KOVUR

    On the way back from Kundrathur after around 5 kms there is small village called Kovur.  This village is famous for its siva temple dedicated to Lord Sundareshwar.  The village is very beautiful with the four mada Veedhis full of beautiful tiled houses well maintained with their thinnai in the entrance. It took me 150 years backward and I had a feeling as if I am living in the 1850s.  Such a pleasant village on the outskirts of Chennai city and not affected by its modern living.  The temple is a seventh century temple built by the chozha dynasty.The 7 tier main tower of the temple is facing south. The temple is one of the Navagraha temple around Chennai for Budhan (Mercury).  The main deity Lord Sundareshwar and Ambal Soundarambigai are said to be so beautiful here and hence they are called so.  There is a legend that Saint Thiagaraja the great composer of Carnatic music was once travelling to Tirupathi through this village.  The local headman of the village asked Thiagaraja to sing songs in praise of him.  However, Thiagaraja refused and said that he will sing only in praise of Lord. While on his way to Thirupathi in his palanquin he was attacked by bandits who threw stones on the palanquin and on the bearers. Thiagaraja stepped out of the palanquin and told the bandits that he was not so rich to be robbed and he was going on a pilgrimage to Tirupathi.The bandits than asked Thiagaraja as to who are the young boys who threw stones back at them.

Thiagaraja explained  that there was nobody except himself and his palanquin bearers.  It then occurred to Thiagaraja that the young boys were none other than Rama and Lakshmana who had come o his rescue. He felt that the place had some holy power and came back toKovur temple and sang 5 compositions called Kovur Pancharatnam. The local headman thought that the songs were sung in praise of him however, Thiagaraja explained that it was sung in praise of  Lord Sundareshwar.  Thiagaraja had composed many of his songs in praise of Lord Rama only and this is one of the pieces in which he has sung in praise of Lord Siva..  It is also mentioned that Sekkizhaar who was born in nearby Kundrathur wrote his" Periya Puranam" from this temple only.