24th February 2019.
This 7th Century Shiva temple is one of the Thevara padal petra Vaippu sthalam on the south side of rivers Kaveri, Kudamurutti & Vennar and north of Vira Chozha Vadavaru. The Thevara hymn was sung by Thirunavukkaru / Appar. He listed out the Shiva Temple villages, which are finished with Kudi and if one worships, the obstacles will be removed. ( “நல் குடிமேல் விடை உயர்த்த நம்பன் செம்பங்குடி, நல்லகுடி, செங்காட்டங்குடி, கருந்திட்டைக்குடி, கடையக்குடி, காணுங்கால் விற்குடி, வேள்விகுடி, நல்வேட்டக்குடி, வேதிகுடி, மாணிகுடி, விடைவாய்குடி, புற்குடி, மாகுடி, தேவன்குடி, நீலக்குடி, புதுக்குடியும் போற்ற இடர் போகும் அன்றே”) This place is called in different names like Karunthattankudi, Karunthittaikudi, Karanthai etc.
Iraivan : Sri Vasihteswarar, Sri Karunaswamy Sri Karuvelayuthaswamy.
Iraivi : Sri Periya Nayaki, Sri Thiripura Sundari.
Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a temple tank called Vasishta Theertham. Dwajasthambam and Palipedam are in the Maratha period mandapa. The entrance to the temple complex is from the south side with a two tier Rajagopuram and Nandhi mandapam.
The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, arthamandapa. The Sanctum is on the padmabhanda adhistana. A vesara Vimana is on the sanctum with Kodungai, Bhoodhavari and Yazhivari. On the side parapet wall stucco images of Hindu deities. In the Koshtam, Thiruganasambandar, Vasishtar, Rishi pathini, Vinayagar, Sri Vakisar, Natarajar, Gangalar, Dhakshinamurthy, Gangatharar, Arthanareeswarar, Linghothbavar, Gantharar, Visarjanar, Brahma, Veenatharar, Kalasamharar, Pickshadanar, Vishnu, Thirunavukkarasar. Cute Dwarabalakas are at the entrance of main shrine. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi in the arthamandpam facing south with a separate nandhi and Dwajasthambam immediately after the south side Rajagopuram. The vavalnethi Arthamndapam was built during Maratha period.
Durgai and Sandikeswarar are in the inner prakaram. In the Maratha period outer prakaram sannadhi for Adhi Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, 7 Lingas, Ijwarahareswarar, Gajalakshmi, Vahanas, Natarajar, Palliayari, Navagrahas, Bairavar and Nagars. On the west entrance sannadhi for Sri Baladhandayuthapani.
This is one of the saptha sthana temples of Lord Shiva around Thanjavur and other temples are Sri Vasishteswarar at Tenkudithittai, Sri Thanjaipureeswarar at Thanjavur, Sri Chokkanathar at Kudalur, Sri Rajarajesawarar at Kadakadappai, Sri Kailasanathar at Punnainallur and Sri Vaitheswarar Natheswarar at Poomalai.
Apart from Pradhosham, Maha shivarathiri, Vashista Maharishi’s marriage with Arundhithi is celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi, Rohini Nakshathram. The annual festival will be celebrated during the month of Tamil month Vaikasi with Temple’s chariot procession on the 9th day and a palanquin procession on 12th day. ( It was learnt that palanquin procession was stopped for the past 25 years).
As per the legend Chozha King Karikalan got cured from Karungkushtam ( leprosy ) after taking bath in the temple tank. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Karuna Swamy. Vasishta maharishi also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
INSCRIPTION DETAILS:
Based on the architecture, this temple may belongs to Paranthaka Chozha period, but it might have been existed during 7th Century, since Appar who lived in 7th Century has sung hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple. Latter renovated by Chembiyan Madevi’s son Mathuranthaka Uthama Chozha. The earliest inscription belongs to Uthama Chozhan. The other inscriptions belongs to Sundara Chozha, Rajendra Chozha, Uthama Chozha’s 10th year rule inscription mentions that Dwarabalas are donated by a lady called Arunilimalai Piratti. Mathuranthaka Uthama Chozha’s son Mathuranthakan Kandarathithan donated 90 goats for burning perpetual lamp in the sanctum.
A man by name Kilavan Aanaikaavan’s mother donated two stones for constructing the temple. Rajaraja Chozha-I’s sister Kundhavai Piratti donated the income after selling a land at Rajakesari Village in Nallur Nadu.
In another Rajaraja Chozha-I’s inscription mentions a donation of burning perpetual lamp in memory of a Horse Soldier called Kaarikulirvaagai, who was killed in a fight between another Horse soldier of the same wing by name Vichathara Muththarayan.
Rajendra Chozha’s another inscription mentions that he had donated a “Rajendra Chozhan Pattam” along with some ornaments to Lord Shiva of this temple in his name.
As per the inscription this place was called as Karunthittaikudi and Lord Shiva as Karuvittakudi Mahadevar.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
HOW TO REACH:
This temple is at Karanthai, just 3 KM from Thanjavur on Kumbakonam to Thanjavur Road.
Frequent buses are available from Town bus stand.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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