This Shiva temple is situated at a distance of 10 kms from Thiruvarur on Thiruvarur-Kumbhakonam route. It is at a distance of 32 kms from Kumbhakonam and 2 kms from Thirukannamangai. This is one of the Padal Petra Sthalams revered by Shaiva Saint Appar, Sundarar and Sambandhar. This is on the southern bank of Kaveri and on the bank of river Vettaru which is a tributary of Kaveri. Once this place was a dense forest of Karveer trees (Lal Kanher in Marathi). Hence this place got the name Karaveeram. The original temple must have existed even before the 7th century. It was reconstructed by the Chola kings as a present stone structure. Extensions were done by Nayaks.
Moolavar: Shri Bramhapureeshwarar, Shri Karveereshwarar, Shri Arali Vana Nathar (Arali means Karveer pushpa)
Devi: Shri Karaveera Nayaki, Shri Prathyakminna Ammai.
Pooja/Agama: Shiva Agama
Sacred Theertha: Bramha Theertha, Anavarada Theertha
Kshetra Vruksha: Karaveer tree
Puranik Name: Karaveeram, Karaiyapuram
Kshetra Puran:
1. According to the Puran, Lord Shiva created a Linga at this place. He advised Sage Gautama to take care of it. Sage Gautama stayed at this place and did penance. Pleased with his penance Lord Shiva, granted him his darshan and inquired about his wish. Sage Gautama told him that as he was at Lord Shiva’s service, people should worship him at the same time along with him. Lord Shiva granted him this boon. Sage Gautama attained Jeeva Samadhi and was buried in the temple complex. It is believed that the Sage is in the form of Kshetra Vruksha (Karveer tree – Ponarali in Tamil- Lal Kanher in Marathi). There is also a separate shrine for Sage Gautama in the temple.
2. According to Sthala Puran, a donkey wanted to have darshan of Lord Shiva and did penance at this place. As he could not get darshan, it decided to end its life by drowning in the sea. When it reached the sea shore, it heard a divine voice. When it looked back, it got the darshan of Lord Shiva and attained moksha. Hence there is no flagstaff in the temple and there are no houses from this place to Nagore. This indicates that irrespective of what you are, every living being can have darshan of Lord Shiva with real and deep devotion.
3. As per the Sthala Puran, once Lord Shiva came in the form of Aadhi-Shiva under a Karveer plant. He was worshipped by Lord Bramha. Hence Lord Shiva is praised here as Bramhapureeshwarar.
4. According to Sthala Puran, once Lord Shiva had gone out for a stroll in the village. At that time Goddess Ambika was waiting for him in the Ardhamandap of the temple. Hence both shrines face the East. Ambika’s shrine is to the right of Lord Shiva.
5. According to Sthala Puran, once celestial women worshipped Goddess Parvati and sought marriage boon. Goddess Parvati just looked at Lord Shiva who had established a Linga at this place. He advised them to worship the Shiva Linga at this place. They worshipped the Shiva Linga and got their wish fulfilled. Hence this place is a Prarthana Sthala for the removal of marriage obstacles.
6. Shaiva Saint Sambandhar once reached this place late and stayed here for the night. He sang a sacred hymn on the next morning. This hymn talks about devotees' karma/ fate being absolved by worshiping at this place. Following this it is believed that, those who stay at this place for a night, all their sins will be washed off. It is believed that once you worship at this place, you will have no enemies.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Sage Gautama, a donkey, Lord Brahma, Goddess Parvati, celestial women, Shaiva Saints Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar.
Salient Features:
1. The name of the place is due to the presence of the Karaveer trees.
2. The place also gets the name as a donkey (Karam in Tamil) worshipped at this place.
3. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati grace at this place in wedding posture.
4. The Vimanam (shikhar) of both shrines are tall with a lot of sculptures.
5. The front mandap is in the shape of the forehead of the bat.
About the temple:
This is an east facing temple. There is no Rajagopuram but there is an arch which contains sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There is one parikrama. There is no Dhwajastambha. The Balipeeth and the Nandi are at the entrance to the Sanctum. The Shiva Linga is small, a bit tall and is a Swayambhoo Linga.
Koshta Murtis: Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Bramha, Goddess Durga, Lord Chandikeshwar.
Both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati idols are around 6.5 feet high. Goddess Parvati’s shrine is to the right of Lord Shiva’s shrine and adjacent to it. Ambika’s idol is East facing. This is considered as a wedding posture as Ambika is to the right of Lord Shiva.
There are nine Shiva Lingas in parikrama. Sapta Matrikas are installed in a separate shrine. The front mandap looks like the forehead of the bat. In the parikrama, we come across Lord Vinayaka, Lord Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai, Lord Surya, Lord Chandra, Lord Shanishwar, Lord Bramha, Naga idols and Sage Gautama. The Sthala Vinayaka is known as Raja Ganapati.
Prayers:
1. Unmarried women worship the Kshetra Vruksha for marriage boon.
2. Devotees worship Lord Shiva for the removal of past sins (karma).
Poojas:
Regular poojas according to Shiva Agama.
Regular poojas according to Shiva Agama.
There are 2 special poojas performed at this place.
1. On full moon day, girls of marriageable age whose marriages are getting delayed are advised to water Kshetra Vruksha and worship Lord Shiva. It is believed that before the next full moon day the prayers will be answered.
2. As explained in the Kshetra Puran the devotees stay overnight and have darshan of Lord Shiva in the morning to get rid of their karma.
Special poojas on every full moon day and Pradosha poojas are performed on Pradosha days.
Important Festivals:
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Shri Ganesh Chaturthi
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Thai (Jan-Feb): Makara Sankranti
Masi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri
Panguni (Mar-Apr): Festival on Uttara Bhadrapada Nakshatra
Time: 8.30 am to 12 pm, 5 to 8.30 pm
Address:
Shri Brahmapureeshwarar Temple at Thirukaraveeram / Kariyapuram,
Post Manakkal,
Iyyampettai via Vadakandam,
Taluka: Kudavasal,
District: Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu 610 104
Temple Priest Contact Number: Shri Saravan Gurukkal, +91 9787853460
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs