Krupakupareswarar, Kuthangudi, Tiruvarur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Krupakupeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Brihannayaki, Annapoorani
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:	Vilvam	Teertham:
Agamam:	Karana agamam	Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	7 to 12 & 5.30 to 7.30	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Vaippu Sthalam	–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:	Hastam
City / town:	Kuthangudi	District:	Tiruvarur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Mayiladuthurai (11 km)	Kumbakonam (30 km)
	Tiruvarur (34 km)	Nagapattinam (49 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

This Tevaram Vaippu Sthalam finds mention in one of Sambandar’s pathigams.

Parvati once asked Siva, about how He makes the world function. In response, Siva playfully made Her forget Her sense of propriety, and She closed the Lord’s eyes with Her hands, making the entire universe dark. She immediately realised her error, but Siva told Her that He would disappear in the Hastavarna Jyoti – the effulgence from His hand – and instructed Parvati to be reborn as a cow on Bhulokam. She was to search for the Jyoti, and He would reunite with Her at that place. Parvati and Her brother Vishnu came to Bhulokam, and started searching for the Hastavarna Jyoti – this went on for eons. Finally, on the day of the Hastam nakshatram, He appeared at this place and was performing go-puja, and Parvati was able to locate Him. She then joined Him in the Jyoti. He is known as Krupakupeswarar because of the grace (krupa) emitted from His palm (koopam).

Because Parvati took Her form as a cow on earth, this place used to be called Go-puri. The tenderness of Parvati – both in Her original form and as a cow – led to the place also being called Komal.

Because Siva appeared here on the day of the Hastam star, this temple is favoured by those born under that nakshatram. It is the belief that those worshipping here are pardoned of all their sins. Also, in a manner of re-enactment of Parvati’s situation, devotees can often be seen performing go-puja, leading a cow and calf around the temple, as part of their worship. Since Siva Himself performed go-puja here, performing go-puja at this temple is believed to be 1000-fold more beneficial. Every Hastam nakshatram day, it is believed that sages and siddhars visit this place and circumambulate the celestial couple.

The original temple here is Chola, from around the 9^th or 10^th century. The vimanam over the garbhagriham is a stunning sight, and the temple also has a vavvaal-nethi mandapam. However, a lot of recent construction and additions have been carried out, resulting in much of this presenting itself as a brick temple. Thankfully, some vestiges of the Chola history of this temple remain.