Sri Karavandheeswara Swamy Temple, Udaiyar Kovil

Address

Sri Karavandheeswara swamy Temple, Udaiyar Kovil Post, Kokkeri (via) Papanasam Taluk Thanjavur District Tamil Nadu – 614 402 Mobile: +91 94438 47206

Diety

Karavandheeswara Swamy Amman: Dharmavalli Ambal

Introduction

Udaiyar Kovil is easily accessible from Tanjore You can also reach Udaiyar Kovil by hiring a Taxi from Chennai or Trichy. In Udaiyar Kovil, a temple by the name Sri Dharmavalli Amba Sametha Shri Karavandheeswara Swamy exists amidst a large lake called “Thiribuvana Madhevi Pereri”. This large water body is the totality of the Veda Theerthams, on all the four sides of the temple, Words would surely fail to express the divine beauty of the Swamy and Ambal and other murthys of the temple. The familiar name used and in practice is Udayar Kovil (also spelled as Odayar Kovil), which is derived from the presiding deity of the Shiva Temple, viz “Thiru Kala Udayar”. The “Sthla Vriksham” of the temple is “Kala” plant.

Puranic Significance

The Temple has inscriptions of the Chola King Rajendra Chola I, son of the Great Raja Raja Chola, who built the BIG Temple of Thanjavur. Rajendra Chola I is called the Greater son of a Great Father. The great Chola and Pandiya Kings of early centuries had donated lands for the maintenance of the temple. The villagers felt perhaps as a bounden duty to conserve and preserve the cultural heritage and continue the maintenance of these temples as a continuous process for the benefit of the generation to come, with the help and support of the H.R.&CE. Dept, Govt. of Tamil Nadu. Udayar Kovil consists of these two revenue villages, referred above and few hamlets, with around 1000 households and a population of about 5000. It is a serene and peaceful village, with a larger tank and a big temple built in the midst.

Special Features

This large water body is the totality of the Veda Theerthams, on all the four sides of the temple, viz. “Rig Veda Theertha” on the East; “Yajur Veda Theertha” on the South, “Sama Veda Theertha” on the West and “Atharvana Veda Theertha” on the North. A holy dip in the Veda Theerthas on specific days, will bring innumerable benefits to the devotees, as the Saiva Agama declares. The temple has three praakaarams. It is a big temple, dedicated to Lord Siva and Parvathi, with an area of 40,338 sq.ft. (243’ x 166’). Sun falls straightaway on the’ Moolavar – Shri Karavandheeswara Swamy’ – in the sanctum sanctorum, for a few minutes