At the tender age of just 3 years old, It was from Tirukolakka Sambandhar's spiritual odyssey first began, as he made his way to the sacred Shiva temples that dotted the landscape. Having received the "milk of wisdom" directly from goddess Parvathy herself, Sambandhar was imbued with the ability to effortlessly compose and sing devotional "pathikam" hymns, praising Lord Shiva with a purity and fervor that belied his tender years. Upon arriving at the temple in Tirukolakka, the young Sambandhar began to sing his soulful songs, accompanied by the rhythmic clapping of his tiny hands. However, the relentless percussive motion soon began to take its toll, causing Sambandhar's delicate palms to grow sore and weary. Sensing the child's discomfort, the presiding deity at Tirukolakka took pity and bestowed upon Sambandhar a wondrous gift - two golden plates inscribed with the sacred "NamaShivaya" mantra. These divine plates could be used by Sambandhar to beat out the rhythm, easing the strain on his hands while still allowing him to infuse his devotional songs with the perfect percussive accompaniment. Devi Parvathy herself is said to have imbued these golden plates with a truly celestial sound, elevating Sambandhar's musical offerings to a realm of pure, transcendent beauty. The deity of Tirukolakka came to be known as "Thalapureeswarar" - the One who provided the "thaalam" or rhythmic accompaniment. And the female consort deity as "Dhwani-Prathambal" - the one who bestowed the divine "dhwani" or sound upon Sambandhar's sacred songs.
Temple Layout - Situated in Tirukolakka, this Shiva temple, better known as Thalamudayar Temple, features a simple entrance, devoid of the towering gopuram commonly associated with South Indian temples. Directly opposite this entrance lies the sacred "Ananda theertham" pond. The entrance leads to an open courtyard, followed by another entrance that opens up to reveal the Nandi and the balipeetam. At the heart of this sacred space resides the primary deity, Thalapureeswarar, who blessed the renowned saint-poet Sambandhar with rhythmic musical plates. This deity was venerated by both the celestial god Indira and the sun-god Surya. The temple's "Goshta Murtha" deities include Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar, Brahma, and Goddess Durga. The circumambulatory path behind the sanctum houses the sannidhi of Muruga accompanied by his two consorts, and a sannidhi of Sri Mahalakshmi. It was here, at Tirukolakka, that Mahalakshmi, also known as Thiru-Magall, engaged in penance on Shiva, and was later united in marriage with Lord Mahavishnu. This auspicious event is believed to have given the place its name, "Tirukolakka," meaning the site of Mahalakshmi's sacred wedding. The sannidhi of Dhwani-prathambal is located to the left of the presiding deity's sanctum, accessible through a gateway in the north-outer prakaram. Devotees seeking to overcome obstacles related to marriage are encouraged to pray to Mahalakshmi on Mondays and Fridays for six consecutive weeks, as it is believed to bring about the desired blessings and fulfillment.
In a later period following the era of Sambandhar, a devoted mother came to this temple, praying fervently for the restoration of her son's ability to speak. Her prayers were answered, and the dumb boy's voice returned and he began to speak. The mother, overcome with unbridled joy and profound gratitude, gifted a golden plate to the deity Thalapureeswarar, and it can be seen in the temple.
The pathikam composed by Tirugyanasambandhar is in first Tirumurai.
Entrance
Second Entrance
Dakshinamurthy
Muruga with Valli, Deivanai
Sri MahaLakshmi
Dhwani Prathambal Sannidhi
Nandi, Balipeetam
Thalapureeshwarar
Lingothbhavar
Ananda Theertham