Sri Sarguneswarar Temple / சற்குணேஸ்வரர் கோயில், கருவேலி / ( Karuvilikottidai ) Sarguneswarapuram / Karuveli, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 180^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri and 63^rd sthalam of Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called as KARUVELI and also in the name of Lord Shiva as Sarguneswarapuram. During ancient period this place was called as Karuvili and the temple as Kottidai, combined together called as Karuvilikottaidai.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruveezhimizhalai. Even though he didn’t mentioned this temple in particular, but mentioned as other temples on the way.

வீழி மிழலை தனைப்பணிந்து வேத முதல்வர் தாம் இருப்ப

ஆழிவலம் ஏந்திய அரியால் ஆகாசத்தின் நின்று இழிந்த

வாழி மலர்ந்த கோயில் தனில் மன்னும் பொருளைப் போற்றி இசைத்துத்

தாமும் நாளிற் பிறபதியும் பணியும் காதல் தலைநிற்பார்

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

மட்டிட் டகுழலார் சுழ லில்வலைப்

பட்டிட் டுமயங்கிப்பரி யாதுநீர்

கட்டிட் டவினை போகக் கருவிலிக்

கொட்டிட் டையுறை வான்கழல் கூடுமே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                -“இந்நிமிடஞ்

சிந்துங் கருவிலியின் திண்மை யென்று தேர்ந்தவர்கள்

முந்துங் கருவிலி வாழ் முக்கண்ணா”

......... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Sarguna Natheswarar, Sri Sarguneswarar

Consort    : Sri Sarvanga Nayagi

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

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch on the road side. Rishabam is in a mandapam before the 3 Tier Rajagopuram. Moolavar is of Swayambhu. In Koshtam, Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,  Bhairavar, Brahma, Arthanareeswarar and Durgai.

In prakaram Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar and two kings. Goddess Simha Vahini and Hanuman as Sanjeevi Anjaneyar is near to the Ambal sannathi.

ARCHITECTURE

Ambal is in a separate temple with sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam and a Vimana over the sanctum. The main temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam.  The Sanctum sanctorum is on a pada banda adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. Prastaram consists of Valapi, kapotam and Viyyalavari. A 2 tier nagara - vesara vimanam is on the sanctum and sikaram is of vesara style.  Koshtas are in the greevam only. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7^th century. The same was reconstructed as stone temple during Chozha period and further extended by Vijayanagaras/ Marathas and Nattukottai Nagarathars.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to latter Chozhas, Rajathirajan-II and Rajendran.

Rajarajan-II’s 4^th reign year inscription records this place was under Uyyakondar Valanattu Vennattu Kulothunga Chozha Nallur Kottidai.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted during recent years on 27^th March 1997, 14^th July 2008 and 30^th June 2017.

LEGENDS

Ma Parvati went to attend the Yagna conducted by Dakshan, without the permission of Lord Shiva. There She cursed the Yagna, Dakshan and the Participants. Since she went without the permission of Lord Shiva, came to this place and did a penance to reunite with Lord Shiva. It is believed that Ma Parvati presented her as pleasing and beautiful form to Lord Shiva. Hence Ma Parvati is called as Sarvanga Sundari.

It is believed that Lord Shiva danced here as “Kodukotti” and hence place obtained the name as Kottidai. Yama also worshiped Lord Shiva to get relief from the sins.

In a legend the king named Sargunan was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva. He attained Mukti ie freed from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Hence this place is called as Karu + Illai – Karuvili ( Karu – foetus, Illai – no ). Hence Lord Shiva is called as Sri Sarguna Nathar -  Lord with good qualities.

It is believed that Indra, Yama and Devas worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Rudra Ganas also worshiped Lord Shiva, which is mentioned by saint Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal in his hymns.    

The 8 temples around this places are considered as a ashtadikpalakas, in which Anniyur is one of them. It is auspicious to worship all these eight temples.

Indra               Angambadi

Agni                 Vanniyur

Yama               Karuvili

Niruthi             Vayalur

Varunan           Sivanagaram

Vayu                Akalangan

Kubera             S Pudur

Esanan            Nallavur  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Aadi pooram in the month of Aadi ( July – Aug ), 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 ), Thirukarthigai in the month of Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Makar Sankranti in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradosham days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Land line and mobile numbers +91 4366 273900 & 9442932942, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH  

This place Karuvilikottidai is on the bus route  from Kumbakonam to Poonthottam and called as Karuveli.

The temple is 3 KM from Thirunallam ( Konerirajapuram ), 16 KM from Aduthurai, 20 KM from Kumbakonam, 31 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 34 KM from Thiruvarur and 314 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Aduthurai and Junction is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Saint or the  King..Sargunan..? not known

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---