyar helped them cross the Kaveri in spate, by telling them to worship Karaiyetru Vinayakar.

Temple: There are two prakarams and it has a five tiered Rajagopuram. The temple covers an area of 3.5 acres. The images found in the niches here are of Vinayakar, Agastyar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhavar, Brhama, Durga, Bhikshatanar and Ardhanareeswarar. There are 50 inscriptions here from the days of the early and later Pallavas, the Imperial Cholas and Pandyas.

This temple was rebuilt in stone by Sembiyan Mahadevi (10th century). Surrounding the sanctum and the maha mandapam is a wall known as Vikramacholan Tirumaligai, which has a pillared and covered platform running the entire length. The image of Surya was set up here by Ilaiyan Aditta Pidaran. There are inscriptions from the period of Kulottunga I and his son Vikrama Chola, in the Mahamandapam of the temple.

Festivals: Arudra Darisanam, Kartikai Deepam, Navaratri, Sivaratri, Chitra Pournami, Sivaratri, Aadi Pooram and Vinayaka Chaturthi are the festivals celebrated here.


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