Koteeswarar Temple, Kottaiyur

Koteeswarar (also spelled Kodeeswarar) Temple stands in Kottaiyur, a village on the western outskirts of Kumbakonam, on the road to Swamimalai. Shiva is worshipped here as Koteeswarar, with his consort as Pandhadu Nayaki. The deity is praised in the 7th-century Tevaram hymns.

Tradition

The name comes from the Tamil kodi, "ten million": according to tradition, Shiva appeared here in ten million forms. The goddess's name, Pandhadu Nayaki, means "the goddess who plays with a ball"; she is believed to toss away the troubles of her devotees. Another tradition tells of a prince cursed to take a frightening form, who regained his appearance after bathing in the temple's spring.

Architecture

The temple faces east, with a five-tier gateway tower, and is enclosed by two courtyards. The central shrine holds a granite lingam, with shrines to Vinayaka and Murugan on either side of its entrance.

Mahamaham

It is one of the 12 Shiva temples connected with the Mahamaham festival, held at the Mahamaham tank about once every 12 years. It is one of two of these temples that stand outside Kumbakonam town.