Kalai "N" Koyil
Gokarnesvara Temple { Pragathambal} Thirukonarnam-Pudukottai-Tamilnadu.
Gokarnesvara Temple at Thirukonarnam is an exemplary portrayal of continuous tradition and culture of Pudukkottai from ancient time. Originally constructed as a cave temple during seventh century this temple has been patronized and extended by the rulers of later dynasties. As seen with many other old temples of Pudukkottai region, this temple is also a live temple and under worship at present time. The earliest inscription found in the cave temple is written in Grantha character of seventh-eighth century. As this is not a foundation inscription hence the cave temple must be in existence at that time and hence might be constructed in early seventh century. Though the pillar style and other features of the cave temple resemble with the Pallava cave temples however few scholars suggest that this would be a creation of the Pandya-s. Argument given to support this is that the Pallavas were not ruling over this part of land hence their monuments are rare to find. Though this might be true however vassals under Pallava-s were not very far from this land. Muttharaiya-s have constructed marvelous cave temples at Namakkal not very far from Pudukkottai. But as there is no foundation inscription hence it is hard to determine authorship of the cave temple. Where the country is Pandya, the style of construction is Pallava.
Nanacampantar, seventh century Nayanmar, has sung in praise of the Lord of Kokarnam. In Tevaram 3:337:4, Nanacampantar invokes the lord with epithet, Malaittalaivan, referring to the cave temple. Another Nayanmar, Navukkaracar, has compared the hill of Kokarnam with that of Kailasha. Though the hill is not very high however places of Shiva were usually compared to Kailasha as seen in many other temples of contemporary time such as Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchi and Kailasha Cave at Ellora. Later this comparison was done with the Meru mountain as seen in Brihadeeshvara Temple at Thanjavur. In Tevaram 6:263, Navukkaracar gives description of the Lord where he holds a sword and a tanka in his hands. Ganga mounts the crest of the Lord. He is probably referring to Gangadhara bas-relief of the cave temple.
(Above statements about Nayanmar-s and Tevaram are disputed by few scholars hence further study is needed in this direction. Will update the article once I am done with that study.)
As per stahala-purana, Kamadhenu (celestial cow) is supposed to fetch waters of the Ganga in her two ears and showered one earful on the murti (main deity image) and one into the tank. This explains the name Gokarnam, Go for cow and Karnam for ears. Currently the erstwhile princes of Pudukkottai, of Tondaiman lineage, is the trustee of this temple. The temple would have come to Tondaimans after the fall of Vijayanagara and then Nayaka rulers of Tamilnadu. They patronized this temple and the Lord of Kokarnam is Kula-devata (main deity) of Tondaiman kings.
DESCRIPTION SOURCE : puratattva.in/2011/03/13/thirukokarnam-gokarnesvara-templ...
Gokarnesvara Temple { Pragathambal} Thirukonarnam-Pudukottai-Tamilnadu.
Gokarnesvara Temple at Thirukonarnam is an exemplary portrayal of continuous tradition and culture of Pudukkottai from ancient time. Originally constructed as a cave temple during seventh century this temple has been patronized and extended by the rulers of later dynasties. As seen with many other old temples of Pudukkottai region, this temple is also a live temple and under worship at present time. The earliest inscription found in the cave temple is written in Grantha character of seventh-eighth century. As this is not a foundation inscription hence the cave temple must be in existence at that time and hence might be constructed in early seventh century. Though the pillar style and other features of the cave temple resemble with the Pallava cave temples however few scholars suggest that this would be a creation of the Pandya-s. Argument given to support this is that the Pallavas were not ruling over this part of land hence their monuments are rare to find. Though this might be true however vassals under Pallava-s were not very far from this land. Muttharaiya-s have constructed marvelous cave temples at Namakkal not very far from Pudukkottai. But as there is no foundation inscription hence it is hard to determine authorship of the cave temple. Where the country is Pandya, the style of construction is Pallava.
Nanacampantar, seventh century Nayanmar, has sung in praise of the Lord of Kokarnam. In Tevaram 3:337:4, Nanacampantar invokes the lord with epithet, Malaittalaivan, referring to the cave temple. Another Nayanmar, Navukkaracar, has compared the hill of Kokarnam with that of Kailasha. Though the hill is not very high however places of Shiva were usually compared to Kailasha as seen in many other temples of contemporary time such as Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchi and Kailasha Cave at Ellora. Later this comparison was done with the Meru mountain as seen in Brihadeeshvara Temple at Thanjavur. In Tevaram 6:263, Navukkaracar gives description of the Lord where he holds a sword and a tanka in his hands. Ganga mounts the crest of the Lord. He is probably referring to Gangadhara bas-relief of the cave temple.
(Above statements about Nayanmar-s and Tevaram are disputed by few scholars hence further study is needed in this direction. Will update the article once I am done with that study.)
As per stahala-purana, Kamadhenu (celestial cow) is supposed to fetch waters of the Ganga in her two ears and showered one earful on the murti (main deity image) and one into the tank. This explains the name Gokarnam, Go for cow and Karnam for ears. Currently the erstwhile princes of Pudukkottai, of Tondaiman lineage, is the trustee of this temple. The temple would have come to Tondaimans after the fall of Vijayanagara and then Nayaka rulers of Tamilnadu. They patronized this temple and the Lord of Kokarnam is Kula-devata (main deity) of Tondaiman kings.
DESCRIPTION SOURCE : puratattva.in/2011/03/13/thirukokarnam-gokarnesvara-templ...