Thirukarukkudi

Padal Petra Sthalam, Thanjavur District

God

Karukkudi Nadar (also Brahmapureeswarar, Sargunalingeswarar), facing east

Goddess

Kalyana Nayagi (also Sarvalangara Nayagi, Advaitha Nayagi), facing east

Other Deities

Narthana Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Veenadhara dakshinamurthy above, Muruga, Lingotbavar, Hanumantha Lingam, Valamburi Vinayaka, Navagraha, Surya, Chandran

Thirukarukkudi is a small east facing temple. The Vimanaas here are rather tall. The Lingam is small and made of Mud with visible marks of the forming hands, considered a Suyambu (self occuring) Lingam.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Imaya Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Not known

History

Thirugnanasambandar (7th Century CE) has rendered Thevaram hymns here at Thirukarukkudi.

Legend

Brahma is believed to have worshiped here at Thirukarukkudi. A king called Sargunan is said to have also worshiped here and thus the name is Sargunalingeswarar. A similar story as Rameswaram exists here also. Hanuman is said to have returned late with a Shivalingam and Lord Rama on his way to Sri Lanka is said to have created a Lingam out of mud with his hands. The Lingam said to have brought by Hanuman is also present in a separate shrine. Another story is that a trader called Dhananjayan ill-treated and abused his stepmother and was affected by Leprosy. Repenting for his sin he is said to have prayed to the lord here at Thirukarukkudi and got relieved of the disease. His idol in prayer posture is in front of the Goddess shrine.

Directions

Thirukarukkudi is about 8 kilometers of southeast of Kumbakonam and about 1.5 kilometers south east of Saakkottai.

Stay and Food

None locally, closest is Kumbakonam.

Padal Petra Sthalams