Karkadeswarar Temple

Thirundhuthevankudi, Thiruvidaimarudhur 

 

karkadeshwarar-temple

 

Main Deity : Karkadeswarar.

Ambal : Apoorvanayaki, Arumarundhu Nayaki.

Other Deities : Ganapathy, Dhakshanamurthy, Durga, Murugan, Moon, Dhanvanthari and Agasthiyar.

Theertham : Navapashana Theertham.

Temple Tree : Panchathala Vilvam(Bael Tree).

Prominence of the shrine : The temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of Saivite Saint Tirugnanasambandar.  This is the 42nd shrine  on the northern bank of Cauvery mentioned in Thevaram hymns.  Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy (formed by its own).   There are two Goddesses in the temple against one normally seen in Shiva temples.  They are in separate shrines.  As you enter the  temple, Ganesha, Altar and Nandhi are present.  In the west of Sanctum, there are shrines of Ganapathi, Murugan and Gajalaxmi.   Dhakshanamurthy is located in the south and Durga in the north.  Dhanvanthari and Agasthiyar are also present on the outer courtyard.   There is no shrine for Navagraha.  Planet Moon is in a shrine at the entrance of the temple in meditating form as Yoga Chandra.  Those  undergoing Moon main period in their life are advised to offer white vastras (clothes) to Chandra if they have adverse aspects.

Aslesha-Ayila star under Karkadaga-Cancer Rasi has naturally medicinal powers.  They also have the confidence that they achieve  through divine backing.  They have a firm mind.  They should pray to Lord of this temple on their star days, new moon days, Tuesdays,  Saturdays and on Ashtami days in the new moon fortnight.  People of other stars too may depend on Lord Karkadeswara and  Arumarundu Nayaki for cure from prolonged diseases like cancer.  Ayilam starrers worship in this temple for relief from adverse  planetary effects, performing abishek to Lord Karkadeswarar with gingely oil.  It is believed that consuming this abishek oil heals  illnesses.  There is a hole on the body of Shivalinga made by a Karkadam -Cancer (Nandu in Tamil) a sea creature and an injury scar  caused by Indira.  The name Tirunthudevankudi relates to the story of Indira worshipping in the temple and correcting his mistake.   Devan is Indira.  Tirunthu means correcting oneself.  Local people do not know this name. They know the temple only as Nandukoil.   There is a sculpture of Crab worshipping the Lord in this temple.

Temple History : Sage Durvasa was mocked at by a Gandharva (a community known for their skill in music) that he was walking like a  cancer-nandu.  The sage was just completing his Shiva Puja.  So the sage got annoyed and cursed him to become like a crab.   Gandharvan pleaded to get redressed from the curse.  So the Maharishi asked him to worship the Lord Karkadeswara.  Gandharvan did  the same and redressed from the curse.  It is said in Thalapuranam that the Goddess Parvathi once worshipped this Lord in the form of  crab with the lotus flower in the moat surrounding the temple.  Devendran too was worshipping the Lord with 1008 lotus flowers planted  by him in the moat.  He got annoyed by seeoing the crab plucking the flowers.  Once when crab was climbing the Linga to present the  flower, Devendran through his sword on the crab.  So Lord Shiva made a hole on his head and pulled in the crab.  Then Devendran  realized his fault and corrected his mistake.  Indira the king of Devas, following the advice of his Guru Prahaspati worshipped the Lord  here with 1008 flowers daily after a dip in Pushkarini and corrected himself for the wrongs he committed.

Chola king who was attacked with paralysis.  No treatment yielded results.  He was praying to Lord Shiva for remedy.  An aged couple  practicing medicine came to his court and offered him the sacred ash with water.  Surprisingly, the king was cured instantly and stood  up majestically.  He begged the old couple to stay with him as doctors of the royal family in the palace but they refused.  He offered  them gold and other gifts which too they declined to accept.  The king promised them that he would give them anything they wished.   They brought the king to this spot and asked them to build a temple for Lord Shiva.  They merged in the Shivalinga there.  Realizing that  the couples were none other than Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi, the king built the temple at the place.  Worshipping Shiva here  ensures all cures from any illness.  Saivite saint Tirugnanasambandar had mentioned the Lord as Healer in his hymns.  There are two  Ambicas in the temple.  When the king built the temple, he could not get the original Ambica idol.  He made a new one and installed it  as Arumarundhu Nayaki – Goddess of rare medicine.  Within a few days, the original idol also appeared.  Installing that too, he named  her Apoorva Nayaki who is the principal Goddess of the temple.

People who worshipped here : Crab, Ambica, Indran, Chola King.

Poets who sang its praise : Tirugnanasambandar.

Temple Timings : Morning 09:00 am to 02:00 pm, Evening 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm.

Pooja Details : One term pooja.

Nearest Town : Kumbakonam.

Temple Address : Karkadeswarar Temple,

Thirundhuthevankudi - 612 105, Veppathur post, Thiruvidaimarudhur Taluk,Thanjavur District.

Telephone Number : 99650-77862.

Hotel Near Karkadeswarar Temple, Thirundhuthevankudi :

1. Sivamurugan Hotels(4.7km from Temple),

60 Feet Main Road, | Near New Bus Stand,

Kumbakonam 612 001, India,

Ph: 096000 00384.

 

2. Sara Regency (6.2km from Temple),

45/1 Chennai Road, Kumbakonam 612002, India,

Ph:082200 05555.

 

3.Quality Inn VIHA (4.6km from Temple)

New Railway Road, Kumbakonam,

Tanjore, Tamil Nadu 612001,

Ph:0435 255 5555

4.Hotel Green Park (7.7km from Temple)

No. 10, Lakshmi Vilas Street,

Kumbakonam, South India - 612001.

Ph :(0435) - 2402853 / 2403914

5.Hotel Vinayaga - Kumbakonam(5.6km from Temple)

132C, Kamaraj Road,

Kumbakonam- 612 001

Tamilnadu, India

Tele : +91 435 240 03 56

Telefax : +91 435 240 03 57

Mobile: +91 822 001 9 122

Reservation No: +91 4296 272 110

Restaurant Near Karkadeswarar Temple, Thirundhuthevankudi :

1.Venkatramanaa Hotel

No 40, TSR Big Street, Kumbakonam HO,

Kumbakonam - 612001, Near Gandhi Park

Ph : +(91)-9442130736

2.Sri Balaji Bhavan

1, Sasthra College Road,

Kumbakonam HO, KUMBAKONAM - 612001

Ph : +(91)-435-2424578

3.Hotel Shanmuga Bhavan

16, Kumbeswarar South Street,

Kumbakonam HO, KUMBAKONAM - 612001

Ph:+(91)-435-2433962

4.Gowri Shankar Hotel

No 47, John Selvaraj Nagar,

Kumbakonam HO, Kumbakonam - 612001

Ph : +(91)-9443131276 ,+(91)-435-2431177

 tel  : (91)-435-2430736

5.Rayas Garden Restaurant

No 18 Rayas Hotel, Head Post Office Road,

Kumbakonam HO, Kumbakonam - 612001

Ph :+(91)-435-2423170, 2423171, 2423172, 2423173"

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.37 (450 Votes)

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