Thirundhuthevankudi Sri Karkadeswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Thirundhuthevankudi Sri Karkadeswarar Temple, Thirundhuthevankudi , Veppathur post, Thiruvidaimarudhur Taluk,Thanjavur District- 612 105 PH:9994015871

Diety

Karkadeswarar, Devadevaser, Somaskandar Amman: Apoorvanayaki, Arumarundhu Nayaki

Introduction

Tirundudevankudi Karkadeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Tirundudevankudi in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of the place is Karkteeswaram and Nandankoil. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Karkadeswarar. His consort is known as Apoorvanayaki. It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. Thala Virutcham : Nangai tree Theertham : Navapashana Theertham Agamam / Pooja : Sivagama

Puranic Significance

Sage Durvasa was mocked at by a Gandharva (a community known for their skill in music) that he was walking like a cancer-nandu. The sage was just completing his Shiva Puja. So the sage got annoyed and cursed him to become like a crab. Gandharvan pleaded to get redressed from the curse. So the Maharishi asked him to worship the Lord Karkadeswara. Gandharvan did the same and redressed from the curse. It is said in Thalapuranam that the Goddess Parvathi once worshipped this Lord in the form of crab with the lotus flower in the moat surrounding the temple. Devendran too was worshipping the Lord with 1008 lotus flowers planted by him in the moat. He got annoyed by seeoing the crab plucking the flowers. Once when crab was climbing the Linga to present the flower, Devendran through his sword on the crab. So Lord Shiva made a hole on his head and pulled in the crab. Then Devendran realized his fault and corrected his mistake. Indira the king of Devas, following the advice of his Guru Prahaspati worshipped the Lord here with 1008 flowers daily after a dip in Pushkarini and corrected himself for the wrongs he committed. Chola king who was attacked with paralysis. No treatment yielded results. He was praying to Lord Shiva for remedy. An aged couple practicing medicine came to his court and offered him the sacred ash with water. Surprisingly, the king was cured instantly and stood up majestically. He begged the old couple to stay with him as doctors of the royal family in the palace but they refused. He offered them gold and other gifts which too they declined to accept. The king promised them that he would give them anything they wished. They brought the king to this spot and asked them to build a temple for Lord Shiva. They merged in the Shivalinga there. Realizing that the couples were none other than Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi, the king built the temple at the place. Worshipping Shiva here ensures all cures from any illness. Saivite saint Tirugnanasambandar had mentioned the Lord as Healer in his hymns. There are two Ambicas in the temple. When the king built the temple, he could not get the original Ambica idol. He made a new one and installed it as Arumarundhu Nayaki – Goddess of rare medicine. Within a few days, the original idol also appeared. Installing that too, he named her Apoorva Nayaki who is the principal Goddess of the temple.

Beliefs

Ayilam starrers worship in this temple for relief from adverse planetary effects, performing abishek to Lord Karkadeswarar with gingely oil. It is believed that consuming this abishek oil heals illnesses. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother with Vastras.

Special Features

Those belonging to Ayilya star are advised to pray in this temple as often as they could or on their star days or on their birth days. It is said that the Swaymbulinga in the place was buried under the sand due to heavy floods during the reign of a Chola king who was attacked with paralysis. No treatment yielded results. He was praying to Lord Shiva for remedy. An aged couple practicing medicine came to his court and offered him the sacred ash with water. Surprisingly, the king was cured instantly and stood up majestically. He begged the old couple to stay with him as doctors of the royal family in the palace but they refused. He offered them gold and other gifts which too they declined to accept. The king promised them that he would give them anything they wished. They brought the king to this spot and asked them to build a temple for Lord Shiva. They merged in the Shivalinga there. Realizing that the couples were none other than Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi, the king built the temple at the place. Worshipping Shiva here ensures all cures from any illness. Saivite saint Tirugnanasambandar had mentioned the Lord as Healer in his hymns. There are two Ambicas in the temple. When the king built the temple, he could not get the original Ambica idol. He made a new one and installed it as Arumarundhu Nayaki – Goddess of rare medicine. Within a few days, the original idol also appeared. Installing that too, he named her Apoorva Nayaki who is the principal Goddess of the temple. Yoga Chandran: This is the temple for remedies needed for Punarvasu (Punarpoosam), Pushya (Poosam) and Ayilayam (Aslesha) starrers falling under Cancer square in the zodiac. We can see a hole on the Linga made by a cancer (nandu) and an injury scar caused by Indira. Planet Moon is in a shrine at the entrance of the temple in meditating form as Yoga Chandra. Those undergoing Moon main period in their life are advised to offer white vastras (clothes) to Chandra if they have adverse aspects. Aslesha-Ayila star under Karkadaga-Cancer Rasi has naturally medicinal powers. They also have the confidence that they achieve through divine backing. They have a firm mind. They should pray to Lord of this temple on their star days, new moon days, Tuesdays, Saturdays and on Ashtami days in the new moon fortnight. People of other stars too may depend on Lord Karkadeswara and Arumarundu Nayaki for cure from prolonged diseases.