Karkadeswarar Temple located at Tirundudevankudi is dedicated
to Hindu God Shiva. The temple is around 2 km from Thiruvisanallur in Thanjavur
District, Tamil Nadu.
Shivling worshipped in Tirundudevankudi Temple is Swayambhu
or that which appeared on its own. The Shivling worshipped in the temple was
buried under sand due to heavy floods for long period. Once a Chola King had
paralysis and all the treatments turned futile. The king prayed to Lord Shiva for
a remedy. One day an old man and woman appeared in the palace and gave the king
water mixed with sacred ash to drink. The king was cured immediately. The king
wanted the couple to reside in the palace. However, they did not accept the offer.
The king promised he would do anything they wished. The old couple took the
king to the spot where the Tirundudevankudi Temple stands and asked the king to
build a temple. They then merged in the Shivling here.
The king realized that the couple was Goddess Parvati and
Shiva and built a temple in the place.
It is believed that one will get relief from any disease
after worshipping Shiva here.
Two forms of Mother Goddess are worshipped in the temple Apoorvanayaki,
Arumarundhu Nayaki. Legend has it that the king who built the original temple could
not locate the murti of Mother Goddess. Therefore, he ordered a murti to be
made and it was named Arumarundhu Nayaki. However, within a couple of days the original
murti was discovered. Thus, there are two murtis of mother goddess in the
temple
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A unique aspect of the Shivling worshipped in the temple is
that there is hole in the Shivling believed to have been made by crab. The
shrine is therefore also known as Nandukoil. Nandu means crab in Tamil. The
shrine gets the name Karkadeswarar Temple also due to this reason.
Legend has it that Indra, the king of Devas, worshipped
Shiva here and corrected himself for the sins committed and hence the name Tirundudevankudi
Temple.
The most important festivals observed in the temple are
Shivratri and Tirukarthigai.
The subsidiary shrines in the temple are dedicated to
Karkadaga Vinayaka, Muruga with Valli and Devayani, Chandra (moon god) and
Nataraja.
The temple is also associated with Ayilyam Nakshatra born
people. Those born in the birth star will get wishes fulfilled after offering
prayers here. Those people born in Ayilyam
star having trouble in horoscope will get relief after doing pujas here.
Tirundudevankudi Temple Pooja Timings
Morning Darshan and Puja – 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Evening Darshan and Puja – 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Tirundudevankudi Temple Contact Details
Sri Karkadeswarar Temple,
Tirundhuthevankudi
Vepathur Post,
Tiruvidaimarudhur Taluk,
Thanjavur district
Pincode – -612 105
Telephone Number – +91 435 - 2000 240, 99940 15871