One of our readers, Shri Nagi Narayanan, has done an outstanding translation of Tamil article to benefit non-Tamil friends. Thank you sir.

• It is the 37th Holy Sthala sung by Thirunaavukkarasar and Thirugyana sambandhar.
• It is the Sthala where three crores of Mantra Devathas got their Shaapa vimochana. So it is known as “Thirukodikkaaval”.
• For those who think of this Sthala and also for those who step onto the soil of this sthala, the fear of death (Yama Bhaya) is removed and they attain Mukthi and so this sthala is on par with the two
  other sthalas, “Thirukkadayur” and “Sri Vaanchiyam”.
• As it is a sthala equal to Kasi, there is no Rudra Bhoomi (Mayaana) in this sthala. Mayaana means Cemetery.
• Cauvery river runs as Utharavaahini (North bound) in this Kshethra and that is its speciality.
• There are Five Sthalas known as the “Pancha Kaa”s and this sthala is one of them.

They are :-
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Thiru aanaikka, Thirukkolakka, Thirunellikka, Thirukkurakkukka, and this is the fifth one Thirukkodikka.

This sthala gave shaapa vimochana for –
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• (a)Sage Jamadhagni’s son Parashurama who got “Maathru haththi dhosham”for killing his mother
• (b)Sri Rama who got “Brahma haththi dhosham”,
• (c)The dhosham that Balarama got for killing Pralambhaasura,
• (d)The shaapam that Veerabhadra got for killing scores of people at the Daksh Yagnya, and
• (e)The “Mahashathya dhosham” that Kaali got.

• All these got removed in this sthala.
• Sriman Narayanan came here and had a bath in the ‘Sringothbhava Theertham’ and did penance towards Lord Siva, requesting Mukthi for the three crores of Mantra Devathas.
• In this sthala, The lord came in the form of a Harijan and on a day when it was pouring down heavily, he helped a Vaishnava Boy who was a devotee of Lord Siva and took him safely to Kanjanoor.
• The Goddess in this sthala gave darshan in the form of Lord Venkatachalapathy to Azhwars.
• “Karai yetru Vinayagar” is there in this sthala. Karai yetrudhal is absolving one of their sins and difficulties. (Being able to cross the samsara saagara).
• For having been disrespectful to Sage Dhurvasa, the three crore Mantra dhevathas have made the sthaapana of the “Dhurvasa Ganapathi” here in thie sthala.
• Bhaskararaya wrote the explanation for Lalitha Sahasranamam sitting in the sannidhi of the Goddess in this kshethra.
• On the 19th, 20th and 21st of the Aani month, Surya Baghawan (The Sun God) casts his golden rays on the lord and worships him here.
• The four Vedas worshipped the Lord here and by his divine command have become four Shivalingas in this sthala.
• When Mout Kailash and this sthala were kept on the weighing scale, this sthala showed itself as superior.
• Unseen anywhere else in the whole world, in this sthala, Lord Saneeshwara is in the form of Bala Saneeshwara(young boy) who gives relief from Sani dhosha( the ill effects of the planetary position of Saturn).
• Chithraguptha and Yama have separate sannidhis in this sthala and the belief is that if we worship the Lord of this sthala, chithraguptha will only write good things about us.
• If we pray to the Lord of this Temple and bathe in the North bound Cauvery river on a Sunday of the Karthigai month, it is believed that all our sins will get washed away.
• The Sringodhbhava Theertham (Pond) in this temple was created by the horns of Nandhi. (The bull Lord Shiva rides on).
• Sri Bhaskararaya wrote and inaugurated the treatise “Sri Sowbhagya Bhaskaram” sitting in the sannidhi of the Goddess here.
• The Lord of this temple gave darshan to Sage Agasthya and Sage Dhurvasa.
• The Raja Gopura has five levels, The Swamy Gopuram inside has three levels, and there is an inner praahaaraa and an outer praahaaraa (the pathways for walking). This temple is situated
  on a three acre land.
• Inside the temple there are 64 statues that were created by the Pallavas.They are known as the “Ashtaashtaka” statues. ‘Ashta’ means eight and ‘Ashta ashta’ means 8×8 = 64.
• These 64 statues describe the Leelas of Lord Siva.
• The Lord has imbibed the Navagraha Shakthi into himself and there is a Navagraha Chakram in this temple.
• All the theerthas bathed in the Sringodhbhava theertha created by the horns of Nandhi and received the Lord’s blessings. Near the pond, there is the Sri Vidhya Vinayagar temple and behind this temple
  is the Banyan tree under which the Lord gave darshan to the three crores of Mnatra dhevathas and gave them eternal bliss and Mukthi.
• According to almost 50 stone carvings, this temple has the distinction that the Pallavas, Sembiyan Maa deviyaar, The Cholas, and the Nayakkars did a lot of renovation/construction work on this temple.
• All the parivaara devathas or the accompanying angels have some 26 sannidhis in this temple.
• Above all, the two people who added more respect and dignity to this town are Violin Maestro Krishanyyar (known as Thirukkodikkaaval Krishnayyar) and his nephew Sangitha Pithamaha Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.
  On the advice of Kanchi Maha Periyava, Dance Maestro Dr. Padma Subramanyam has mentioned the dance Karana statues that are there in this temple, in her research work.

The temple is known as

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Sri Tripurasundari Sametha Sri Thirukkodeeshwarar temple.
Thirukkodikkaaval Narasingam Pettai(Via)
Thiruvidaimarudhur Circle
Tanjore District.
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• For additional info, please contact –
  • Mythili Ganesan (Thirukkodikkaaval) – 98406 48915
  • S. Mahalakshmi Subramanian (Chennai) – 98400 53289

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