Thirukkarugavur Sri Garba Rakshambigai Temple

This is located 21 kms from kumbakonam; diversion from Papanasam towards south for 6 kms.Main deity Swayambu linga known as Mullai Vananadhar (Lord of the Jasmine Garden) with Karukatha Nayaki or Garba Rakshambigai a highly popular temple for child born and safe delivery.

An orphan pregnant girl here was taken care of here pregnancy period by this goddess and so is known as karu (fetus) katha (protector) – nayaki and the place as karu - kavoor.

The main deity is a huge self-manifested lingam made of ant hill mud and one can see the mark of the Mullai (Jasmine) creeper around it. Therefore there is no water abhisekam, and worship is offered only with ‘Punuhu’. This punuhu chattam is offered by devotees who want to be cured from diseases.

Pregnant ladies pray for safe and easy delivery of the child. Abortion or death due to pregnancy does not take place after worshipping here.Childless couples pray for child boon.

Note: According to Sri Manamadurai Swamigal, the couples who visit the following temples in the given order are bound to get child.

1)Ettiyathali near Aranthangi. 2)Thirukkarugavur Garbarakshambigai (this temple mentioned above) 3)Karuvalarcheri and 4)Utharakosa mangai

Sudharshana Chakra Anjaneyar

This temple is at Thiru Aadhanoor is in between Swamimalai and Thiruvaigavoor. This is a small but popular temple with lot of significances. Anjaneyar is uniquely facing North directions. He is having the Navagrahas along the tail path and rounding up the 27 Rasi Chakras at the end of the tail. This temple is located 8 kms from Kumbakonam.

Thiru Aadhanoor Divya Desam

Around 8 kms from Kumbakonam diversion from Swamimalai towards north for about 3 kms enroute Thiruvaigavoor between Cauvery and Coloroon rivers.Main deity is Aandalakkum Aiyan. East facing Bujanga sayanam, i.e., in sleeping posture with the measure und his head as a pillow and palm leaf with pin in the left hand a beautiful deity who stays in our memory for long. Goddess – Kamalasini / Ranganayaki / Bhargavi Thaayar.

Thirumangai Alwar is seen near the feet of the lord inside the Garbagraham (sanctum) which is unusual (normally you can see the Alwars only outside). Alongside are Kamadhenu Brighu Rishi and Agni (Lord of fire).

Anjaneyar holds Sudharshana Chakra with his tail on his shoulder and it appears as if he is carrying some luggages.

This temple is referred as Aadhi Rangeswaram in the Brahmanda Puranam indicating that this shrine predates Srirangam Ranagatha temple.

One of the 108 Divyadesams this temple is said to be a remedy place for avoiding fire accidents in the house, factories and buildings, to prevent from electrical hazards and electrical shocks.

People who have ‘Sevvai Dhosham’ (Mars fault) in their horoscope should visit this temple and do prayers to Lord Vishnu and Thayar with a sari and ghee lamp to improve their prosperity.

Rama Temple (Divya Desam)

Ramar temple situated at Thiru Pullam Boothangudi. It is located 5 kms from Swamimalai; 1 km from Thiru Aadhanur enroute Thiruvaigavoor. Main deity Valvil Raman east facing bujaga sayanam (sleeping posture) with Portamararial or Hemambujavalli.In this temple utsava vigara is Rama with four hands. This temple belongs to the Ramayana period. This is a Vaishnava Navagraha remedy place dedicated to Mercury.Thyaga Samudhram, the near by village is considered to be the place where Jatayu breathed last. The word thyaga meaning sacrifice.

Sri Ranganathar Temple, Thirumandangudi

This temple is located at adjacent village to koonancheeri.This is the birth place of Thondaradi Podi Azhwar.Thondaradipodi Azhwar wanted Sri Ranganathar to get up from his reclining posture and so composed Thirupalliyezhuchi. The lord granted his wish and so is in a standing posture. There is also Srinivasa Perumal next to Thondaradipodi Azhwar idol in the Azhwar Shrine.

Subramanya Swamy Temple, Swamimalai

This is located 7 kms from Kumbakonam in the Kumbakonam – Thiruvaiyaru road.Main deity – Subramaniyar; Sundareswar and Meenakshi.One of the six important temples (Aaru Padai Veedu) of Murugan and one of the 275 Thevara padal Petra Sthalams of Shiva.There are 60 steps to the sanctum on the hillock, each one representing the Tamil year. Lord Subramanya is standing alone without any of his consorts.There are shrines for Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, Subramanya with Valli and Deivayanai; Somaskander; Visalkshi Viswanadhar. In this place the son was the preceptor to his own father Subramanya preached the meaning of Pranava manthra to Lord Shiva like guru to students.

