In the beginning and during the middle of the 20th century the people of previous generation living in villages and small cities in Tamil Nadu and other states in India had left their villages in search of jobs and a better living. This sustained exodus of people had an impact on the small villages and cities. Especially the temples that received regular visitors in the earlier years were slowly neglected with no one to care. The mass exodus of people in some of the villages on the banks of river Kaveri and the villages close to Kumbakonam and Tanjore has affected most of the temples. A good number of massive and beautiful temples in those villages became dilapidated and ruined.
We can proudly call this 21st century as a period of return of the history. The younger generation of people are different and they are more interested to trace the family roots, the place where their ancestors lived and more. They have started feeling proud of their natives, their villages and their own culture. Some of them have even joined together to reach out their old villages, to find the temples that were neglected and ruined. They take pain to reconstruct them and deposit enough money for the conduct of regular pooja at the temple and its maintenance. This is a good beginning, which in turn will save and restore our culture and our lost inheritance.
I had the pleasure of visiting one such temple in a small village known as Karuveli, where the goddess Sarvanga Sundhari is in Consort with Sarguneswarar (Siva). The village also known as Kottittai is in the Kumbakonam to Poonthottam bus route, close to the bridge over Arisilar the tributary of river Kaveri. Other known villages close to it are Thirunallam, Thiruveezhimalai and Thiruvanniyur.
The temple is believed to be more than 1300 years old. Thirunavukkarasar also fondly called as Appar a Saivite Tamil poet-saint, who believed to have lived in the 7th century and one of the 63 Nayanmars has mentioned about this temple in his poetic contributions. The temple was in a neglected and ruined condition even in the beginning of 1990. Thiru V. Krishnamurthy the former Chairman of BHEL, Maruthi and Sail and his brother Thiru V. Vaidyanathan, President, Kalki Group of Publications, who were native of the Village Karuvelli took pain to reconstruct the temple. The temple was reconstructed due to their efforts and Kumbabishekam was performed in 1997.
According to sthala Purana of the temple when Thatchyayini (Parvathi) got herself killed after being insulted by her brother Thatchan, Lord Siva took her body in his hand and performed Rudhira Thandava or a violent dance. Unable to bear the power of his anger and dance every one prayed to Maha Vishnu for solace. Mahavishnu used his Chakrayutha to cut the dead body of Parvati into several pieces and made them fall all over India. The places where the pieces of her body have fallen are known as SakthiSthal. Lord Siva who then was though appeared to be pacified but continued in a status of having lost his mental peace. He came to the forest site known as Amba Samuthiram close to Karuvelli village. When he was under penance, he saw the face of Parvathi the daughter of Himavan. Parvathi also came to Karuvelli carrying all her beauty (Sarvanga Sundhari) with her and danced before Lord Shiva. The place where she performed the dance is now known as Kottittai.
Lord Siva married Sarvanga Sundhari (Parvati) and stayed at the Karuvelli temple. The story further states that whoever comes and offers prayers at this temple will not be subjected to next birth and get only Motcham. In other words an unseen fence (VELI) will be installed to prevent one to become a fetus (KARU) again. Thus, the village got the name Karuveli. Lord Siva with the best of his known soft behaviors resides at the temple as Sarguneswarar and the most beautiful Parvathi as Sarvanga Sundhari.
There is also a story that Indira the King among the Devas came here and worshipped Siva and Parvathi. Similarly Yama Raja constructed a temple tank opposite to the temple and offered prayer to the swami after taking a dip in the tank to get solace and overcome a curse. The tank is still called as Yama Theertham.
Before entering the temple it is a common ritual for the people to go into the sprawling tank located opposite to the temple, wash their hands and legs and sprinkle the water over their head. As you cross the entry gate you will enter a beautifully laid path leading to the Nandhi Mandapam. After offering prayer to the Nandhi you will enter temple through the three-tier attractive Raja Gopuram. When you go further inside you will face the Sanctum sanctorum of Sarguneswarar (Siva Lingam). The lingam is said to be Swayambu (created on its own). The lingam is of modest height, adorning a very simple decoration to bless us all.
Sarvanga Sundari Amman around 5.5 feet in height and with four hands in standing position is seen in a separate Sanctum sanctorium (sannidhi) facing east. The face of the amman reflects only peace and a disposition to free you from all the stress or emotion. It is an undeniable fact that anyone who stands before her will get immersed in her fondness and love. She invites you to come close to her only to relieve all your stress, strain and other anxieties. She stands there in a very simple red cotton saree and few red flowers decorates her. The mental status and inner feelings of any one who stand before the deity cannot be explained in a few words and it is to be felt in person to know it.
After completing the archana, when the Sivacharya shows the Ghee Deepam close to the face of Sarvanga Sundhari Amman your heart skips its beat and suddenly your mind gets filled by an unexplainable happiness and peace. The temple is not much crowded, you can enjoy her blessings all alone and undisturbed for a long time.
In the well maintained and very clean prakaram (outer part of the Sanctum sanctorium) you will find a beautifully carved pillayar, .Subramaniya swami is seen with Valli and Deivayanai in a newly constructed sannidhi. The old but beautiful idols of Arthanareeswarar, Dakshinamurthy, Bala Murugan, Brahma, Sandikeswarar, Durgai and Bairavar are placed all along the Prakaram. The intricate works performed on the idols are hard to believe but visible before your eyes. In a separate sannidhi a marble statue of Hanumar is placed. A calm and peaceful marble Durga with her own lion vahana is seen in another sannidhi.
Unlike other south Indian temples this temple does not have a separate sannidhi for Navagrahas. Outside the praharam but within the temple complex a Valampuri Ganapathi and statues of Nagas are placed. The sthala viruksham of this temple is Bilva. Since this temple has blessed and benefitted the marriage of Sarvanga Sundhari Amman with Lord Siva, men and women longing for their marriage come and offer prayers at the temple for an early marriage. Also couples who wish to have a child and students who want to score high marks regularly come to the temple.
Every year Samvathsara Abishekam and homam are performed on the day when the Kumbabishekam was held. Maha abishekam is performed to the Amman and Siva, followed by Ganapathi, Navagraha homams and the divine marriage is performed to the deities in the evening. Every year Maha Sivarathri and Thiruvathirai the special days for lord Siva are celebrated with all gaiety.
The temple remain open from 7.00 AM to 1.00 PM & 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM
Temple address :
Arulmigu Sarguneswarar Thirukkovil
Sarguneswarapuram
Karuveli 605 501
Thiruvarur Dist, Tamil Nadu
Sarguneswarapuram
Karuveli 605 501
Thiruvarur Dist, Tamil Nadu
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