GARBARAKSHAMBIKAI - Thirukkaruhavur - Tamilnadu

Sri GARBARAKSHAMBIGAI TEMPLE - THIRUKARUHAVUR.

                                                         Sri GARBARAKSHAMBIGAI.

                                                          Sri Mullai Vana Nadhar
                                                    
The present day Thirukaruhavur – was earlier known as Mullai Vanam. ( The very idea of creating this blog came after visiting Thirumullaivoyil @ Chennai, in December 2nd week, during the Lunar eclipse evening. After a gap of 4 months, starting to write on the temples of Devi, Im restarting with Mullai Vana nadhar and Garbharakshambigai of Mullaivanam.  Mullaivanam & Thirumullaivoil..Lots of similarities.

Thirukkaruhavur is located in Tanjore district of Tamilnadu – about 20kms from Tanjore.
                                                      
                                           STORY BEHIND THE TEMPLE:Rishi Nidhruvar was leading a pious life and was doing services to the Sages ( Gowthama & Gargeya) who were doing Maha Yagyam in Mullaivanam. Life was blissful, except for the fact that the couple didn’t have any issues. Seeing his worry, the Sages adviced Nidhruvar that, if he worships Mullai Vana Nadhar and Garbarakshambigai, they will be blessed with a kid.

Their prayers got answered and his wife Vedika got pregnant. During her 7th month of pregnancy, one day, Nidhruvar went out and Vedika was taking rest at home. That day, Sage Urdhavapadar came there seeking food. Since she was in her advanced pregnancy, she couldn’t get up fast and receive the Sage. Seeing the undue delay, the Sage got angry and cursed Vedika. She was affected by the curse and led to miscarriage. She ran to the deity of Garbarakshambigai and pleaded for mercy.
Devi Parvathy offers protection to the mother and offers a protection shield to the fetus by doing aavaahanam of the fetus in a divine metal pot. At the due time, a baby boy was born to Vedika. She couldn’t feed her child. She prayed Devi Parvathy. Kamadhenu appears before them and milk was offered to the child and then on, the child grows. The sage and his wife prayed to Devi Parvathy that henceforth, who ever comes to Thirukaruhavur and prays to Garbarakshambigai, she should ensure pregnancy and safe delivery of child. Since she takes care of Pregnancy, she is named as Garba Rakshambigai.

Devi’s idol is 7 feet tall. The Nandi and Vinayagar are believed to be swambu moorthys. Worshing Lord Shiva will get rid of skin ailments. Hymns were sung by Appar, Sambandar & Sundarar.
Sthala Viruksham : Jasmine – Mullai Kodi.

Couples who are praying for being blessed by kids, come to this temple and offer Ghee to the diety. The priest chants the required mantras and returns back the same. Ladies smear a small portion of the ghee on the sides of the entrance and applies rangoli using rice flour in the temple. The same ghee has to be consumed by the couple in small quantity for 7 weeks and then the couples are blessed with pregnancy. The same way, pregnant women are given Oil as prasadm. They apply it over the abdomen daily as a divine shield for safe pregnancy and easy delivery. 
Punugu Abhishegam (Ablution) to Mullaivananathar is believed to cure incurable and chronic illness.  Since the Lingam is a SwayamBhu Lingam no other abhishegam is done to the Lingam.
There are 5 aranya sthalas in Tanjore district. If the 5 are worshiped in the series ( Thirukaruhavur, Alangudi,Avalivanallur, Haridwaramangalam, Thirukollampudhur ) in the same day, one’s sins are absolved and he / she gets mukti. ( Same effect we get here in Chennai, when we go to the 3 temples - Meenjur,Thiruvottriyur, Thirumullaivoil on a Fullmoon day - Friday - all 3 to completed between dawn to dusk).

The Lord Shiva, like in Thirumullaivoyil in Chennai is a swambu lingam, on a mullai forest. In both the temples, we can see a mark on the Shiva Lingam. Here we can see the mark of jasmine creaper more  prominent during deeparadhana. Here too, there is no abhishegam and they offer punugu chaarthu to the Shiva Lingam. He is known as Madhavi Vaneshwar ( Madhavi in Sanskrit means Jasmine). One more similarity with Thirumullaivoil – Here too Indiran came and did puja to Mullaivana nathar and got resolved from his curses on the Full moon day of Panguni. This is also the day when Shiva became Chandra choodan. So, on this particular day, every year, we can see Moon’s light falling on the Shiva Lingam deity. Its believed that Sage Gautama & Bhrama also got relieved from their curses here.
On the full moon day of the tamil month of Panguni (March-April) moon’s rays falls on the Shiva Lingam.
The navagraha deity has a peculiarity. All the 8 other grahas havig Abaya – Varadha mudras are facing Sun, which is placed in the centre.

There are 4 thirthams here. 1. Bhrama Thertham in south west corner.  2. Sheera Kundam ( the place where Kamadhenu created a pond of milk for the child of Vedika). 3. Between the Shiva and Parvathy Sanidhi, we have a well named as SathyaKoobam, in which on  the Sunday of Thirukarthika its believed that  Sanjeevani gets mixed in the theertham and it can cure all major diseases especially Skin diseases. 4. River Cauvery flowing on the South west of the temple.
Temple timing : 6AM to 12.30 PM, 4.00 PM to 8.30 PM.

Auspicious days : Pradosham is important ( Coincidence that today is also Pradosham – 16.6.12)
ADDRESS :
Arulmigu Mullai Vananathar Thirukkoil,
Thirukkarugavur (P.O),
Papanasam Taluk.
Thanjavur Dt. 614 302
Tamil Nadu .
 Phone : 04374 -273 423           
                                           USEFUL MANTRAS
1. Chanting her Gayatri 108 times will bless the ladies who are yet to get conceived.
                              “Aum Garbarakshambigaayai cha vidhmahe
                               Mangala dhevadhaayai cha dheemahee
                               Dhanno devi prachodhayaath”.
2. Pregnant ladies may chant the mantra below for safe pregnancy
                                Hey sangara Shamarahara Pramadhaadhi Naadhari Mannaadha shaamba sasisuda
                                HarithiriSulin sambo sugaprasava kiruthbavame dhayaalo
                                HeyMaadhaviVanesa Paalayamaam Namaste”
3.Expecting Mothers may chant the mantra below for safe delivery.
                                “Hamavath yuthare Paarchve shuradhaa naama yakshini
                                 Dhasyaa Shmarana Maathrena visalyaa Garbinibavedu”.
 4. Mantra for Marriage & Childbirth :
                                “Aum devendhiraani namosthubyam
                                  Dhevendhira piriya baamini
                                  Vivaaha baakyam aarokyam
                                  puthra laabam sadhehime
                                  Padhim dhehi sudham dhehi
                                  Soubaakyam dhehime subhe
                                  Soumaangalyam subam Gnayanam
                                  Dhehime Garbarakshake
                                  Kaathyaayini mahaamaaye
                                  Maha yoginya dhisvari
                                  Nandhagoba seedham dhevam
                                  Padhim Megurudhe Namah.”

May the blessings of Garbarakshamba be with all.

“YA DEVI SARVA BHUTESHU MAATRU RUPENA SAMSTHITHA
NAMASTASYAI NAMASTASYAI NAMASTASYAI NAMO NAMAH” !
(My repeat Salutations to the Supreme Devi, who resides in all beings in the form of Motherhood)
                                                                                                 - Devi Stuti ( @ Devi Mahatmyam)