Vishnu temple, Kabisthalam

This place is located 3 kms from Papanasam; 10 kms from Kumbakonam in the Kumbakonam – Thiruvaiyaru route.Main deity – Gajendran Varadhan in a reclining posture facing East with Ramamani Valli thayar (or) Thamaraiyal.Anjaneya was given the seva of Sriman Narayanan and so this place is called as ‘Kabishthalam’, ‘Kabi’ meaning monkey.

In addition to showing up the form of Sri Rama for Anjaneya and Sri Vaikundanathan for Gajendra Alwaar. He also showed up as ‘kannan’ at the river side. That’s the reason this Kshetram being known as ‘Krishnaranya Kshetram’. This is the only divya desam where the Lord gave dharshan (glimpse) to two animals.

One of the 108 divya desams and also known as Pancha Krishnaranya Kshetram (5 important Krishna Kshetrams) the other four being Thirukannapuram, Thiru Kannamangai, Thiruvazhandur and Thirukannangudi.

Note: On the opposide side of the main road, are the temple tank / Cauvery bank where the actual Gajendra Moksham incident was supposed to have taken place.

Aaduturai Divya Desam, Thirukoodalur

This temple is located in the Kabistalam – Thiruvaiyaru route, 6 kms from Kabistalam; 20 kms from Kumbakonam; 2 kms before Ganapathy Agraharm, on the main road, itself. The place is better known as Aaduthrai near Thiruvidaimarudhur.Main deity Jagadhrakshan or Vayyam Kaatha Perumal or Uyyanthavar in standing posture with thayar Padmasini.

The original temple built by Ambarishan was washed away by floods. Maha Vishnu appeared in the dream of Rani Mangammal of Madurai and asked her to build a new temple for him. The present temple was built by here. In one of the pillars of the temples we can see the image of Rani Managammal.

Hiranyaksha, a demon went on a destruction spree and pushed the earth into the sea. He did not spare even Brahma and the Vedas. Maha Vishnu then took the varaha (boar) incarnation and lifted the earth from the ocean with the help of his tusks. He killed with Hiranyaksha and salvaged the Vedas. Since he saved the world from extinction. He is known as ‘Vaiyam Katha Perumal’ or ‘Jagathrakshakan’

Bathing in the holy rivers, according to Hindu scriptures, washes away one’s sins. These holy rivers that accumulate the sins washed away by the people purify themselves by having a dip in the Cauvery. Cauvery who accumulated all the sins approached Brahma for a solution to the problem. Brahma directed Cauvery to pray to Lord Vishnu at this sacred place and accordingly Cauvery was purified. Praying at Aaduthurai Perumal temple is believed to absolve the devotees of all their sins and enable to attain Moksham i.e., Salvation.

Nandhaga Munivar came to this holy place accompanied by all the Devas. Koodal in Tamil means together. Since they all came together, this place came to be known as Thirukoodalur.

Shiva Temple, Vada Kurangaduthurai

There are two places in the name Kurangaduthurai and they are called so since Lord Shiva in these places were worshipped by the two monkey (Kurangu) kings of Ramanyana. This place is called vada Kurangaduthurai since it is located on the northern side of the Cauvery and worshipped by Vali. The other one Thenkurangaduthurai is more popular and better known as Aaduthurai near Thiruvidaimarudhur which is located on the south side of the Cauvery and worshipped by Sugreevan.

This is located less than a km from Aaduthurai Perumal temple enroute Ganapathy Agraharam.Main deity – Swayambu lingam, Azhagu Sadaimudinathar with Ambal Azhagu Sadaimudiamaai.

The temple has a 5 tier Rajagopuram with 2 praharams. Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu Durgai with 8 hands are very special here.During s hot summer when a pregnant women was passing with acute thirst, the Lord bent the coconut tree and arranged coconuts to quench the thirst of the women.

Special temple for pregnant women to pray. Natarajar who is normally seen as a metal icon in all temples is present here with Sivagamiammai as stone sculpture.The milk during the abisheham of Vishnu Durgai changes to blue.

Kumbakonam – Valangaiman – Needamangalam (Mannargudi)

Shiva temple, Sakkottai

This temple is located at Sakkottai 5 kms southwest of Kumbakonam. Main deity – Amirthakalasa nathar with Ambal Amirthavalli. This is a small temple, a single with a tank adjacent to it.

This temple is also referred to as Kottai Sivan temple, attributing to the belief that the temple as surrounded by a fortress (but now this is a small temple). Given the sakya (Buddhist) population that surrounded this area once this shrine was also known as a sakya kottai which is now known as Sakkottai.One of the 275 Therava padal Petra sthalam.

One of the three places associated with the legend of pralayam connected with Kumbakonam along with Aaadhi Kumbeswarar Temple and the Mahamaha tank.