Osai Kodutha Nayaki : The Temple Where Goddess Parvati Is Believed to Have Given Sound to Golden Plates

What if a pair of golden plates could tell a story about the power of divine sound?

Located at Keezhai Thirukolakka in Tamil Nadu is the ancient Thirukolakka Sapthapureeswarar Temple, a sacred Shiva temple believed to be more than 1,000 years old.

For devotees, this is not just another ancient temple. It is a place deeply connected with sound, speech, devotion and the grace of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The temple is especially known among devotees who pray for children facing speech difficulties or stammering. 

The temple's most cherished legend is connected to Saint Thirugnana Sambandar. As a child, Sambandar travelled to various Shiva temples, singing hymns in praise of Lord Shiva and clapping his hands with devotion. But the constant clapping began to hurt his little hands.

Moved by his devotion, Lord Shiva is believed to have given the young saint two golden plates so that he could continue his worship without hurting his hands.

But there was one problem. The golden plates made no sound. It was then that Goddess Parvati stepped in. With her divine grace, she is believed to have infused the plates with sound, allowing them to resonate.

That is why Goddess Parvati is worshipped here as Osai Kodutha Nayaki - the Mother who gave sound. 

This ancient story has given the temple a special place in the hearts of devotees. Children who are unable to speak and those who experience stammering are among those who visit the temple seeking the blessings of the Goddess. Devotees believe that praying here connects them to the divine grace associated with the gift of sound. 

One of the important practices is connected to the temple's sacred Ananda Theertha. Devotees who have speech difficulties may bathe in the sacred water and offer prayers to Ambica, seeking her blessings and divine intervention. Another touching tradition at the temple involves offering honey at the feet of Mother Osai Kodutha Nayaki.

Honey represents sweetness, purity and nourishment. Devotees offer it with prayers, seeking the Goddess's blessings and hoping that sweetness enters their lives. Some devotees also consume the offered honey as part of their worship. 

The temple is also associated with prayers for marriage. According to the temple's tradition, Goddess Mahalakshmi is believed to have performed penance seeking Lord Vishnu's hand in marriage.

Because of this belief, women visit the shrine, particularly on Mondays and Fridays, and some perform turmeric archana for six consecutive weeks while praying for their marriage wishes to be fulfilled. 

Thirukolakka Sapthapureeswarar Temple is also one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - sacred Shiva temples praised in the Tevaram hymns of the Tamil Saivite Nayanars.  For devotees, every part of the temple carries a story from the golden plates and the sacred waters to the prayers offered before Osai Kodutha Nayaki.

Perhaps that is what makes this temple so special. Its legend reminds us that even silence can be transformed into sound through divine grace.

Source : Hindu Blog , prtraveller.

Image Credit : vandeguruparamparaam , prtraveller.