About Sozhanganallur Vadakudi Kavadi

During the Krithikai star of every month (Tamil month), Singaravelavar or Murugan goes in procession around the place of Ettukudi. Every year, on Chitra Pournami, for ten days, devotees throng this place to lift kavadis. Paal kavadi, Panneer kavadi, Chandana kavadi, Sarkarai kavadi, Pushpa kavadi, Vibhuti kavadi, Ilaneer kavadi, Panchamirtha kavadi and the like are of great significance. The kavadi dancers follow the rhythm of the drums and enter into a hypnotic daze. Ettukkudi Kavadi Festival is a famous festival celebrated during the months of April-May. Devotees from places and villages around this temple come here with Kavadis, milk pots, coconuts, cocks and goats. Some pass a sharp little spear through their tongue, which is made to protrude out of the mouth. Others may pass a spear through the cheeks.Mr.Subramaniya Pillai and his descendants have been bearing the kavadi since 1950.This is one of the most beautiful Aata Kavadi (Dancing Kavadi)in that part of the world.

The Kavadi

The Kavadi
The most potent propitiatory rite that a devotee of Lord Muruga undertakes to perform is what is known as the "Kavadi". Generally, people take a vow to offer the Lord a Kavadi for the sake of tiding over a great calamity. Though this might on the face of it appear mercenary, a moment's reflection will reveal that it contains in it the seed for the supreme love for God. The worldly object is achieved, no doubt, and the devotee takes the Kavadi; but after the ceremony he gets so God-intoxicated that his inner spiritual chamber is opened. This is also a method that ultimately leads to the supreme state of devotion.

Celebrations
The Kavadi festival is celebrated at all shrines of Lord Muruga. Dancing in a hypnotic trance to the rhythm of drums, devotees of Muruga carry the Kavadi all the way to Ettukudi . Ettukudi Kavadi Festival is a famous festival celebrated during the months of April-May. Devotees from places and villages around this temple come here with Kavadis, milk pots, coconuts, cocks and goats. This is a major crowd pulling festival where one can see the true Tamil culture in its habitat.

About Ettukudi Murugan

Ettukudi: This ancient Subramaniar temple is located 40 km south west of Nagapattinam and is easily accessed from Tiruvaru. It has been revered by the hymns of Arunagirinathar. The name Ettukudi is derived from the Etti trees which dominated this area. The name Ettukudi is derived from the fact that this shrine is surrounded by Shivastalams in all eight directions.This temple is linked closely with Sikkal and Enkann through the legend that the images of Skanda in all three of these shrines were made by the same sculptor. This shrine is closley tied to the legend of Ardhanareeswarar, and Parvati's performance of Kedara Gowri Vratam, to become a part of Shiva. No Tevara Patikams exist for this shrine though. Valmiki is said to have worshipped here.
The sanctum enshrines an imposing image of Shanmukhar with 6 faces, seated on a peackock mount. There are also shrines to Sundareswarar and Anandavalli here. Other shrines here include those to Mahalakshmi, MahaVishnu (Venkatachalapati), Natarajar, and Valmiki Munivar.This image of Skanda in the sanctum is an exquisite one. The entire image is supported only by the 2 legs of the peacock mount.
The theertham here is Saravana Poikai and the stala vriksham is the vanni tree.
Tiruvaimur is located at a distance of 24 km south east of Tiruvarur. This shrine is regarded as the 124th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola Region south of the river Kaveri.

Shiva: Vaimurnathar, Ambal: Paalinum nan mozhiammai, Ksheeropavachani, Vriksham: Palaamaram, Theertham: Surya Theertham, Patikam : Sambandar, Appar. This Tevara sthalam is one of the 7 Saptavitanka shrines of Tyagaraja associated with the Mucukunda legend of Tiruvarur - Neelavitankar, Kamala Natanam.

Legends: Surya is said to have worshipped Shiva here.
The Temple: This temple occupies an area of about 2 acres and it has a single prakaram and a beautiful 3 tiered Rajagopuram. Across from the temple is the Surya Theertham. The Navagrahams are in a single file as in Tiruvarur. Nataraja's tandavam here, is known as Madhya Tandavam. The sun's rays illuminate the sanctum on the 12th & the 13th days of the Tamil
month of Pankuni. The Rishabha Dakshinamurthy shrine here is of significance
The Vedaranyeswarar and Tyagarajar shrines are located to the North and to the south of the sanctum. The bronze image of Karaikkal Ammaiyar is of great workmanship. Legend has it that Tirunavukkarasar was directed by Shiva in one of his visions to visit this shrine, Sambandar is believed to have visited this shrine with him.
The original brick and mortar temple was reconstructed of stone during the reign of Vikrama Chola, just prior to 1130. Inscriptions from the period of Rajadiraja II, Kulottunga III and Rajaraja III speaking of grants made to the temple are seen here.

Lord Muruga appears as Somaskandar in Ettukkudi. This place is located in the Thanjavur - Nagapattinam route. It is located around 23 kms from Tiruvarur. The devotees are welcomed by the 'Kandan Valaivu' or Kandan arch. The other entrance leads one to the Ammaiappan Soundara Nayakar sannidhi. A Siddhi Vinayakar sanidhi is seen here. Also present are separate shrines for Koothadum Ganapati, Suradevar, Srinivasa Soundararaja Perumal, Anjaneya, Manonmani Ammai, Ayappan, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas, Sani Bhagawan and Bhairavar. The Bhairavar sannidhi leads one to the Ammaippan sannidhi.

The Suradevar shrine here is a little strange for the fact that it is one of the few temples in India which houses its shrine. Another specialty is that to cure the ills caused by the Asuras, Siva is said to have taken this form and destroyed them. There is also a shrine for Idumban and Kadamban. The temple is also surrounded by many small shrines of Iyyanar, Mariamman, Draupadi and Kali. There is also a shrine for 'Kokkaritha Vinayakar'. He is called so because He emulated the sound of a cock in order to wake up Thirunavukkarasar. Legend has it that the form which Lord Muruga assumes here is the typical warrior-cum-hero form in His peacock - also called Virasoundaryar. This form was taken by Him in order to vanquish the demon, Surapaduman. The head of the peacock in all Murugan temples is seen facing the right side. However, in Ettukkudi, it is seen facing the left. This fact is also mentioned in the Kandapuranam.