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94. Keevalur

கீவளூர்  

Location: Keevalur near Nagappattinam, Tiruvarur
(Chola-South of Kaveri )
Shiva: Kediliyappar, Akshayalingeswarar
Ambal: Vanamulaiamman, Sundarakuchambika
Vriksham: Ilandai Maram (Badari)
Theertham: Saravanappoikai
Patikam : Sambandar, Appar
Travel Base: Thanjavur
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Description: This Shivastalam is a maadakkaovil known as Peruntirukkovil built at an elevation and is located half way in between Nagappattinam and Tiruvarur. The hillock is known as Chitrakootagiri. The other hillock temples (maadakkovils)  in this area are Tevoor, Sikkal, Ambar, Nannilam, Tandalai, Vaikal, Nallur, Veezhimizhalai, Naraiyur, Valivalam, Aakkoor. Keevalur is considered to be the 84th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. 

Legends: The stalapuranam holds that Shiva worshipped by Subramanyar.  It is belived that this shrine was not /will not be consumed by the great deluge. Shiva is said to have danced with his right foot raised, for Agasthyar.  (The image above is that of the panel depicting the 5 Sabhas of Natarajar at Tiruvalankadu). Kuberan is said to have come here to help out a poor devotee by name Chandragupta. Subramanyar is said to have created this shrine with the help of Indra.

The Temple: A grand Rajagopuram with stucco figures and majestic walls adorn the shrine. The Aniyottikkal Mandapam, the Mahamandapam have beautiful images of lions, yalis. Inscriptions from the Chola period and the Maratha period are seen in this temple. There are several shrines here - Subramanyar, Sundara Vinayakar, Anjuvattammai, Venkatachalapati, Agasthya lingam under the stala vruksham, Kuberan in the Amman shrine etc.

The Navagrahams are in a single file as in Tiruvarur nearby.  The image of Nataraja here is of great beauty and it dates back to the 18th century.12th Century Chola inscriptions are seen in this temple and several literary works glorify this shrine. This shrine has been glorified by Muthuswamy Deekshitar's kriti Akshaya Linga Vibho in the raga Sankarabharanam.

Festivals: Six worship services are offered each day. The annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chittirai, when the Rishabha vaahana utsavam and the Sapta Stana utsavam assume significance.

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