Thirukarukavur Garbarakshambigai Devi Temple Timings, History

Sri Garbarakshambigai Devi temple is in a small village in Thirukarukavur (Thirukkarugavur), Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. The temple is located 7 km east of Papanasam, 20 km southeast of Kumbakonam, 10.5 km north of Saliyamangalam, 23.5 km northeast of Thanjavur and on the southern bank of Vettar River, this ancient temple of God Shiva, dedicated to Sri Mullaivananathar and Sri Garbarakshambigai Amman. Appar, Sundarar, and Sambandhar, the very famous Nayanmaars, have celebrated the glory of this temple in touching verses. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are the Main deities in the temple.

The outstanding characteristics distinguishing this temple from the other shrines are that it blesses them to conceive and helps them with safe and trouble-free delivery. Childless parents visit this temple in a significant number.

The place is also called Tirukalavur, Mullaivanam, Mathavipuram and Garabapuri. Since Mathavi is the temple tree, it is called Mathavipuram (Mullaivanam); Karu means womb, Ka means to save, and voor means village – Since the womb is believed to be protected by the temple deity, the village is called Tirukarukavoor.

Pancha Aranya Sthalams: Aranyam means forest, and the following five temples at different forests in the Thanjavur / Kumbakonam / Thiruvarur region are revered as “Pancha Aranya Sthalams”.

1) Sri Mullaivananathar Temple at Tirukkarugavur – Mullai vanam
2) Sri Satchi Nathar Temple at Avalivanallur – Paadhiri vanam
3) Sri Paathaaleswarar Temple at Thiru Aradaipperumpazhi (Haridwara mangalam) – Vanni vanam
4) Sri Aapathsahayeswarar Temple at Thiru Erumpoolai (Alangudi) – Poolai vanam
5) Sri Vilvavaneswarar Temple at Thirukollam Pudhur – Vilva vanam

Thirukarukavur Garbarakshambigai Devi Temple Timings:

Morning:- 5.30 AM to 12.30 PM
Evening:- 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM

During the month of Margazhi (December 16 to January 13):

Morning:- 4.30 AM to 12.10 PM
Evening:- 4.00 PM to 7.30 PM

All poojas, such as blessed ghee to conceive, enriched castor oil for safe delivery, Thanga Thottil, Thulaabharam, etc., can be performed during temple worship hours.

Abishekam Timings: The Abishegams are held at 8:00 AM. Every day except Sunday. Abishegams are not performed on Sundays because of the increase in the number of worshipers and to allow them to spend a pleasant Dharshan. Abishegams are not performed during festival days.

The Temple For Childless Couples and Pregnant Women:

“Garba means Womb; Raksha means to Protect and Ambigai means Parvati. Garbharakshambika means “The Mother Who Protects the Womb”.

Thirukarukavur Garbarakshambigai Devi Temple Importance:

Every couple’s dream is to become a parent. It is the next step in family life; sometimes, it may seem impossible for a few. Trust in this Goddess. She makes it possible. She embraces all with her compassion, fulfills a woman’s wish to conceive, and helps carry her baby to full term without any hurdles along the way.

History says Vedhikai is an ardent devotee of Sri Garbarakshambigai Amman. Amman was blessed to conceive Vedhikai almost when she lost her fetus, and Goddess Garbarakshambigai rescued, protected her fetus, and blessed for safe delivery. Childless couples from various countries and religions who have difficulty conceiving and delivering come to this temple to pray to the Goddess for their benevolence and are blessed.

Sri Mullaivananathar Swamy is worshipped for better health and well-being. The Swamy here is Swayambhu, which is self-manifested. Even today, we can see the impression of Mullai creeper on him. He is made of hardened mud, and this God has no Abhishegam. By the way, the sattam of Punugu is offered on the day of Valarpirai Pradosham, the 13th after the new moon (Sukla patcham Pradosham). It is believed that this Punugu has healing power and is sent as a Prasadam to people suffering from incurable skin diseases, heart diseases, and surgeries.

Goddess Arulmigu Garbarakshambigai Temple History:

Long ago, Sage Gowthama and Sage Gargeya did penance at the place, ‘ MULLAIVANAM’. ‘MULLAI’ in Tamil means jasmine, and ‘VANAM’ means forest. A couple named Nidhruva and Vedikai stayed in the same ashram and served the two sages. Since the couple had no children, they represented this for the wise. The sages advised the couple to worship Sri Garbarakshambigai. The couple did it with intense devotion, and their prayers were answered. Vedikai was conceived.

