Musings

Why the name kozhakkattai to my site. My daughters and my friends and all those folks to whom i sent the link have been asking me. Simple reason - i like Kozhakkattai so much. Rather its an understatement, I LOVE it more than anything else. But my younger daughter was quick to explain further to her sister, and believe me she is no less creative and she has her own unique way of explaining things. She explained, Dee Appakku Pilliar mathiri thoppai athan andha paer. (Daddy has tummy like Ganesh ji that is why he has named the site so) May be !! may be not. But end of the day I LOVE kozhakkattai and i dont think i would even allow pilliar to come between us.

Just to make my daughters happy i told them a good old story about Kozhakkattai which i have read when i was in school days.

Once upon a time there lived a mother with her three children. On one occasion mom prepared kozhakkattais (indian rice cakes/dumblings) to be offerred to Ganeshji. She makes kozhakkattais which are absolutely delicious.

After preparing the kozhakkattais, she went to market to buy vegetables for the evening dinner. Her kids, who are very mischievious ones, were playing ouside their home. The elder ones (aged 10 and 8) felt hungry and went inside and started gobbling the kozhakkattais. The third kid was a very small kid (aged 5) and came inside the house a bit late. By this time, the elder guys finished all the kozhakkattais and left two frogs inside the empty vessel!

The kid, the smallest of all, opened the vessel and saw the 2 frogs. He just wondered how could the kozhakkatais are green (the rice cakes are always white with a bit of brown tint sometimes) and has eyes and legs and above all jumping inside the vessel! He immediately ran out of the house and waited for his mom's return. When his mom came from the market, he asked ”Amma amma kozhakkattaikku kannum kathum undoh amma?!! ” (Mom, do the rice cakes have eyes and ears on them ?). Amma was surprised and thought the kid is joking with her and told him to eat it and not to play with her. She replied ”Kannum illai kathum illai - poi thinnu”.(”No eyes and no ears, go and eat it”).

The kid went inside again and now he saw the frogs jumping. He went back to his mom again asked his mom ” Amma amma kozhakkattaikku kaalum kaiyum undoh amma? ” (Mom, do the rice cakes have legs? ). Now the mom who was already tired and irritated and yelled at him ” Kaalum illai kaiyum illai po thinnu” (No legs, no hands, go and eat it).

Now we all know, children are epitome of innocence. He did not leave it and went back again to check on his jumping kozhakkattais. To his surprise, now the frogs were croaking!! He jumped and shouted and ran to his mom yelling, ” Amma amma kozhakkattai kku vaayum undo dee?!! ” ( Mom, Mom, do the rice cakes have mouth?!). Hearing this, the mom lost her patience and came to the kitchen and to her shock, she saw the frogs and no kozhakkattais.

She immediately realised who could be behind this mischief. Called her bigger ones and warned them. Meanwhile, she prepared fresh hot rice cakes – kozhakkattais for her youngest and fed him with all her motherly warmthness.

Now does this story has any connection. Nope. None whatsoever. Just wanted to tell you this story that is all.

Temple Travelogues - Koothanur Saraswathi Amman

Saraswathi - Saraswathi Ambal or Goddess of Learning - I am quite sure any one, especially Tamilians cannot feign ignorance about this Goddess with this name as they celebrate a day for this God specially during Navarathiri festival times. Saraswathi Pooja is celebrated on the ninth day of Navarathiri and the next day is Vijayadasami day. Both these days are considered to be auspicious for starting your education or anything that is related to education and learning. As a young boy, during my school days, I always used to look forward to this day because, this was one day where you kept all your books in front of this God at home and performed Pooja. And be informed, it was not because of my devotion I always looked forward, but once you keep the books for the Pooja then you are not supposed to touch it for next two days. This concept I loved and I always looked forward to keep my books (especially the most important ones having home work) in front of this God. Now having aged and out of school, I wish in office also they would follow this practice once in a while.

In this writeup we are going to talk about a temple dedicated exclusively for Saraswathi Ambal or the Goddess of Learning. Although you can see vigrahams/moorthys/ shrines in most Saivite temples, temples exclusively dedicated for Saraswathi are rare to find.

Koothanur can be reached by road as well by rail. If you are going to access this by road then after reaching Maiyladuturai take Tiruvarur Road and once we reach Poonthottam, its about 2 km north of Poonthottam. In case you are travelling from south part of Tamil Nadu, then reach Tiruvarur or Kumbakonam by road, then reach Poonthottam. If you are accessing this temple by rail then you may have to get down at Maiyladuturai and proceed by road to Koothanur which is 15 kms away.

This ancient temple is rich in legends and beliefs. Legend says that Koothanur is associated with the mingling of the three revered rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi. These rivers merge here as the Harisol river or Arasalaru known in local area and this merger is known as Triveni Sangamam. It is believed that Ganga attained Lord Shiva here. Ganga was separated from Him in order to facilitate Lord Shiva marry Parvathi and give birth to Muruga, who would then kill the demon, Tarakasuran.

