Thirukarukavoor Shiva Temple
Garbarakshambigai Temple in Thirukarukavoor
Sri Garbarakshambigai Amman Temple is situated in Thirukarukavur (Thirukkarugavur), a small village in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, South India. This is an ancient temple of God Shiva dedicated to Sri Mullaivananathar and Sri Garbarakshambigai Amman.Thirukarugavur is the abode of Goddess Garbharakshambika and Lord Mullaivana Nathar. Garbharakshambika means “The Mother Who Protects the Womb”. The name of the place itself brings out the significance of the temple. A remarkable feature of the temple which distinguishes it from the innumerable other shrines of our land is that the Goddess Sri Garbharakshambika not only protects the unborn child, but also blesses people who long for a child, people who have pregnancy related problems and pregnant women who come to the temple praying for an easy delivery. The Other presiding deity is Lord Mullaivana Nathar (Lord of the Jasmine Garden). Worshiping this God will cure all kinds of skin diseases.
Presiding deity Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthi in the form of an anthill. As no abishek could be performed with liquid items, only a punuhu paste (a cosmetic paste) is offered – punugu chattam in Tamil. The place was earlier dense with Mullai plants – belonging to jasmine family – from where the Shivalinga was founds. As the plants were covering the Linga, those scars are still visible on the Linga.
The temple has a 5-tier Rajagopuram and an outer prakaram(closed precincts of a temple). There are inscriptions from Cholas and king Koparakesarivarman. The temple is 460 ft by 284 ft and has a gopuram facing east and also has an entrance facing south. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam and is considered to be the 18th in the series of Thevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri.
Pancha Aranya Sthalams : Thirukkarugavur is one of the Pancha Aranya Sthalams, The other 4 temples in the group are Alangudi, Avalivanallur, Haridwaramangalam and Thirukollambudhoor.
Significance of the temple:
v This is one of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 18th siva sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.
v The temple is reverred in the verses of Tevaram, the 7th century Tamil Saiva canon by Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and, Sambandar.
v Thirukarugavur Siva Temple is located on the banks of Vettaru River. (a tributary of Cauvery River)
v The place is also called Tirukalavur, Mullaivanam, Mathavipuram and Garabapuri. Since Mathavi is the temple tree, it is called Mathavipuram.
v Karu means womb, Ka means save and oor means village - Since womb is believed to be saved by the temple deity, the village is called Tirukarukavoor.
v The remarkable feature which distinguishes this temple from the other shrines is that, Goddess Sri Garbarakshambigai Amman here cures infertility related problems to women, blesses them to conceive and also helps them for safe and trouble free delivery.
v In this temple Navagraha shrines, are all facing towards the Sun.
v Inscriptions from Raja Raja Chola's period and Parantaka Chola's period (early 10th century) are seen in this temple.
Tirukkarukavoor - Sri Mullaivana Nathar Temple
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Main Deity
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Lord Shiva
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Name
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Sri Mullaivana Nathar
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Goddess Name
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Sri Garbarakshambigai
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Location
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Thirukarukavur
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Old Names
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Mullaivanam, Mathavipuram
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Theertham
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Bhrama Theertham
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Significance
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18th of 127 Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Southern bank of River Cauvery, One of 275 Devaram Padal Petram Sthalams,
Oil Prasadam For Pregnancy and Ghee Prasadam For Conception
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Ancient
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1500 years old
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Travel Base
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Kumbakonam
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Pregnancy prayer for the Divine Mother Garbarakshambigai
How to Reach : Thirukarukavoor temple is located 6 km east of Papanasam, 20 km south east of Kumbakonam, 10 km north of Saliyamangalam, 20 km north east of Thanjavur and on the southern bank of Vettar river. Plenty of local buses, auto and cabs are available from Kumbakonam.
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