Garbharakshambigai Temple, Thirukarukavoor, Thanjavur
Garbharakshambigai Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located in Thirukarukavoor, Tamilnadu, India. The 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. The place is also
called Tirukalavur, Mullaivanam, Mathavipuram and Garabapuri. Since Mathavi is
the temple tree, it is called Mathavipuram (Mullaivanam); 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 Thirukarukavoor.
Presiding Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthy in the form of an antihill. Hence,
instead of direct abisheks only Pnugu Chattam is offered to the Lord.
This is an ancient temple of God Shiva dedicated to Sri
Mullaivananathar and Sri Garbharakshambigai Amman. Appar, Sundarar and
Sambandhar, the three famous Nayanmars have celebrated the glory of this temple
in soul stirring verses. The remarkable feature which distinguishes this temple
from the other shrines is that, Goddess Sri Garbharakshambigai Amman here cures
infertility related problems to women, blesses them to conceive and also helps
them for safe and trouble free delivery. Sri Mullaivananathar swamy is
worshipped for better health and well being. The co-ordinates for this temple
are 10.86N, 79.27E.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple Speciality
Devotees do cleaning of the steps with ghee for
auspicious conclusion of marriage proposals. Women do it before the shrine of
Ambica and draw Rangoli with archanas for wedding and child boon. Realizing
their wish, they tie cradles and offer Tulaabaaram. Women not having a child
even after years of marriage will offer ghee dedicated to Ambica with Mantras
and placed at the feet of Mother Karukatha Nayaki. They have to consume it for
48 nights continuously. Though the husband fails in the procedure, the wife
should scrupulously follow this condition.
There is no diet condition while taking this ghee by
women. The woman will conceive shortly. The temple offers a puja castor oil for
the pregnant women placed at the feet of Mother which they have to apply on the
stomach during the labour pain time for safe delivery of the child. This oil is
applied on pregnant women even when they feel pain naturally at some times
during the period.
Greatness of Temple
Presiding deity Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthy in the
form of an anthill. As no abishek could be performed with liquid
items, only a punugu 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.
Since days of yore, the place is considered a place of
safety for pregnant women. Lord and Mother protect these women from any
problem such as abortion etc. and ensure safe delivery of the child.
It is noteworthy that presiding Lord, Nandhi and Lord
Vinayaka are Swayambumurthis in the temple.
As Lord Muruga – Somaskanda - is in between Lord and
Mother, people pray to him for child boon. In the Navagraha shrine,
all the planets are facing Sun. Jupiter is directly facing
Sun. All planets offer only positive aspects, none retrograde. Mother,
Graces the devotees with her hand on her hip as if holding pregnancy.
The Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Inscriptions
The temple has 31 inscriptions dating from the Chola
period from the reigns of Koparakesari Varman, Raja Raja I, Rajendra
Chola I and Kulothunga
Chola. The
inscriptions record the grants of the temple by the kings. The inscriptions are
found on the walls of the temple, sanctum and also in the halls. The
inscriptions are recorded in numbers 100, 102 and 110 in South Indian
Inscriptions, Volume III, Part III.
The Gopuram and the huge compound walls tell the story
of more than a thousand years. The Sthalapuranam which are in Sanskrit and
Tamil are preserved in manuscript forms and show the antiquity of the temple.
The Sthalapuranam gives a detailed account of the origin of this Kshetram and
the various persons who obtained Divine Grace at this place. There are also
ancient inscriptions on the walls inside.
Inscriptions from King Raja Raja Chola’s period who
ruled between 985 and 1014 AD; as well as those from Parantaka Chola’s period
(early 10th century AD) are seen inside the temple. There is evidence that
Beema, Garkiyar, Gouthamar and a lot of ancient kings worshipped the God in
this temple.
Temple Opening Time
Temple is open from 7:00 AM – 12:30 PM & 4:00 PM –
8:00 PM.
Poojas/Sevas
For brief details, please refer below link;
Festivals
Vaikasi Visagam for Swami, Aadipooram and Navarathri Uthsavam
for Ambal, Annabishekam, Kanthasashti, Karthigai Maha deepam, Karthigai Sunday Theerthavari
and Panguni Uthiram are some of the prominent festivals celebrated.
Literary Work
Saint Thirugnana Sambandar had sung the glory of Lord of
the temple in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 18th Shiva temple on the
southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
The temple finds mention in Tevaram, the 7th century 12 volume Saiva canonical works by
Tamil saints, namely Appar, Sundarar and Sampanthar. The temple also finds mention in Periya
Puranam by
Sezhkizhar, Siva Kshetra Sivanamaga Kalivenba by Umapathi Sivam
and Vinapakali Venba by Ramalinga Adigal. Thalapuranam by
Ambalavana Pandaram, Nanmaimalai & Rettaimani Malai by Veerapathra
Swamigal, Pathirru Panthathi by Govindaswami Pillai, Vadamozhi
Slogangal by Anatharama Dikshithar and Amman thothirangal
Tamilpattu by T.S. Vaithiyanathan are some of the religious works
associated with the temple.
Prayers
For brief details, please refer below link;
Accommodation
There are no Lodges at this location, but paid bathrooms
are available inside the temple campus for nominal charges to freshen up. At
present there are no rest houses from temple administration.
Garbarakshambigai Amman Seva maiyam is a private rest
house maintained by Thirumathi. Dr. Jayam Kannan. Contact numbers for private
lodge in Thirukarukavoor - 04374 - 273741. Better Accommodations are also
available at nearby Kumbakonam and Thanjavur.
Contact
This temple is under the control of Hindu Religious
and Charitable Endowments Department, Government
of Tamil Nadu. It is administered
by an Executive Officer appointed by Commissioner of this department.
All Pooja procedures have been carried out as per Karana
Agama. The Executive Officer can be contacted during office hours in landline
number of this temple.
Shri Mullaivananathar & Shri Garbarakshambigai Temple,
Thirukarukavoor, Papanasam taluk,
Thanjavur District - 614 302
Phone: 04374 - 273423
Email: eomullaivananathartkr@gmail.com
Connectivity
Thirukarukavoor is a village situated in Thanjavur
District, Tamilnadu, South India. Thirukarukavoor is situated in Thanjavur -
Kumbakonam main road. People from Chennai and northern parts of Tamil Nadu may
reach Kumbakonam and from there to Thirukarukavoor. People from east and
southern parts of Tamil Nadu must reach Thanjavur and from there to
Thirukarukavoor. The temple is one of the prominent and most visited temples in
the district.
This village is 6 kms south of Papanasam, a town in
between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam main road. The temple can be reached from
Kumbakonam via Aavur and Patteeswaram. Also direct buses are available to
Thirukarugavur from Kumbakonam. Those coming from other place may hire a cab.
·
From
Thanjavur: Town Bus Number 24, 34, 16, 44.
·
From
Kumbakonam: Town Bus Number 11 and 29.
Apart from that various auto rickshaws and share autos
are available from Papanasam Bus stop. Auto fare costs around Rs.60 to Rs.80
while share auto cost around Rs.5 to Rs.10.
The nearest railway station is in Papanasam, about 3 kilometres from the place. The nearest airport
is in Trichy.
