ElmoPedder14 at 03:08, 12 March 2026

2026-03-12T03:08:39Z

>Jaysonsands: Jaysonsands moved page Garbharakshambigai temple to Garbharakshambigai Temple

2021-05-23T10:00:42Z

Jaysonsands moved page Garbharakshambigai temple to Garbharakshambigai Temple

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Garbarakshambigai Temple
| image = Gopuram view from Temple tank.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|10|52|5|N|79|16|32|E|type:landmark_region:IN-TN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name = Thirukkarugavoor
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Tanjore]]
| location = [[Papanasam]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Mullaivananathar<br/>([[Shiva]])
Garbharakshambigai<br/>([[Parvathi]])
| facade_direction = East
| temple_tank = Ksheera Kundam (Milk Pond)
| tower =
| festivals= Vaikasi Visagam, Navarathiri
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions = 31
| year_completed = 6th century
| creator =
| website = http://garbaratchambigaitemple.org/
}}

'''Garbharakshambigai Temple''' (கர்ப்பரட்சாம்பிகை கோயில்)<ref name="ta.wikipedia.org">[[:ta:திருக்கருகாவூர் முல்லைவனநாதர் கோயில்]]</ref> is a [[Hindu]] temple dedicated to [[Shiva]] located in Thirukarukavoor, [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<ref>''Census of India, 1961, Volume 7; Volume 9''</ref> 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]].<ref name="pillai12">Pillai 2000, pp. 12-16</ref>

==Legend==
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 Tirukarukavoor.<ref name="pillai12"/><ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st|page=28}}</ref>

Pancha Aranya Sthalams: Aranyam means forest and the following five temples at different forests Thanjavur / Kumbakonam / Thiruvarur region are revered as "Pancha Aranya Sthalams".<ref>http://www.shivatemples.com/sofc/sc099.php</ref>
* 1. Sri Mullaivananathar Temple at Tirukkarugavur – Mullai vanam [SCN018]
* 2. Sri Satchi Nathar Temple at Avalivanallur – Paadhiri vanam [SCN100]
* 3. Sri Paathaaleswarar Temple at Thiru Aradaipperumpazhi (Haridwara mangalam) – Vanni vanam [SCN099]
* 4. Sri Aapathsahayeswarar Temple at Thiru Erumpoolai (Alangudi) – Poolai vanam [SCN098]
* 5. Sri Vilvavaneswarar Temple at Thirukollam Pudhur – Vilva vanam [SCN113]

== Significance ==
It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]] - [[Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu#Sthalams|Shiva Sthalams]] glorified in the early medieval ''[[Tevaram]]'' poems by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] [[Tirugnanasambandar]] [[Sundarar]] and [[Appar]].

==Architecture==
[[File:Tirukarugavoor2.JPG|thumb|200px|left|Entrance of the temple]]
Thirukarukavoor Temple is dedicated to [[Shiva]] and is located near [[Papanasam]], [[Tanjore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The temple has a 5-tier Raja[[gopuram]] 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 ''[[rajagopuram|gopuram]]'' facing east and also has an entrance facing south.<ref name="pillai12"/> There is a garden in the southern side and a Vasantha Mandapam in the north.<ref name="pillai12"/> The sanctum of Mullaivananathar is in the second precinct and the shrine of Amman is located parallel to the Swami shrine. The shrine is Nandi is located in front of Swami, with the Palipeeda and Dwajasthambam located right behind the Nandi.<ref name="pillai12"/> There is a Nataraja hall and a yagasalai. There are separate shrines for Natarajar, Somaskanda, Karpaga Vinayagar and Navagrahas.<ref name="pillai12"/> There are separate shrines for [[Sezhkizhar]], [[Nalvar]], Santhanachariar, [[Dakshinamoorthy]], Nrithivu Nayakkar, [[Arthanariswarar]], [[Mahalakshmi]], [[Arumugan]], [[Brahma]], [[Durga]] and [[Chandikeswarar]].<ref name="pillai12"/> There are four water bodies associated with the temple. Sheerakundam (Parkulam) is the temple tank located opposite to the temple and the water is believed to be born out of the milk of [[Kamadenu]], the sacred cow.<ref name="pillai17">Pillai 2000, pp. 17-19</ref> Sathyakupam is a well located in between the shrines of Swami and Amman. Brahma Theertham is a tank located north east of the temple - Nataraja gives theerthavari during Karthigai Thivatharai in this tank.<ref name="pillai17"/> Vritha Kaveri is the branch of Kaveri, Vettaru (also called Mullivay) - the stepshore is the bank for many of the temple occasions.<ref name="pillai17"/> The temple tree, Mullai tree is located in between the Swami shrine and Chandikeswarar shrine.<ref name="pillai17"/>

