Karuvalarcheri Sri Akilandeswari Temple is situated in Kumbakonam town. Sree Agastheeswaraswamy Sri Akilandeswari Temple is dedicated to God Shiva, worshipped as Agastheeswarar, and Goddess Sri Akilandeswari worshipped as Karu Valarkkum Nayagi and she is self-manifested. She’s the nurturing mother of the universe, ensuring the well-being of the fetus and its growth in the womb. She complements Goddess Garbharakshambika, near this shrine, who protects the fetus. There are no special Abishekam or Hydration Pooja performed on the Goddess, rather she is given an oil bath. This temple holds great significance in South India, attracting devotees worldwide seeking positive progress in life.
Karuvalarchery temple is designed in Dravidian Architecture, It is believed one of the oldest temples in this region. Inside the main area, the Goddess stands. The temple has been restored multiple times. Its tower, known as Rajagopuram, has three tiers. There are separate sections for Sri Ganesha, Goddess Akilandeshwari, and God Shiva within the temple.
In Karuvalarcheri Sri Akilandeswari Temple the Goddess is covered with a cloth, only the face is visible, symbolizing the snake mound. Regular abhishekams with water, Curd, Ghee and Panchamrutha are not performed, abhishekams are performed only with oil. The full form can be seen on Shivaratri and Navaratri days. People who want children visit this temple. They clean the temple steps with ghee and draw a pattern on the floor, praying to the Goddess. Couples who want children should clean the steps with ghee, draw a Kolam (rangoli) with rice flour, and highlight it with turmeric and kumkum, imagining they’re doing this to the Goddess’s feet. They offer turmeric, lemons, betel leaves, and nuts to the priest, who will return them as blessings. The squeezed lemon juice mixed with salt or sugar should be consumed only by the couple from the same glass.
Meaning of Karuvalarcheri:
karu = foetus or embryo, valar = to grow, cheri = place.
karu + valar + cheri = the place which helps form foetus or embryo.
Karuvalarchery Sri Akilandeswari Temple Timings:
Morning: 6:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Evening: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The Main Deity is Lord Shiva / Agastheeswara and Goddess Sri Akilandeswari Karu Valarkum Nayaki – The Goddess Who Blesses the Foetus with Growth.
Sri Akilandeswari Ambal Temple Impotance:
Couples who desire children pray to this Goddess for blessings. So this Goddess is called as “Karuvalartha Nayagi”. In this area, the marriage of Kakapujantar, Lobamuthradevi, and Agastheeyar took place, symbolizing their unity. In honor of this event, the Nandi idol at Talakaveri, the source of the Cauvery River in Karnataka, was shifted from facing east to west. This change resulted in droughts in both states. To restore water to the Cauvery and the well-being of the regions, a yaga (ritual) was performed, and the Nandi was moved back to its eastward-facing position. Numerous people took part in this Yaga and offered their worship to the deity.
Karuvalarcheri Sri Akilandeswari Temple History:
Mother Sri Akilandeswari is known here as “Karu Valarkkum Nayagi”, the goddess who blesses the fetus with growth, in other words, “The Universal Mother”. The goddess in this temple gives blessings for the development of the fetus.
God is in his own form (Suyambhu), that is, formed by himself, and is in the form of Puttru, who is powerful. Those who pray for a child go to this temple and the prayer is in the form of clearing the steps with pure ghee and putting a kolam and praying to the goddess. Abhishekam is not performed for Amman, only the oil Abhishekam is performed. On regular days, only the face of the darshan Amman can be seen, the full darshan of the Amman only occurs on the day of Sivarathri and Navarathri (9 days) in a year. All the Archanas / Poojas are made only for the moola Sri Chakra maha meru and the Sri Chakram.
Temple Near the Temple:
Thirkarukaur is another important and connected temple, it is reachable via Papanasam. The goddess of this temple is the mother “GarbhaRakshambika”, which means “Karu Kaakkum Nayaki” in Tamil the goddess who protects the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women receive the blessing of “growth” in a sacred temple and the blessing of “protection” in the other temple. Couples planning a pregnancy or praying for a baby should visit these temples near Kumbakonam to get the blessings of the goddess. For those who could not visit this temple even if they thought of these temples and prayed with their hearts, the Universal Mother Goddess has her bless her children (ie us) in any part of the world.
Karuvalarcheri Temple Festivals:
The main festival at this temple is Navaratri, celebrated for 9 days during the Tamil month of Purattasi, with each day being significant. Shivaratri is also celebrated in grand manner. People mostly worship the Goddess here for the blessings of children and the wellbeing of the fetus. The temple is always crowded with devotees seeking a new child or the health of their unborn baby. Diwali, during the month of Aippasi, and all Fridays in the Aadi month are also celebrated with great devotion.
How to Reach Karuvalarcheri Temple:
By Air
Trichy Airport is the nearest Airport at 104 km, Chennai International Airport is 280 km and Coimbatore International Airport is 327 km from the temple.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is at Kumbakonam, which is almost 6.3 kilometers from the temple.
By Road:
Kumbakonam is easily reached from any part of the city. Kumbakonam Bus Stand is just 6.3 km to reach the Amman temple. From there local Gov Buses, private buses and autos are available.
Karuvalarcheri Akilandeswari Temple Address:
Karuvalarcheri Road,
Karuvalarcheri,
Kumbakonam,
Tamil Nadu 612402
Phone: 0435 200 0538