During her later stage of pregnancy and while her husband Nidhruva was away from home, she was in a faint state due to the strain of pregnancy. At this moment, a sage named Sri Urdhuvapada came to her abode and asked for alms. Due to her unconscious state of mind, she did not respond to that sage’s request. The sage got angered and cursed her without knowing why she was silent. Due to the curse, her fetus got disintegrated and descended. Shocked, Vedikai prayed to the Goddess in great distress. The Goddess appeared before her, protected the fetus, preserved it in a sacred pot until it developed into a male child, and presented it to the devoted couple. The parents named their child ‘Naidhuruvan’.

Struck by this great act of benevolence of the Almighty Goddess, the immensely grateful Vedikai prayed to the Goddess to remain in this place and protect women and their foetus as she had done in her case. The Goddess accepted her prayer and remains here as ‘Garbharakshambigai’, meaning ‘savior of foetus’. Due to this fame, this place came to be known as ‘Thirukarukavur’, i.e., where pregnancy is protected and where childless couples are blessed with children.

Later, while Vedikai had no mother’s milk to feed her child Naidhuruvan, answering her prayers, Goddess sent ‘Kamadhenu’, the divine cow, to this place to feed the child. Kamadhenu scratched the earth in front of the temple with her hoof, and milk came out in plenty from the ground, and it formed into a ‘Milk Tank’. This Tank exists even now in the name of ‘Ksheerakundam.’

Thus, childless people who worship the Goddess with devotion and faith are blessed with pregnancy at this sacred place. Those pregnancies are well protected, and the women are blessed with safe and trouble-free deliveries.

The Greatness of God Sri Mullaivananathar:

The Lord of this place is called ‘Mullaivananathar'(meaning Lord in jasmine forest). Even today, everyone can see the impression of jasmine creepers, which once covered it. Linga here is a ‘Swayambu’ i.e. Self Manifested. This Linga is made up of ant hill mud. Hence, Abishekam to Linga using water is avoided. Instead, the Linga is merely pasted with a kind of must called ‘Punuhu’ during Valarpirai Pradosham. People afflicted with incurable diseases come to this place to offer ‘Punugu Chattam’ to the Lord and get themselves cured. This is a fact that is verified even today.

Poojas Performed in Thirukarukavur Sri Garbarakshambigai Temple:

1) Ghee Prasadam Pooja (To conceive)
2) Castor Oil Prasadam Pooja (For Safe delivery)
3) Punugu Sattam Pooja (For better health)
4) Abishegam
5) Annadhanam
6) Kattalai Archanai
7) Nava Kodi Nei Theepam (9 crore ghee lamps)
8) Sandana Kappu.(Sandal Paste offering)
9) Thanga Thottil
10) Thulaa-Bharam
11) Ear Boring and Head Tonsure.

Festivals Performed in Sri Garbarakshambigai Temple:

1) Pradoshams
2) Vaikasi Brahmotsavams
3) Aadi Pooram
4) Navarathiri Kolu
5) Navarathiri Theppam (Float festival)
6) Thirukkarthigai
7) Karthigai Somavaram
8) Margazhi utsavam (Thanur month)
9) Aarudhra Dharisanam
10) Mahashivarathiri
11) Panguni Uthiram.

How to Reach Sri Garbarakshambikai Temple:

By Air:

Tiruchirappalli International Airport is the nearest Airport which is 84 km from Thirukarukavur Garbarakshambigai Devi Temple.

By Rain:

Most of the trains stop at Papanasam railway station and the station is 6.5 km from the temple
Kumbakonam Railway Station is the nearest railway station, and it is just 21 km from the temple.

By Bus:

From Thanjavur  Town Bus Number 24, 34, 16, 44.
From Kumbakonam Town Bus Number 11 and 29.
Several buses are plying between Papanasam and Saliyamangalam at 30-minute intervals.

Thirukarukavur Garbarakshambigai Devi Temple Address:

Arulmigu Thayumana Swamy Temple
Malaikottai,
Trichy – 620 002
Phone No: 0431 – 2704621.
Temple Accountant: Aravanayselvan.
Accountant Mobile. No: 99421 63041.
Email: thiruchyrockforttemple@gmail.com