ABOUT

The rock-cut cave Temple of Sri Kokarneswarar Brahadambal at Thirukokarnam is of Mahendravarma Pallava period. Thirukokarnam is situated just about 5 kms from Pudukkottai. The presiding deity is Gokarneshwarar and his consort is Brahadambal. Lord of Kokarnam is main deity of Tondaiman kings. Locally, this temple is known as Brahadambal temple and it is also known as Arakasu Amman temple. Kokarneswarar Cave Temple is excavated on the southern slope of a low rising hill and faces east. A sanctum is sunk into the back wall and has a monolithic Shiva linga inside. Right side has Ganesha while left is adorned with Shiva as Gangadhara. The mandapams in front of the main rock-out shrine are the work of the Cholas and Pandyas, between 11th & 13th century AD. There is an upper tier in this temple, where the shrines of Subrahmanya, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Annapurani and Rudrakshalingam, Brahma, Jvarahareshwarar, Bhairava, Surya, the Shaivite saints. It is the tutelary deity of Thondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai