Garbarakshambigai Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Trichy is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Papanasam railway station is 6.7 km from the temple.

• By road

  The temple is about 3 km from National Highway 36, which links Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, and about 20 km from both towns.

Rules to know

• The official site says the main deity gets no abhishekam, and punugu sattam is done for him only on Valarpirai pradosham.

Why devotees come here

Garbarakshambigai Temple stands in Thirukarugavur village, Thanjavur district, on the southern bank of the Vettar River. Shiva is worshipped here as Mullaivananathar and Parvati as Garbharakshambigai. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the Saiva canon.

Shiva, Vinayagar and Nandi in this temple are swayambu, or self-manifested, forms. The main shrine is for Shiva as Mullaivananathar, and his consort Parvati is worshipped here as Garbharakshambigai. Legend says a woman named Vedikai prayed to Ambigai for relief. The Devi appeared as Garbharakshambigai and protected the fetus while it was kept in a pot.

The temple is believed to have been built in the Chola style in the 7th century. It holds 31 inscriptions from Chola kings, among them Koperi Varman, Rajaraja I, Rajendra Chola I and Kulothunga Chola.

The temple has a five-tier rajagopuram and an outer prakaram, and a gopuram faces east. The temple is 460 ft by 284 ft. Inside the complex there is a Nataraja hall and a yagasalai.

Festivals

• Vaikasi monthVaikasi Visagam

  Observed for Mullaivananathar.

• Karthikai (Nov-Dec)Karthikai Sundays

  Shiva receives abhishekam with 1008 conches on all Sundays in this month.

Tips for your visit

• From Chennai, reach Kumbakonam first and continue to Thirukarugavur from there.
• Plan a visit on Valarpirai pradosham if you want to see the punugu sattam offering.

Questions people ask