Sri Venni Karumbeswarar Temple / வெண்ணிகரும்பேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Koilvenni / Kovilvenni / கோயில்வெண்ணி, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 219^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 102^nd sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. This place was called Venni during the Thevaram period and is now called Kovilvenni.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvedhikudi. But Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Purana, Sekkizhar didn’t mention this temple in particular, but mentions other temples on the way from Thirukarukavur to Thirunallur.

வெண்ணிமேய விடையவர் கோயிலை

நண்ணி நாடிய காதலின் நாள்மதிக்

கண்னி யார்தம் கழல் இணைபோற்றியே

பண்ணில் நீடும் பதிகமும் பாடினார்

……. திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

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

சடையானைச் சந்திர னோடுசெங் கண்ணரா

உடையானை உடைதலை யிற்பலி கொண்டு ஊரும்

விடையானை விண்ணவர்தாம் தொழும் வெண்ணியை

உடையானை அல்லது உள் காதுஎனது உள்ளமே

……… திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

முத்தி னைப்பவ ளத்தை முளைத்தவெம்

தொத்தி னைச்சுட ரைச்சுடர் போலொளிப்

பித்த னைக்கொலும் நஞ்சினை வானவர்

நித்த னைநெரு நற்கண்ட வெண்ணியே

…… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

Moolavar  : Sri Venni Karumbeswarar, Sri Thiyabarewswarar,

                  Sri Rasapureeswarar, Sri Venni Nathar.

Consort    : Sri Azhakiyanayagi, Sri Soundara Nayagi.

Some of the salient features of this temple are……

Rajagopuram consists of 3 tiers, which were built in recent years, and there is no Dwajasthambam. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are made of Stucco. In Sanctum Moolavar banam is not in regular shape, and there are marks of Karumbu kattu (Sugar cane bundle) under Rudraksha mandapam. 

In Koshtam Ganapathy, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai.  In Artha Mandapam Nalvar with Sankarachariyar paintings. 

In Parakaram sannidhi for Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Suriyan, Chandran, Navagrahas, and Bhairavar.

Ambal is in a separate sannadhi. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastham. Dwarapalakis are of Stucco. A wooden pole is tied with bangles.

The Temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. A two-tier Vesara Vimana is above the sanctum. The mandapam on the outer side of the sanctum was built at a later stage, which forms a moat / agazhi form. Sthala vruksham is Sugar cane (Not available) and Venni Plant (Nandhiyavattai).

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Sangam period Poet Vennikurathiyar composed a song in praise of Karikala Chozha’s Venni war. Since Karikala Chozha was victorious in the war, this place was called “Ventriyur”, which was shortened to “Venniyur” and has been corrupted to the present name of “Venni”. 

Karikala Chozhan defeated the Cheras and Pandya regional /kurunila kings after worshiping Sri Pidari Amman of this Village.

During Karikala Chozha’s period, this place was complete with sugarcane and Nandhiyavattai plants. When he was traveling in this way, he heard the hot arguments between two sages / Munivar. The King Pacified both. He learned that there was a Shiva Linga and constructed a temple at this place.  

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. Later reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period.

Some of the inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Rajarajan-III and Kulothunga Chozha-III.  As per the inscriptions, this place was called “Suddhamalli Valanattu Venni Kootrathu Venni”. Lord Shiva was called “Thiruvenni Udayar”.

Rajarajan-III’s period 13^th Century, an inscription records that land was gifted to this temple by Nithavinodhavalanattu Veera Chozhavalanattu Puthur alias Thiribhuvana Chaturvedi Mangalam sabha as Thirunamathukani. The inscription also mentions the periphery limit of the land, and the division of land depends on the produce.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s period (1196 CE) 12th-century inscription starts with his meikeerthi, which records the endowment of land gifted to this temple, Adhi Chandeswarar, and Koothadu Nayagar. Gold was deposited in the treasury, and the interest was adjusted to a land.    

An inscription without the king's name and year records that this temple was reconstructed as a stone temple by Poovanur Udayan Araiyan Thiruvaiyarudayar Chozhagangar.

Most of the Chozha period inscriptions speak about donations of land, money, etc, to this temple, for the burning of Perpetual lamps, pooja Naivedya, and service.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Lord Shiva came through the Sugarcane bundle, and the sugarcane impressions can be seen on the moolavar banam. It is also believed that people with diabetes will get cured after worshiping Lord Shiva at this temple. The devotees used to offer Sakkarai Pongal and sprinkle sugar mixed with wheat rava in the prakara.

Venni (Nandhiyavattai flower) plant is the sthala Vruksham of the temple. Hence, this place obtained the name Venni. Since Lord Shiva came through Sugarcane bundles, Lord Shiva obtained the name “Karumbeswarar” and is also called “Venni Karumbeswarar”, combining both.

Devotees used to pray to Ambal for a child boon. After getting pregnant, devotees perform the “Valaikappu” in this temple. The devotees used to offer bangles to Ambal as a part of Thanksgiving. A wooden pole is tied here with bangles.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi (May – June), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani (June – July), Aadi Fridays and pooram in the month Aadi (July – Aug), 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), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi (Dec – Jan), Thaipoosam in the month Thai (Jan – Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from  17.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile of Prabaharan (பிரபாகரன்) +91 99768 13313 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

This place, Kovilvenni, is on the main road from Thanjavur to Thiruvarur before Needamangalam.

The temple is 26 km from Thanjavur, 31 km from Kumbakonam, 34 km from Thiruvarur, and 312 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Kovilvenni, and the Junction is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---