Karavera Nathar Temple / Brahmapureeswarar Temple / கரவீரநாதர் கோயில். கரவீரம் / கரையபுரம், Karaveeram, Vadakandam, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 208^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 91st sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. Now the place is called Karayapuram,  a part of Vadakandam.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of “thani Chathankudi”.

நீடுதிரு வாஞ்சியத்தில் அமர்ந்த முக்கண்

        நீலமிடற்று அருமணியை வணங்கிப் போற்றிப்

பாடுஒலி நீர்த் தலையாலங்காடு மாடு

        பரமர் பெருவேளூரும் பணிந்துபாடி

நாடுபுகழ்த் தனிச் சாத்தங்குடியில் நண்ணி

        நம்பர் திருக்கரவீரம் நயந்து பாடித்

தேடுமறைக்கு அரியார் தமவிளமர் போற்றித்

        திருஆரூர் தொழநினைந்து சென்று புக்கார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.   

அரியு நம்வினை உள்ளன ஆசற

வரிகொள் மாமணி போற்கண்டம்

கரிய வன்திக ழும்கர வீரத்தெம்

பெரிய வன்கழல் பேணவே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                    -“வளமை

எருக்கரவீரஞ் சேர் எழில் வேணி கொண்டு

திருக்கரவீரஞ் சேர்சிறப்பே”.

.........திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Karavera Nathar 

Consort    : Sri Prathyakshaminnammai.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance arch, in Koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga. Moolavar and Ambal are a little big, both facing east.

In praharam, Vinayagar, Murugan, Suryan, Chandran, Sahiswarar, Bhairavar, and Chandikeswarar. Alari is the sthala vruksham. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi in the ardha mandapa.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and a Vavval nethi ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The adhistanam is of simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam on a raised upanam. A 3-tier Dravida Vimanam is over the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple. A Nagara Vimanam is on the Ambal temple sanctum Sanctorum. Moolavar vimanam is a little taller than Rajagopuram. Almost all the mandapams are of Vavvalnethi mandapams. 

  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century, and later the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during the Nayakas period.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Gautama Maharishi, Brahma, Thirugnanasambandar, and Vallalar worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple.

This place Karaveeram obtained this name due to the presence of sthala vruksham Pon Alari. Pon Alari is also called Kaaraneeram. It is believed that those who pour water into the sthala Vruksham, then circumambulate the prahara and worship Lord Shiva, will get all the wealth.   

As per the Sthala Purana, this place was once a Pon Alari forest. The Lord Shiva, who came in the form of Adhi Shiva under the Pon Alari plant, was worshiped by Brahma. Hence, Lord Shiva is praised as Brahmapureeswarar.

Gautama Maharishi came to this temple and did penance for Lord Shiva of the temple for many years. Satisfied with the penance, Lord Shiva appeared and blessed him. In turn, Gautama Maharishi expressed his wish to worship him till the end of his life and finally merge with him. Lord Shiva granted the boon. Hence, it is believed that Gautama Maharishi worships Lord Shiva even today.

Thirugnanasambandar mentions in all his hymns that if anybody comes and worships Lord Shiva, they will get all wealth and get rid of all sins. Even now, on Amavasya days (new moon days ), devotees worship Lord Shiva to get all the wealth, which is a proven fact.

It is believed that Ambal is waiting in the ardha mandapa for Lord Shiva, who had gone on Thiruveethi Uzha. Hence, Devotees worshiping here will be removed from the marriage obstacles, Child boon, and all the wealth.

In another legend, a Donkey came to this place, worshiped Lord Shiva, and did penance. When it was about to die, Lord Shiva appeared and gave darshan. On seeing Lord Shiva, with happiness, it ran up to the seashore and worshiped him from there. Hence, Lord Shiva is praised as Karai Kanda Nathar, and the place is Karaveeram, ie, due to Agni's view of Lord Shiva, there are no houses on the route from the temple to the shore.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani (Aug – Sept), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March), and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs. Since one kala pooja is conducted, the devotees are advised to confirm before visiting the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS  

The landline number +91 4366 21978 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH  

This place, Karaveeram, a part of Vadakandam, is on the Thiruvarur to Kumbakonam main road. Get down at Vadakandam, Vettaru River Bridge.

The Temple is 7.2 km from Thiruvarur, 34 km from Kumbakonam,  53 km from Mayiladuthurai, and 327 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---