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150. Tirutturutti

திருத்துருத்தி

Location: Kutralam near Mayiladuturai, Kumbhakonam
(Chola Naadu -South of Kaveri)
Shiva: Sonnavaararivar, Ukta Vedeeswarar
Ambal: Mukizhambikai.
Vriksham: Kutrala Maram
Theertham: Kaveri
Patikam : Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar
Travel Base: Thanjavur
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Description: Tirutturutti is a Shivastalam  closely associated with Sundaramoorthy Nayanar. It is also known as Choleeswaram. There are several shrines in the vicinity and in the temple complex - Viswanathaswamy Kovil, Agneeswarar Temple, Manmatheswarar Temple, Varunalingam, Kalyanasundarar etc. Tirutturutti is considered to be the 37th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. 

Legends: Shiva is said to have recited the Vedas as a Bhrammachari prior to his marrying Parvati at Tiruvelvikkudi nearby, hence the name Sonnavaararivar; the name Manavalanathar - on account of his marrying Parvati. Agni and Varunan said to have been blessed by Shiva here. From Appar's patikam it is apparent that this shrine was surrounded by the Kaveri; a subsequent change in the rivers course has caused the shrine to be on its southern bank.  Sundarar is believed to have been relieved of his ailment after a bath in the temple tank here.

The Temple: Maintained with great care by the Dharumapura Aadeenam, this temple has a Raja Gopuram, two prakarams, with a separate temple for Ambal in the outer Prakaram.

Terezhundur, Tiruvavaduturai, Tiruvelvikkudi, Tirutturutti, Tirumanancheri and Edirkolpaadi are the Shivastalams in close proximity, linked together by a common thread covering the legend of Shivas marriage with Parvati. Parvati is said to have expressed her desire to Shiva to have the experience of an earthly wedding; Shiva obliged and so she was reborn as the daughter of Bharata Muni. Shiva emerged from the lingam at Tirutturutti; Bharata Muni approached Shiva and asked for his hand in marriage to Parvati. The name Sonnavaararivaar stems from this legend that Shiva kept his word.

This west facing temple covers an area of about an acre. Inscriptions from as early as Raja Raja Cholan's period are seen here. This temple was rebuilt of stone by the Chola queen Sembian Mahadevi, who also provided endowments for its upkeep. This temple resembles that at Konerirajapuram. The niches around the ardhamandapam and the garbagriham contain images of Vinayakar, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Agastyar, Lingodbhavar, Bhrama, Bhikshatanar, Ardhanareeswarar and Durga. Another Choleswarar temple nearby dates back to the days of Vikrama Chola, where Sundays in the month of Kartikai are festival days. The Omkareswarar temple in Kutralam dates back to the period of Kulottunga III.

Festivals: Five worship services are offered each day. The annual Bhrammotsavam is observed in the month of Chittirai. Other festivals celebrated here include Navaratri, Kartikai Deepam, Sivaratri and Skanda Sashti.

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