Goddess Saraswathi Temple, Koothanur - Legends
Association
of Ottakkoothar:
It is learnt, that this place was known as “Ambalpuri”,
about a 1000years ago, even before poet Ottakkoothar was born. Goddess
Saraswathi did her penance towards Lord Brahma and conferred her blessings on
her devotees for ages. Devotees offer their puja with lovely flowers that are
known to be acceptable to the Goddess.
In a similar manner, Ottakkoothar, an ordinary mortal,
earnestly sought the blessings of the Goddess Saraswathi and Lord Pillayar
(Arul Gnana Vinayakar) to grant him the gift of the ability to compose poems.
Bathing in the river Arasalaaru daily and by offering floral tributes to the
Goddess, he got his boon fulfilled when the Goddess, came in a very beautiful
boat in the river, in the form of a lovely woman and gave him to wish.
Along with Goddess Saraswathi, Goddesses Lakshmi and
Parvathi too came by in this river and hence we can get the blessings of the
basic grace of them all-Adhisakthi. Blessed with the benign looks of Goddess
Kalaimagal, and the betel mouth Blessings of “Then Kani vagadevi”, Ottakkoothar
became a poet with the ability to compose rhythmic poems.
The populace was enamored of his ability to compose. His
fame reached the ears of King Vikrama Chola, who invited him to his court and
witnessed the blessed ability of Ottakkoothar.
From the day King Rajaraja Chola (grandson of King
Vikrama Chola), gifted this land to Ottakkoothar. This Ambalpuri has come to be
known as Koothanur.
Triveni
Sangamam:
Legend holds that, once a dispute arose between Lord
Brahma and Saraswathi. The quarrel between both of them worsened and hence to
teach them a lesson they were born as siblings in the Earth. When their parents
started looking for suitable matches they recalled their original
relationship and approached Lord Shiva for the solution. Lord Shiva made
Saraswathi as part of the Ganga River and brought her to Koothanur as
Arasalaaru River.
She became the Sacred Water for Lord Shiva. She also was
blessed with a temple for herself in Koothanur. Lord Shiva also sent
Rivers Ganga and Yamuna to converge with Saraswati River in to the Arasalaaru
and hence this place being a confluence of 3 holy rivers is called as Dakshina
Triveni Sangamam.
Lust of
River Yamuna with Krishna:
The story associated with the river Yamuna is that she
was tempted by the acts of Lord Krishna with the Gopikas. Subject to a curse
she prayed for emancipation and came as a river here.
Play of
Saraswathi:
Once upon a time a young devotee desirous of knowledge
performed severe penance at the Saraswati shrine seeking the blessings of
Saraswati. Saraswati took the form of a courtesan and materialized before him
and expressed her desire to bless him. The devotee refused to accept her
blessings, not knowing who she was.
Ottakkoothar rushed to the spot upon hearing of this
incident, and recognizing the identity of the courtesan, the poet prostrated
before her seeking her blessings. Only after this incident, the fame of
Ottakkoothar spread throughout the Tamil land. In fact, the name Koothanur
derives from the poet’s name Ottakkoothar.