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 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.
During the Krithikai star of every month (Tamil month), Singaravelavar or Murugan goes in procession around the place. 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. This sort of piercing is done on other parts of the body also. The bearer does not shave; he grows a long beard and he eats only once a day.
In the Tamil month of Margazhi, the Thiruvathirai festival is held. Also in Aippasi, the Kandashashti festival is held for six days. Among those who visited the temple are sage Agasthiyar, Mutharsan - a Chola king, and Arunagirinathar. The sthala vruksham is the Etti tree and the sthala theertham is the 'Saravana
Poigai'.
S.Sowmya
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