Sarguneswarar Temple / Sri Brahmapureeswarar Temple / Karkudi Sargunalingeswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு சற்குணலிங்கேஸ்வரர் (கருக்குடிநாதர் ) திருக்கோயில் Marudanallur or Marudhantha Nallur or Karukudi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 186^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 69^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called as Marudanallur or Marudhantha Nallur. But Thirugnanasambandar refers this place as Karukkudi. The Enathi Natha Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars belongs to Enanalloor which is near to this place.

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirugnanasambandar’s visit to this temple in his purana in periya puranam is not traceable.

வேதியன் விடையுடை விமலன் ஒன்னலர்

மூதெயில் எரியெழ முனிந்த முக்கணன்

காதியல் குழையினன் கருக்கு டியமர்

ஆதியை அடிதொழ அல்லல் இல்லையே

..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                    -“செப்பமுடன்

ஓங்குந்திருத் தொண்டருள்குளிர நல்லருளால்

தாங்குங்கருக் குடிவாழ் சங்கரனே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Karukudinathar, Sri Bramhapureeswarar,

                  Sri Sargunalingeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Advaitha nayagi, Sri Kalyana nayagi.

Some of the salient features of this temple are.........

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Rishabam and Balipeedam are in front of Sanctum Sanctorum. A Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati is on the arch and entrance of Sanctum. Vinayagar and Murugan Sannidhis are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is believed to be made of mud by Sri Rama and hence abhishekam is not done to moolavar. Abhishekam will be done after covering the Shiva Linga with a Kavasam. Avudayar is of stone. In Koshtam, Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy with 2 sanakathi munis, Lingothbavar with Maha Vishnu and Brahma on both sides, Brahma and Durgai.

In Prakaram, Dwara Ganapathy, Bala Murugan, Saneeswarar is bala Saneeswaran, A Shiva Linga Sannathi and a Rishabam, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan, Hanumantha Linga, Pandya King Sargunan and his minister. Ambal is in standing posture in Kalyana kolam. The Ambal Sannathi is on the right side of the main sanctum Sanctorum facing east. An image of Dhananjayan worshiping in worshiping posture.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum Vimanam is little taller. Veena Dakshinamurthy is on the Vimana.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7^th Century. Latter the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period. Further extended during Thanjavur Nayaks Period and maintained by Nattukottai Nagarathars.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Rajaraja-I and Kulothunga Chozha-III. Rajarajan-I’s 2^nd reign year inscription records Lord Shiva’s name as Vizhumiya Nayanar and this place was under Kulothunga Chozha Valanattu Thirunaraiyur Nadu.

Thiruvathavur nayanar ( Manickavasagar ) was establisehed by a Devaradiyar Karaiyerivittal Thirunattaperumal of Visveswarar temple at Chennimangalam and also gave gift to daily worship. 

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 06^th July 2003 and 11^th June 2011, after maintenance.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Brahma, Hanuman, Rama, Pandya King Sarguna and his minister worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Since Brahma Worshiped, Lord Shiva is called as Brahmapureeswarar. And Lord Shiva is also called as Sarguna Lingeswarar, since the Pandya King Sargunan, worshiped.

During exile Rama with Sita and Lakshman stayed here for some time. For doing pooja, Rama asked Hanuman to bring a Shiva Linga from Kasi. Since it was delayed and pooja time is going to end, Rama made a Shiva Linga out of mud and completed the pooja. The finger impressions are still found on the moolavar. Latter the Shiva Linga brought by Hanuman was installed in the prakaram and called as Hanumantha Linga.

A Trader called Dhananjayan who was affected by leprosy came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva. He was cured latter. His image is in front of Ambal Temple.  Hence Devotees affected by leprosy prays Lord Shiva to get cured.

People prays Lord Shiva to get cured from Leprosy, to remove marriage obstacles, Vasthu related problems during the construction of houses, etc,.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on, Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month of Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiru Karthigai and Sangu abhishekam on Mondays in the month of Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ),   Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradosham days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Sridhar Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile +91 9943523852 for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

5 KM from Kumbakonam on Kumbakonam to Mannargudi bus route. 5 Rs ticket in Mannargudi bus.

The Place Marudanallur 5.5  KM from Kumbakonam, 7 KM from Nachiyarkoil / Nachiyarkoil, 39 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 36 KM from Thiruvarur and 298 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---