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Locally known as Garbharakshambigai, she is an incarnation of Maa Parvati. The temple located in Thirukkarugavur in Thanjavur District (Click on this link for location) is first of the Pancharanya (5 forest) temple of the circuit to be worshipped. It is located on the banks of River Vennaaru and is a Padal Petra Sthalams (out of 276) and 18th one in the South of River Kaveri. (You can find links to other 4 Pancharanya Sthalams towards the end of this article). Thirukkarugavur is located close to Papanasaam (around 3kms from Papanasam Railway Station) in Tanjavur District of Tamil Nadu

The Temple

The presiding deities of the temple are Shri Garbharakshambigai (Maa Parvati) and Shri Mullaivananathar (Bhagwan Shiva). The temple has 5 tiered Rajagopuram and an outer Prakaram. Cholas built this temple in the 7th Century and the architecture is typically Dravidian Style. It finds mentions in Thevarams composed by Saint Poets Nayanmars. The temple has 31 inscriptions dating from the Chola period from the reigns of Koperi Varman, Rajaraja I, Rajendra Chola I and Kulothunga Chola.

In the days of yore, this place was a forest of jasmine – (thus part of the pancharanya sthalams). and Bhagwan Shiva self manifested (Swayambhu – one of the 64 Swayambhu Lingas) as a Lingam in this Mullaivanam (Mullai-Jasmine and Vanam-Forest) with a Jasmine Creeper around the Linga and hence came to be known as Shri Mullaivananathar.

Another unique feature is that the Shivalinga here is of Ant-hill mud and hence there is no Traditional Abhishekams performed as in other Shiva Kshetras. The only seva is Punugu (Civet) dharanam to the Deity. It is said that those with Skin Ailments or other Chronic illness would get relieved of the same when they worship Shri Mullaivananathar by offering Punugu Paste.

The more famous and much sought after Deity here is Shri Mullaivananathar’s consort Maa Parvati as Shri Garbha Rakshambigai, which literally means protector of womb or foetus. In Tamizh, She is also referred to as Karukaathanayagiambal (Karu = Womb/Foetus; Kaattha = Protected). The name of the town, Thirukarukavur is also derived from the same. It is also known by the name Madhavipuram (Madhavi means flowering creeper) and also as Garbhapuri.

As we enter the inner precincts, in the South West Direction we find upadevalaya for Niruti Ganapati and in the South for Dakshinamurti

The main Deity Shri Garbharakshambigai is life-size and at 7 feet tall, She looks lively. She has assumed standing posture with her left hand supporting the hip (womb) and right hand in Abhaya Hasta Mudra. Her attractive and soothing smile provides a ray of hope to all those devotee who come to seek Her blessings.

The Legend

Long ago there lived Rishi Nidhruva along with his wife Vedika serving Maharshis Gautama and Garga, who were performing their penance in the Ashram in Mullaivanam. Everything was fine with the couple except that they were childless and Maharishis sensed this regret they had in the couples’ lives. They advised the couple to perform puja to Mahadeva Shiva for 48 days. Since it was a dense forest of Jasmine creepers, there were no Shiva Linga or any temple in the vicinity and they go looking for it. They find an Anthill with Jasmine creepers encircling it. They deemed it as a Shiva Linga and called it Mullaivananathar (Ruler of Jasmine Forest). Along with their service to the Maharshis they continued their sincere prayers to their beloved Shri Mullaivananathar for 48 days and Vedika attains Garbha (pregnancy). Their happiness knew no bounds and they eagerly awaited birth of their child.

In the meanwhile, upon invited by Varuna (God of Rains) for conduct of a Yagna, Nidhruva traveled through skies to Varuna Rajya for performing the Yagna leaving his wife, Vedika alone, notwithstanding that she was in an advance stage of pregnancy. Rishi Urdhvapada on his travel arrives at Vedika’s Kuteer (hut) in Mullaivanam, seeking alms. After the day’s chores, heavily pregnant Vedika was resting inside and did not hear Rishi Urdhavapada’s call. Assuming that she was deliberately ignoring him and considering it an insult, he curses Vedika to fall sick. This resulted in degeneration of the foetus and Vedika undergoes abortion. She was devastated and pleads with Maa Parvati (consort of Shri Mullaivananathar). She appears before Her devotee and collects incomplete foetus in a Kalasha (pot) protects it until it finally develops into a healthy and beautiful male boy, which was presented back to Vedika. The boy was named Naidhurva. Since Maa Parvati protected the foetus and saved it, she came to be known as Shri Garbharakshambigai (or Karukaathanayagiambal).

Since Vedika was unable to feed milk to the baby, Garbharakshambigai asks the Celestial cow Kamadhenu to provide milk to the baby for nourishment. Kamadhenu stomps on the ground and a milk pond gets created (another version is that Kamadhenu digs her horn deep into the ground to create a milk pond). This milk pond is what is currently the temple pond, or Pushkarni and called Ksheerakundam (Milk Pond).

