User:Soorya shrinivas/sandbox

Overview

The Chola King Kulothunga Chozan- II built the Oothukadu Kailasanathar Temple during the 12th century AD. This king inherited his father Vikarama Chozan legacy and built the Kailasanathar temple near Kumbakonam. Kailasanathar temple is around 12 km from Kumbakonam. This temple built nine hundred years ago with stones and bricks was in total ruins, until recently when HR& CE dept re-built the present temple with mortar and cement and conducted the kumbabishekam in the year 2008. This construction is devoid of any architecture as the carved pillar stones were lost and vandalized during the last 40-50 years. There is no Rajagopuram put up by the HE& CE dept.

Adjoining the temple is the temple tank, still with water. It is said that one of the Pandya king’s wife was suffering from an incurable skin disease and she was counselled to take a bath in a particular water tank in the Himalayas. She was totally at loss, as to how to reach the Himalayas and take the dip in that water tank when one night she had a dream in which Lord Shiva directed her to take the bath instead in the water tank adjoining the Kailasanathar temple at Oothukadu. The legend is that she undertook the trip to Oothukadu Kailasanathar temple, had a bath in this tank and was cured of her skin ailment. Taking a cue from this legend, persons with skin disease do come to this temple tank to take a bath and get cured. This beautiful water tank is also in ruins now, with green moss almost covering the entire water surface.

The Main Kailasinathar temple was reconstructed in 2007-08 is also in very bad shape. There is the Soora Sahmhara Murthy – Murgan Sannadhi behind the Kailasanathar Sannadhi. This beautiful idol of Murugan with Vali, Deivayanai, holding a Bow and arrow instead of the Vel as is seen in every other idol of Murugan across the continent is one of a kind. It is said that there is only one more idol of Murugan with a bow and arrow in the Madurai Meenakshi temple and nowhere else.

Another significant aspect is that the Dhakshinamurthy idol on the prakaram is also unique. Here Dakshinamuirthy holds his folded left leg by his left hand as a support instead of the usual abhayahastha mudra.

There are hardly any devotees coming to this temple, though they visit the famous Kalinganarthanar Krishnan temple in the heart of the Oothukadu village. The temple Gurukals lament that they are not able to light even the oil lamp daily at the Sannadhi s. The temple is kept closed because much of the concrete structure is of poor quality and chips keep falling. The temple priest does not get his much-publicized salary of Rs 4000/- from the HR & CE dept.

The occasional devotee- visitors calls up the priest to open the temple for their darshan of the Kaisalanathar (Lingaswarupi). Separate Sannadhis exist for Ganapathi, Murugan, Gaja Lakshmi, Bhairavar and Navagrahas.

The temple with its rich history and significance is in a dilapidated condition. The outer walls of the temple have several cracks. The inside areas of the temple require immediate attention. Total renovation is required if the temple is to be restored to its former glory. The Kumbabhishekam at this temple was last performed in 2008.

The compound wall and the Sannadhi tops are with lush green vegetation and the grills of the Murugan Sannadh is falling apart. The Murugan Sannadhi is frequented by a white-skinned cobra snake. With no human habitat close by, the whole temple edifice is in a precarious state and needs a major renovation with a new Raja gopuram, as there is no Rajagopuram built during the reconstruction of the temple in 2007-08. It cannot happen without the help of devotees and philanthropists, and the HR& CE board lending its hands handsomely with a Kumbabishekam which is very much due.