On the other hand, Saraswathi who had an ego clash with Brahma was born on earth. After worshiping Lord Shiva both Brahma and Saraswathi got emancipation but Lord Shiva blessed Saraswathi could mingle as a river in Harisol and was also allowed to have a shrine on the bank of the river as the Goddess of learning. However Brahma, who was already with another curse, was deprived of a shrine. Not worried of this setback, Brahma prayed again and eventually Lord Shiva allowed him to have poojas in the rituals performed towards departed souls. Thus Brahma Pooja has come to be associated with rituals, and the rituals if performed here have a special significance.

The story associated with the river Yamuna is that she was tempted by the acts of Lord Krishna with the gopikas. Subject to a curse she prayed for emancipation and came as a river here.


However, history tells us a different story. The origin of the word Koothanur was from the name of famous poet Ottakoothar, who was gifted with this village by the then king Raja Raja Chola II. Ottakoothar – a contemporary of Kamban and the author of works such as Kulothunga Cholan Ula, Saraswathi Andhathi enjoyed the patronage of imperial Chola rulers. It is said that he is the one who started the celebration of Vijaya Dasami, the day following the 9 day Navrathiri festival in the month of Puratasi(tamil month). In fact, the name Koothanur derives from the poet's name Ottakoothar. There are quite a few stone inscriptions to substantiate and validate this claim of antiquity.

The temple has attained popularity by gaining the status of the only temple dedicated to Saraswathi. Devotees throng the place praying for their children's education and also for liberation from previous births by taking a bath in the Triveni Sangamam.

There is also legend that goes about Saraswathi Amman blessing Ottakoothar. Legend has it that once a young devotee desirous of knowledge performed severe penances at the Saraswathi temple here, seeking the blessings of Saraswathi. Saraswathi took the form of a courtesan and materialized before him and expressed her desire to bless him. The devotee refused to accept her blessings, not knowing who she was. Upon hearing of this incident, and recognizing the identity of the courtesan, the poet Ottakoothar rushed to the spot and prostrated before her seeking her blessings. It was after this incident that the fame of Ottakoothar is said to have spread throughout the Tamil land.

Bhaskarar, who wrote the Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Bhashyam, said that only if a person has done good deeds in previous births he would be able to admire the Goddess.

The temple buzzes with activity during Saraswathi Pooja and Vijayadasami. Apart from these Poojas are performed daily in the morning at 9.30 (Kalasandhi), evening at 6.30 (Sayarakshai) and in the night at 8.30 (Arthajamam). The other deities in the temple are Valampuri Vinayakar, Brahma, Nagaraja, Muruga, The Swan and Narthana Vinayakar, the last one being a self originated idol.


POOJAS TO BE PERFORMED FOR:-- As Goddess Saraswathi is for Learning, devotees can perform pooja in this temple to get excellent education and for learning fine arts. Musicians sing here and many even choose to perform here first. Instrumentalists have pooja performed for their instruments here. Apart from art and culture, Goddess Saraswathi also showers Her blessings for the education of children. Many parents see to it that the education of their wards begin on Vijayadasami Day, after the initiation ceremony at this temple. It is believed, that students appearing for Exams should write their Name and Roll number on a piece of paper and put it in the hundi kept in this temple after praying for success.

Also there is a belief that couples who remain childless for a long time should offer ghee, which will be placed at the Feet of the Goddess and after performing pooja this ghee is given to the couple. On taking is ghee for the next 48 days, it is believed that the woman will certainly conceive.

Some of the Saraswathi Slogams which I Know (thanks to my mother), if children recites this every day, then they are sure to be blessed with the boons of Goddess Saraswathi:

Saraswathi namasthubhyam, varade kama roopini,
Vidhyarambham karishyami, sidhir bhavathu me sada.

English Translation of the above slogam is “My salutations to Goddess Saraswathi, who can take any form, who is the bestower of all boons, and I start learning now, with a prayer to Her, to make it very effective.


Another one :


Yakundendu Thushara Hara Davalam,

Ya shubra vastravrutham,
Ya veena vara danda manditha kara, Ya shwetha padmasana,
Ya brahmachyutha Sankara prbhruthibhi Daivai sada poojitha,
Saa maam pathu saraswathi bhagawathi Nissesha jadyabaha.


The English translation of the above slogam is like “My saluations to Goddess Saraswathi, Who is while like a Kunda flower, Who shines like the full moon, Who carries in her hand a Veena and a stick, Who is seated on the throne of white Lotus, Who is worshipped by the holy trinity, With a prayer to drive away all my slothfulness.

**Temple entrance Photograph credit goes to Gopinatha Srinivas (GS).