Kuzhagar Temple or Kodi Kuzhagar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the town of Kodikkarai in Tamil Nadu, India. Kuzhagar is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Kuzhagar temple is originally believed to have been built by the Cholas and it has several inscriptions dating back to the Chola period. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and three yearly festivals on its calendar. The annual Brahmotsavam is attended by thousands of devotees from far and near. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Etymology and legend
The town Kodikkarai is named after Kuzhagar, the presiding deity of the Kuzhagar Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The 7th century Saiva canonical work Tevaram by Sundarar and Tirugnanasambandar mentions the place as Kuzhagar Kovil. கடிது ஆய்க் கடல் காற்று வந்து எற்ற, கரைமேல் குடி தான் அயலே இருந்தால் குற்றம் ஆமோ? கொடியேன் கண்கள் கண்டன, கோடிக் குழகீர்! அடிகேள்! உமக்கு ஆர் துணை ஆக இருந்தீரே?
Kuzhagar temple complex has three prakarams and a five-tiered rajagopuram. The central shrine faces east and holds the image of Kuzhagar in the form of lingam made of granite. The granite images of the deities Ganesha, Murugan, Nandi and Navagraha are located in the hall leading to the sanctum. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the first precinct or the walls around the sanctum of Kuzhagar has images of Dakshinamurthy, Durga and Chandikeswarar. The second precinct is surrounded by granite walls.
Worship and religious practices
The temple priests perform the puja during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka, alangaram, naivethanam and deepa aradanai for both Kuzhagar and Thdangani Amman. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram and tavil, religious instructions in the Vedas read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like somavaram and sukravaram, fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai, kiruthigai, pournami and sathurthi. The ten-day Vaikasi visagam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi and six-day Sashti are the major festivals celebrated in the temple.
