Friday, March 11, 2016

Garbharakshambigai Temple, Thirukarukavoor, Thanjavur

Garbharakshambigai Temple, Thirukarukavoor, Thanjavur
Garbharakshambigai Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukarukavoor, TamilnaduIndia. 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 IRajendra 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 ApparSundarar 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