==Literary Work==
[[File:Tirukkarukavur1.jpeg|thumb|Sculptures in mandapa]]
The temple finds mention in ''[[Tevaram]]'', the 7th century 12 volume Saiva canonical work by Tamil saints, namely [[Appar]], [[Sundarar]] and [[Campantar]].<ref name="pillai23">Pillai 2000, pp. 23-24</ref> The temple also finds mention in ''[[Periya Puranam]]'' by Sezhkizhar, ''Siva Ksehtra Sivanamaga Kalivenba'' by Umapathi Sivam and ''Vinnapakali Venba'' by [[Ramalinga Adigal]].<ref name="pillai23"/> ''Thalapuranam'' by Ambalavana Pandaram, ''Nanmaimalai'' & ''Rettaimanimalai'' by Veerabathra 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.<ref name="pillai23"/>

==Inscriptions==
[[File:Garbharakshambigai Temple Timings.png|thumbnail|right|Garbharakshambigai Temple Timings]]
The temple has 31 inscriptions dating from the Chola period from the reigns of Koperi Varman, [[Raja Raja I]], [[Rajendra Chola I]] and [[Kulottunga I|Kulothunga Chola]].<ref name="pillai26"/> 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''.<ref name="pillai26"/>

== Transport ==
The nearest railway station is in [[Papanasam]], about 3 kilometres from the place. The nearest airport is in [[Trichy]]. 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.<ref name="TN">{{cite web|title=What to see - Thanjavur district attractions|url=http://www.thanjavur.tn.nic.in/whattoseetou.html|publisher=Thanjavur District Administration|access-date=2013-07-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518021412/http://www.thanjavur.tn.nic.in/whattoseetou.html|archive-date=2013-05-18|df=}}</ref>

==Festivals==
Vaikasi Visagam for Swami, Adipooram and Navarathri uthsavam for Ambal, Annabishekam, Kanthasashti, Karthigai Mahadeepam, Karthigai Sunday theerthavari and Panguni Uthram are some of the prominent festivals celebrated.<ref name="pillai26">Pillai 2000, pp. 26</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Tirukarugavoor3.JPG|The temple tank
File:Tirukarugavoor4.JPG|Depiction of the legend
File:Tirukarugavoor5.JPG|The Garbharakshambigai shrine
File:Lord Dakshinamoorthy.JPG|Lord Dakshinamoorthy
File:Gopuram view from Temple tank.JPG|Gopuram view from Temple tank
File:Gopuram of the temple.JPG|Gopuram of the temple
File:Sunset view in temple tank.JPG|Sunrise view in temple tank
File:The temple tank.JPG|The temple tank
File:Main Entrance of the Temple.JPG|Main Entrance of the Temple
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Citation |last=Sundararajan |first=K.R. |author2=Bithika Mukerji |title=Hindu spirituality: Postclassical and modern |year=2003 |publisher=Cross Road Publishing Company |location=USA |isbn=81-208-1937-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UUWIEfAY-mMC&q=vaitheeswaran+koil&pg=PA425}}
*{{cite book|title=Mullaivananathar Tirukoil Varalaru|last =Pillai|first=M. Sivaguru|edition=6th|year=2000|publisher=Thirukoil Veliyeedu}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* [http://garbaratchambigaitemple.org/ Official Website of Sri Garbarakshambigai Temple]

{{Famous Shiva temples}}
{{Hindu Temples of Kumbakonam}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Thanjavur district]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]

Garbharakshambigai Temple - Revision history

ElmoPedder14 at 03:08, 12 March 2026

>Jaysonsands: Jaysonsands moved page Garbharakshambigai temple to Garbharakshambigai Temple