Nidhruva returns from the yagna and hears the story of how Maa Parvati protected his child, he was overwhelmed and along with Vedika and Naidhurva, visit Mahadeva and Maa Parvati to express their gratitude. The Divine couple accept their prayers and offer them a boon. Selfless couple that they were Nidhruva and Vedika, they sought Shiva and Parvati to stay here in Mullaivanam as Shri Garbharakshambigai and Shri Mullaivanathar and continue to bless childless couples who worship here and bless them with a progeny, protect the womb of pregnant ladies, for all generations to come. Divine couple agree to this plea and they make Thirukarukavur their abode and continue to bless all devotees who visit them here.

This legend has been reproduced beautifully on the mural in the temple premises

Puja Vidhana

For Childless Couple

Childless couples who seek to beget a child will have to smear ghee on a stone at the Threshold (Vasapadi) of the Shri Garbharakshambigai Sannidhi and draw rice flour Rangoli (kolam). This seva is called Vasapadi or Padi Mezhugutal.

Thereafter the Archaka will give ghee to the couple as prasadam that would be taken home. The same is mixed with 1/2 kg of pure cow ghee and both will consume the same at bed time for 48 days. It shall be skipped for 5 days during menstruation and continued to complete 48 days.

Prarthana Shloka for Early marriage and Pregnancy

Om Devendraani Namastubhyam
Devendrapriya Bhaamini
Vivaaham Bhaagyam Aarogyam
Putra Laabham Cha Dehi Me

Patim Dehi Sutam Dehi
Sowbhagyam Dehime Shubhe
Soumaangalyam Shubam Gnyanam
Dhehime Garbarakshake

Kaathyaayini Mahaamaaye
Maha Yoginyadheeshvari
Nandagopa Sutam Dehi
Patim Me Kurute Namah!

For Pregnant Ladies

For pregnant ladies seeking easy and safe delivery of Healthy child, the Archaka would give Castor oil as prasada. This shall be applied on the lower abdomen to give relief from labour pain, on-time and safe delivery (not extended labour) and subesquently healthy mother and child.

Prarthana Shloka for easy and safe Delivery

हे शङ्कर स्मरहर प्रमथाधिनाथ मन्नाथ शाम्ब शशिचूड शिव त्रिशूलिन्।
शम्भो सुखप्रसवकृत् भव हे दयालो श्री मातृ भूत शिव पालय मां नमस्ते॥

Hey Shankara Smarahara Pramatadhi Natha
Manodha Shambha Shashichooda Shiva Trishoolin
Shambho Sukhaprasavakruth Bhava He Dayaloo
Shri Matru Bhutha Shiva Paalaya Maam Namasthe

Post Delivery

Once the prayer is answered the couple generally come with the newborn and as a mark of gratitude perform seva – Thanga Thottil (Golden Cradle) Seva and/or Thulabharam – offering fruits or sugar crystals (Kalsakkare/kalkandam) or any other provisions, that was committed while taking the vows, an amount equal to the child’s weight .

Karuvalarchery Temple

Though we could not make it to this temple during our pilgrimage to Thirukarukavur, a person in Kumbakonam related the story of this temple and indicated that it is also important to visit Karuvalarchery Shri Karuvalarakkumnayagi Shri Akhilandeshwari Amman (Click on the link for location) Temple along with Thirukarukavur Shri Garbharakshambigai Temple

Akhilandeshwari Devi is known here as Karuvalarakkum Nayagi, meaning the one who blesses the devotee for good and healthy growth of the Foetus. While Shri Garbharakshambigai is for conception and protection of the foetus in their womb, Akhilandeshwari here sustains the foetus till its birth. This temple is Maharhi Agastya Paduka Sthalam

Other Pancharanya Sthalams

For those interested, the other 4 (in sequence) Pancharanya sthalams are (click on the links for location):

• Avalivanallur Satchinathar Temple
• Haridwaramangalam Padaleswarar Temple (Shri Pataaleshwarar Temple), Thiruaradaiperumpazhi
• Alangudi Apatsahayesvarar Temple
• Thirukollampudur Vilvavaneshwarar Temple

Our Experience

We were traveling towards Kumbakonam on our regular Temple Pligrimage last August when a friend suggested that we also visit this amazing temple and pray since our daughter was carrying (she delivered a healthy baby boy making us proud grandparents last October). She used the Castor oil prasadam during her labor.

Since we were going there we also informed our daughter, who asked us to take a vow on her friend’s behalf who had repeated instanced of miscarriages. Finally after taking a vow she conceived and delivered a healthy baby girl (last week). Apart from 2 other known examples, this makes it 3rd instance where a devotee delivered a baby after the best of doctors gave up. Sometime belief moves the mountain and nature finds its way to conspire and make humans happy.

Please share this information with those in need or for good karma. Even without any problem a darshan of Shri Garbharakshambigai and Shri Mullaivanathar is bliss and in any case this temple is a great architectural treasure and a masterpiece of art.

Garbharakashambigai Gayatri

Aum Garbaarakshambigaayai cha vidhmahe
Mangala Devataaya cha dheemahee
Tanno Devi prachodhayaath

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सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते 
sarvamangalamangalye shive sarvarthasadhike |
sharanye tryambake gauri narayani namo’stu te ||

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||Namah Parvati Pataye
Hara Hara Mahadeva||