Karai Gowthameswarar Temple – Vellore

Address

Karai Gowthameswarar Temple – Vellore

Karai village,

Vellore District

Mobile: +91 – 97901 43219 / 99409 48918

Moolavar

Gowthameswarar

Amman

Kirupambikai.

Introduction

• Location: The temple is situated in Karai, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, on the northern bank of the Palaru River.
• Presiding Deity: Lord Gowthameswarar (Shiva) and his consort, Mother Kirupambikai.
• Historical Significance: The name “Karai” comes from the abundance of Karai plants in the area. The temple is situated at a spot where Sage Gautama worshipped Lord Shiva.

Puranic Significance

1. Shada Aranya Kshetrams:
   • Goddess Parvathy performed penance at Kanchipuram, leading to her marriage with Lord Shiva.
   • Six sages who attended the marriage chose forests near Kanchipuram to perform their rituals. These six places became known as Shada Aranyams, sacred spots where each sage worshipped a swayambu (self-manifested) Lingam.
   • Sage Gautama installed and worshipped Lord Shiva in Karai, making the site holy.
   • The presence of Lord Shiva in the form of Gowthameswarar at this site is one of the six important worship places.
2. The Legend of Sage Gautama:
   • Sage Gautama, disturbed by a curse he placed on Indira, came to this place seeking peace and solace.
   • He worshipped Lord Shiva and prayed for purification, during which the river Ganga manifested at his request, later known as the Gautami River.
   • The river eventually merged with the Palaru River, and thus the temple became associated with the divine presence of Lord Shiva and the healing powers of Sage Gautama.

Beliefs

• Healing Powers: Lord Gowthameswarar is believed to cure prolonged and serious illnesses. Devotees often offer abishekam (ritual bathing) to the deity, along with Vastras (clothing) and a mixture of dry ginger, pepper, and thippili (a medicinal plant) as Nivedhana. The mixture is consumed as prasad for healing purposes.
• Vaidya (Doctor): Lord Gowthameswarar is praised as the divine healer for his ability to cure diseases.

Special Features

• Temple Structure: The temple is small and lacks a flag post (Kodimaram) and a tower. The main deity is a swayambu Lingam known as Gowthameswarar, with his consort, Kirupambikai, in the Artha Mandapam opposite the Lord’s sanctum, allowing simultaneous darshan of both deities.
• Ancient Temple: The temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old. It has a unique roof tower (Vimana) with paintings of Lord Dakshinamurthy and Lord Krishna in the sanctum.
• Statue of Sage Gautama: A statue of Sage Gautama is placed in a sitting posture in front of the Lord’s sanctum.
• Lord Sabeswara: There is a shrine for Lord Sabeswara, who appears furious, with Lord Vinayaka installed beside him to calm his temper.
• Shivarathri: On Shivarathri, the Lord is worshipped with Mother Kirupambikai sitting on Nandi, the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva, which is considered highly auspicious.

Festivals

• Rahu Kala Puja: Special abishek and pujas are performed to Lord Sarabeswara and Lord Vinayaka during Rahu Kala time on Sundays (from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
• Full Moon Day: On full moon days, seven types of abishek are performed to Lord Shiva, marking the day Lord Shiva granted darshan to Sage Gautama. Milk abishek is also performed on this day, adding to the significance of the occasion.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com

Century/Period

1000 years old.

Nearest Bus Station

Karai

Nearest Railway Station

Walajah

Nearest Airport

Chennai.

Location on Map

lightuptemple