Kannayira Nathar, Tirukaravasal, Tiruvarur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Kannayira Nathar	Ambal / Thayar:	Kailasa Nayaki
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	Tirukkaraayil
Vriksham:	Pala	Teertham:	Brahma Teertham, Sesha Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	7 to 11 & 5 to 8	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar	Temple set: Sapta Vitanga Lingam sthalam
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Tirukaravasal	District:	Tiruvarur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Tiruvarur (15 km)	Nagapattinam (29 km)
	Kumbakonam (53 km)	Mayiladuthurai (59 km)

Location

Tirukaravasal is 12km from Tiruvarur and 29 km from Mannargudi.

Sthala puranam and temple information

The puranam of this temple is integral to the legend of Muchukunda Chakravarti and the maragatha Lingam. The birth of Muchukunda Chakravarti and association with this temple are here. At a later point in time, Indra was gifted a maragatha Vitanga Lingam by Vishnu, with strict instructions to perform regular puja to it. However, as this was not happening, Siva deputed Muchukunda Chakravarti to take the Lingam away from Indra. Muchukunda Chakravarti assisted the Devas in defeating the demon Valasuran, and in return, asked for the Vitanga Lingam. This upset Indra, who didn’t want to part with it, and so he had six replicas created, and asked Muchukunda Chakravarti to identify and select the real one. With Lord Siva’s divine assistance, the fragrance of senkazhuneer flowers emanated from the real Lingam, and Muchukunda Chakravarti was able to spot the correct one. Pleased with his piety, Indra gave Muchukunda Chakravarti all seven lingams, which Muchukunda Chakravarti installed at different temples (Sapta Vitanga sthalams). Each of the temples is also associated with a different nadanam or dance form, of Lord Siva, and this temple houses the Aadi Vitangar, and is the first of the Sapta Vitanga sthalams.

There are two teerthams in this temple, each with their own legends. The Brahma Teertham was created by Brahma who bathed in it, to be relieved of a curse. The Sesha Teertham was created when Adiseshan went blind, and happened to swim through this pond when his eyesight was restored. It is believed that drinking the water from the Sesha Teertham cures eye and skin diseases.

In addition to the Pramoda Vinayakar in the temple, there is another Vinayakar on the bank of the Brahma Teertham, called Kadukkai Vinayakar. The legend goes that once, a businessman carrying a cart full of nutmeg (jathikai) was resting here, when a man approached him and and asked him what he was carrying. Fearing high taxation, the businessman replied he was carrying kadukkai (a fruit used in Ayurveda) – a lower tax item – upon which the entire cartload turned into Kadukkai. The businessman repented his folly at the temple, and prayed to Vinayakar, who restored the stocks to their original form.

The name Kailasanathar is a popular one for Siva, but this is the only Siva temple where Amman is named Kailasanayaki.

This is a Chola temple with some very unique murtis and iconography. For instance, this is the only temple with an idol of Siva as Chandrasekhara, carved out of stone (this is usually only a bas relief image otherwise). Mahalakshmi at this temple faces three Bhairavars. Dakshinamurti is shown with the kundalini on top of his head – the Lord in this form is known as Gnana Guru.