Being home includes temple
visits. Tamilnadu is an ideal place for that reason , there are “n” number of
temple with long standing history ,myths and believes attached to it. I love
the history part of the temple that allures me to it..One of them is the temple
of Sri Garbarakshambigai in Thirukarugavur, 28km from Tanjavur railway station.
For me it was a journey from Trichy to Tanjavur from then onto Thirukarugavur. I set of early in the morning, waking up at 4:30 am ( your
not allowed to look surprised ,mom woke me up)..I took a passenger train from
Trichy to Tanjavur at 7:10am as I missed
the train at 6:00 am. I bought idly and vada, man you get amazing idli at Neethus
kitchen at Trichy station.. It was Jan 14 Pongal day, there was quiet a rush in
the station for the train.. Another great part I lodged myself into the moving slowing train to get myself a window seat…Plugging onto my favourite music
with the local people getting to their home and family for the festival as
great. The journey took me through the outskirts of Trichy with not many dwellings …Fields had
painted itself into many colours, light green to darker to golden yellows to
brown tinted yellow…Many species of strokes were happily flirting through the
shrubs and bushes..It looked as though I was on a safari through a miniature
sanctuary…
I reached Tanjavur station at
8:20 am. I was planning to take a bus to
the temple. An auto driver came to me asking if he could help me with anything , upon
enquiry about distance and things he offered to take me to the temple and back
to station for 300 bucks and since I was new to the place and had no knowledge
about the bus frequency I took that option.. Upon few clarifications and
questions I started off.. And indeed I opted for an auto because I didn’t come across even a single bus to the
place till I got back…Till the road takes a left turn to the village panchayat
, NH
in a very bad state….Jumping few inches from the seat every few seconds,
I was reminded of the fevicol ad of few years back… About 7 km from the temple,
Pongal celebrations were at its peak ..Rangoli
with wishes were all over the roads and houses. Temporary natural stove made up of three bricks smeared
with cowdung were all set to cook pongal .. Vendors selling bunches of
sugarcane, turmeric saplings and all necessities for the festivities were busy
with their last minute sales.. All cow,
ox had their horns painted in vibrant
colours …Sounds like a Bharathiraja’s movie frame isn’t ,I felt the same.
I didn’t know until I reached
the place that, this temple is one of the five temples which collectively make the “Pancha
Aranya sthalam” (temples amidst forest).
Others are Alangudi, Avalivanallur, Haridwaramangalam and Thirukollambudhoor.
If one visits these five temples on the same day, in the mentioned order, and offers
prayers he is believed to be let of all his sins. And that person would have no
rebirth…
Sri Garbharakshambikai temple is situated on the
banks of the river Vettar in
Thirukarugavur. Thirukarugavur means the place where foetus is protected. “Karu” means foetus in Tamil. The place
got its name because of the story, which is said to have happened hundreds of
years ago. It’s about a couple Nithiruvar and Vedhika who longed for a child. Yearning for a child they set on pilgrimage.
They prayed in many shiva temples before reaching “Mullaivanam” known then. Thousands
of years back it was a garden of "Mullai" (jasmine) flowers, hence
the name "Arulmigu Mullai vana nathar temple ". Vedhika realised that
she was pregnant. Overwhelmed with
happiness the couple decided to stay back believing that it was the blessings
of Mullaivananathar. One day in her state of pregnancy exhaustion, she failed
to take notice of a sage Oorthuvapadhar thus failing from her duty of
hospitality. Predictably the sage cursed for death to the child in womb.. Helpless
Vedhika ardently prayed for mercy to
Goddess Parvathi who appeared before in the form of Sri Garbharakshambikai taking away
all her pain offering protection to the
baby by keeping the baby in a pot till it attained full development…This reminds me about the incubator wherein the
premature babies nurture till maturity… Even before science goes for the new
findings our tradition had scope for it… Goddess gave healthy baby to the couple. Vedhika, fell at
the feet of Sri Karbharakshambikai and prayed that she should take a permanent
abode here for the generation to come.. .
The pond opposite to the temple is supposed to have been dug by
Kamadhenu. This was to provide milk to
the child. This tank is known as “Ksheera
Kundam”. Thus the Goddess then came to
be known as Garbarakshambiga or Karukathanayaki. The whole story is painted on
the wall of the temple Driver told me
that according to the local villagers there has been no pregnancy related death
of the mother or the child. There were no miscarriages either… To get married
to the right person unmarried girls seek her blessings. They buy two garlands
of flower, ghee and lamps from the office..Ghee is offered to the goddess, its
placed on the feet and various mantras are chanted by the priest..Girls draw
kolam with the powder provided in front
of deity and pray..One garland is given back which is to be hung back home..It
is believed that within six months the girl would be married to the right
person…Couple seeking children offer
ghee which is given to them after chanting mantras by the priest ..The ghee
should be in taken every night for 48 days…While pregnant ladies are given castor
oil which is to be applied over the abdomen for safe delivery..The best part of
goddess is she blesses a girl with marriage and child....In temple I saw a
couple praying for child, another couple expecting their first baby getting
castor oil, girl praying for marriage and finally a couple and family who had
come for a 
thanksgiving worship after the birth of
child..They placed the baby on the silver cradle of the temple and took the baby for a
“pradkakshina” (going around the temple)..It’s another form of offering I was
told.. All around me there were different emotions enfolding ..Watching all of
it was indeed a human experience close to heart..
Main deity is Lord Shiva
called as ‘Mullaivananathar’,the shiva linga is self manifested..There’s no
abhishekam done as the linga is made up of anthill mud… the Linga is merely pasted with a kind of
musk called ‘Punuhu.’..It is believed that people with any disease offer Punuhu
Chattam will be cured completely..All pradosham days are considered important
as in all Shiva temple..
 |
| Coutesy:Punainallur temple website |
The guy who gave me ghee from temple office counter told me that on full moon day of the Tamil month
of Panguni (March-April) moon’s rays falls on the Shiva Lingam…The temple wasn’t
crowded so I had a peaceful space of time to pray and move around..Had tender
coconut from a vendor outside the temple and started way back On my way driver
told me about Sri Mariyamman temple which he said is a Must place to visit.
Unlike Mullaivananathar temple this was heavily crowded and many vendors
selling things for pooja and other eatery to fancy items for ladies are spread
around.. There was a stall which had human organ parts made of mud upon enquiry
she said goddess is believed to
cure a person from all ailments….The
deity look very different from any other Amman temple I have come across..I got
lamps to light inside the temple and after offering my prayers I started back
to the railways station.. After coming home I searched details of the temple…Back
in Tanjavur railway station Chennai Tirunelveli passenger at 12:15pm and back to Trichy at 1:30pm I was in Trichy Junction putting an end
to a day which was spiritual…
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