Place : Ootathur
God : SuthaRathineswarar
Goddess : Akilandeswari
How to reach?
Ootathur is a village in Tamil Nadu state. Nearest City is Trichy (For Airways) and nearest town is Perambalur (To travel by bus).
Call taxi or car could be the best way to travel. Trees are well planted in the roads and hence travel to temple from the service road will be very scenic.
Any government bus going in this highway(Trichy - Chennai) will stop here. There is a bus stand at the highway - Ootathur road junction.
About the Temple
Ootrathur village is named after the Ootru (Natural Spring) within the Shiva temple. There is a small kulam (lake) named Brahma theertham(Holy water) right in front of SuthaRathineswarar Shrine. Shrine of Goddess Akilandeswari is separately built on the right side of temple. The temple is quite big and centuries old. Chola Kings Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola have expanded and built the temple. Unique feature of the temple is that you have to walk down the stairs from the main entrance to get inside the temple. Many sculptures like fish, snake and other sea creatures can be seen on the path inside temple entrance.
People suffering from kidney ailments offer garlands made of khus to gods Natarajar and Sivagama Sundari in the temple, make archana to gods and take theertham from Brahma theertham. This theertham should be taken in small equal quantities for a period of time. A drop or two of honey should be added to a small quantity of the water in the evening and it should be kept closed overnight. It should be taken first next morning.
There are two Nandi in the shrine of Shiva: One facing Shiva and one facing east looking through an opening in the wall near the Artha mandapam entrance. This Nandi facing east is called Nandiyaaru Nandi.
History of the Temple
Once the temple was flooded with water and devotees were not able to enter it. Lord Sudha Rathineswarar asked Nandiyaaru Nandi to drink all the water and Nandiyaaru Nandi immediately turned towards east and drank all the water. The devotees then happily and safely started visiting the temple again.
How the temple was built?
The place, where temple stands today was a land where lots of grass were grown. The horse care takers came to this place to cut the grass. At one place(The shrine of SuthaRathineswarar) when the blade went inside land to cut grass, it struck the Lingam(meditative form of Lord Shiva) inside land. When the grass cutting tool was pulled out, lots of blood rushed out. Alarmed by the event, King was informed and he came to the place. The area was dug and the Shiva Lingam, covered in blood, was discovered. Shrine was built around the Lingam. The Shiva Lingam was red in color and hence the name "Sutha Rathineswarar", which means pure gem. The cut made on top of Lingam could still be felt or seen and makes this temple a must on the Pilgrim list.
Hope you enjoyed reading this article!!!
Please share and comment to motivate me to write more pilgrim experiences.
Bye-Bye! See you all soon.
God : SuthaRathineswarar
Goddess : Akilandeswari
How to reach?
Ootathur is a village in Tamil Nadu state. Nearest City is Trichy (For Airways) and nearest town is Perambalur (To travel by bus).
Call taxi or car could be the best way to travel. Trees are well planted in the roads and hence travel to temple from the service road will be very scenic.
Any government bus going in this highway(Trichy - Chennai) will stop here. There is a bus stand at the highway - Ootathur road junction.
About the Temple
Ootrathur village is named after the Ootru (Natural Spring) within the Shiva temple. There is a small kulam (lake) named Brahma theertham(Holy water) right in front of SuthaRathineswarar Shrine. Shrine of Goddess Akilandeswari is separately built on the right side of temple. The temple is quite big and centuries old. Chola Kings Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola have expanded and built the temple. Unique feature of the temple is that you have to walk down the stairs from the main entrance to get inside the temple. Many sculptures like fish, snake and other sea creatures can be seen on the path inside temple entrance.
People suffering from kidney ailments offer garlands made of khus to gods Natarajar and Sivagama Sundari in the temple, make archana to gods and take theertham from Brahma theertham. This theertham should be taken in small equal quantities for a period of time. A drop or two of honey should be added to a small quantity of the water in the evening and it should be kept closed overnight. It should be taken first next morning.
There are two Nandi in the shrine of Shiva: One facing Shiva and one facing east looking through an opening in the wall near the Artha mandapam entrance. This Nandi facing east is called Nandiyaaru Nandi.
History of the Temple
Once the temple was flooded with water and devotees were not able to enter it. Lord Sudha Rathineswarar asked Nandiyaaru Nandi to drink all the water and Nandiyaaru Nandi immediately turned towards east and drank all the water. The devotees then happily and safely started visiting the temple again.
How the temple was built?
The place, where temple stands today was a land where lots of grass were grown. The horse care takers came to this place to cut the grass. At one place(The shrine of SuthaRathineswarar) when the blade went inside land to cut grass, it struck the Lingam(meditative form of Lord Shiva) inside land. When the grass cutting tool was pulled out, lots of blood rushed out. Alarmed by the event, King was informed and he came to the place. The area was dug and the Shiva Lingam, covered in blood, was discovered. Shrine was built around the Lingam. The Shiva Lingam was red in color and hence the name "Sutha Rathineswarar", which means pure gem. The cut made on top of Lingam could still be felt or seen and makes this temple a must on the Pilgrim list.
Hope you enjoyed reading this article!!!
Please share and comment to motivate me to write more pilgrim experiences.
Bye-Bye! See you all soon.
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