Located at Venjamankoodalur near Karur

Karur

Karur is a large town and a municipality in Karur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of Amaravati. Karur district was formed on 30 September 1995 by trifurcating Tiruchirappalli district. It is the administrative headquarters of Karur District. Karur has a very long...

, this temple is classified as one of the Kongu Naattu temples. Karuvoor Aanilai is another Shivastalam located nearby. The sanctum of this temple bears depictions of the 7 Thevara temples in Kongu Naadu.

Mythology

Legend has it that a hunter king by name Venchan is said to have worshipped Shiva here and hence the name Venchamaakoodal. Shiva is said to have appeared in the guise of an old priest and blessed Sundarar with gold. The king of Devaas, Indiran, is said to have worshipped the Lingam

Lingam

The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....

 here to get rid of his sins.

Temple structure

This shiva temple is more than 1200 years old. This temple has a 5 tiered Rajagopuram. The presiding deity lord shiva is called as Vikriteswarar and the Ambal his consort is called as Vikritambika. Both the Shiva and the Ambal shrines face east. The main Lingam inside the sanctum sanctorum is 5 feet in height and the female deity's image is 2.5 feet in height. This shivasthalam has been patronised by the kings of Pandiya Naadu and many rock cut inscriptions of Pandiya Period have been found in this temple. There are shrines to the Panchalingams, Bhairavar, the 63 Nayanmars and others in this temple. The Theerthama is Vikrita Theertham.

Poems on this temple

Sundarar composed the thevara

Thevara

Thevara is a region in the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Geographically, Thevara is part of the mainland Kochi , and marks its south-west boundary. It is connected to the water-bound West Kochi via bridges.Thevara is noted especially for being home for the Cochin Shipyard...

 Pathigam here. Arunagirinathar

Arunagirinathar

Arunagirinathar was Tamil poet who lived during the 15th century in Tamil Nadu, India. He was the creator of Tiruppugazh, a book of poems in Tamil in praise of the Hindu God Murugan. He was a member of the Isai Vellalar community....

 has also visited temple.

Festivals

The annual Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Maasi with processions on vahanams and the temple chariot.

Location

To reach this temple, one has to travel south-west 16 km from Karur on the way to Aravankurichi and go in a branch road about 10 km. The temple is located on the east bank of river Kudaganaaru.

External links

• http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s262.html
• http://www.shivatemples.com/knaadu/kn7.html