The shrine is praised by the three celebrated Saivite
Saints, Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar. This is the 91st Lord
Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
Lord Shiva appointed Sage Gautama to take care of the Linga
which He installed Himself. The sage
stayed in this sacred land, performed penance and sought the grace of Lord
Shiva. Granting Darshan to the sage,
Lord asked him his wish. The sage said
that after his life time, nobody should see his mortal body. As the devotees would worship him also in the
temple, he wanted to become the sacred tree of the temple and sought that
boon. Lord obliged the sage. It is on the basis of this story, women use
to water the sacred tree on every new moon day and worship Lord Brahmmapureeswarar
then.
Karaveeram means Ponnalari a flower. The place is named
after this plant-sacred tree. Saint
Tirugnana Sambandar had to stay here as night fell then. In his hymn on the Lord of Karaveeram, in
each verse he had emphasized that the devotee would be relieved of his
problems-Vinai in Tamil. Devotees
therefore stay here for a night, worship the Lord next day for solutions to
their problems.
A donkey performed penance in this place on Lord Shiva for
His darshan. As its wish was not in sight,
frustrated, it decided to fall in the sea at Nagore. The animal heard a sound and turned back and
its joy knew no bounds as Lord granted His darshan and also salvation,
according to puranas. Because of this
event, there is no flag post before Lord?s shrine and houses or buildings up to
Nagore from this place. The philosophy
is that Lord does not discriminate among beings to shower His grace.
Women of the celestial world once met Lord and Mother
at Mount Kailash and sought wedding boon. Mother
Parvathi looked at Lord for the reply. Lord Shiva made a Shivalinga
Himself, installed it on the southern bank of Cauvery and advised the women to
worship the Linga. They followed the advice and were rewarded with
suitable matches. Even today, women use to water the sacred tree
here on new moon days and worship Lord Brahmmapureeswara then to gain wedding
boon. It is believed that their wish is materialized before the next
new moon day.
Moolavar: Karavera Nathar (Brahmmapureeswarar)
Amman / Thayar: Pratyakasha
Minnammai
Thala Virutcham: Sevvarali-Red
flower plant, Alari
Theertham: Anavaradha theertham
Agamam / Pooja: Karana Agama
Old year: 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name: Karaveeram
This sivasthalam temple is located 10 Kms to the west from
Tiruvarur on the Tiruvbarur - Kumbakonam road. Another paadal petra sthalamTirupperuvelur is
located 2 Kms. in the north-west direction from here.
Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthy. Every new moon
day is a festival day in the temple. Also, Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in
December-January; Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in
March-April are grandly celebrated in the temple.
On new moon days, women water the Sthala Vruksha ? sacred
tree near the Samadhi of Sage Gautama and worship Lord Brahmmapureeswarar then
in the hope that their marriage would be materialized before next new moon
day. Devotees stay in the temple for a night and worship the Lord
next day to overcome various hardships they face in life.
Realizing their wishes, devotees perform abishek to Lord
offering vastras.
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from
5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Sri Brahmmapureeswarar Temple, Karaiveeram, Tirukannamangai
Post-610 104, Tiruvarur district. Contact Number - +91 4366 241 978
Do:
- Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
- Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
- Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
- Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
- Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
- Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
- Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
- Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
Don't s:
- Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
- Do not smoke at Temple.
- Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
- Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
- Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
- Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
- Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
- Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
- Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
- Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
- Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.