Koothanoor : Maha Saraswathi amman temple

Place: Koothanoor

Goddess: Maha Saraswathi

How to reach?

Mayiladuthurai is the nearest railway station. The nearest town providing bus service to Koothanur is at Poonthottam and Thiruvarur.  Other cities near to koothanoor are Kumbakonam and Mayavaram.

About the temple

The temple is dedicated to Saraswathi ambal, Goddess for arts and studies. Daily six times pooja and early morning abhishegam is followed in this temple.  To contribute to abhishegam, you should be present in the temple at early morning. Other offerings like pooja, neivedhyam and other forms of worship can be followed. To perform, any such worship, please contact the temple office number mentioned at the end of this post. Learning is a process we have to follow throughout our life. We have to learn and practice everything we do. Saraswathi ambal is present in this temple doing penance. Any mother, when she is busy at work, would never forget her child. If mother to one child is so kind and loving, what about the mother to all people in this earth? Even if the mother is doing penance, she is very kind-hearted to take care of you while doing penance!

Festivals

In this temple, both Vasantha navarathri and sarada navarathri are celebrated grandly. Unjal utsavam is celebrated for ten days after sarada Navarathri. Only on Saraswaathi pooja every year, bakthas can offer flower directly to the feet of the mother. For this purpose, the alangaram is done in such a way that the feet of mother is placed in the Artha mandapam. On Vijayadasami, children come with new notebooks and pen (or) pencil and people with vehicles bring their vehicle to do pooja and come around the temple in it. The next day Saraswathi mata will come around town to give spcial darshan to everyone.

History

Ambalpuri

When Saraswathi mata came to earth to do penance, she chose koothanoor. This place is not only beautiful but also peaceful. As Saraswati ambal chose this place, it is also known as ambalpuri.

Ottakoothar

koothar is a devotee of Saraswathi ambal and famous poet.  Once, 1000 people were unceremoniously beheaded. Looking at the disgusting act, Koothar prayed to mother Saraswati and stuck back the heads of all 1000 people to their body. The song he sang is titled “ezhupezhupathu”. After this incident, he was known as ottakoothar. Since the king gave this land as a present to ottakoothar, it came to be known as koothanoor.

Once Otta koothar had to hide in kaali amman temple to escape a violent gang. The gang asked him to sing Barani song to let him free. At that time, Koothar sang the barani song with the help of Saraswathi ambal sitting in his tongue and to let the world know it is true, he has sung a song on Saraswathi mata with the line “Aattrangarai Sorkizhatthi vaazhiya”. Ottakoothar was a staunch devotee of Maha Saraswathi devi. He created Poonthottam(flower garden) near koothanoor. Now the town where poonthottam was created is called Poonthottam.

Story of Purushothaman

There was a person called Sarangapani deekshitar. His son is Purushothaman. Purushothaman was dumb by birth. His father was very depressed because of this reason and was very much confused by what he could do? Finally, he heard about Ambalpuri  place and also about Mahasaraswati. So, he sent purushothaman to Ambalpuri to do penance. Purushothaman took his father’s words to heart and came to ambalpuri. He took bath in Harisolmanadhi river every day and did severe penance. Saraswati mata, looked at her child doing penance and came to him on Vijayadasami day. Realizing that Saraswathi devi herself had come, Purushothaman worshipped at her feet. Then Saraswati mata gave the betel leaf she chewed on to him and made him a great poet. From that day onwards, he was called Purushothama Barathi. Purushothama Barathi was very happy that he performed Kumbabishegam to the Koothanoor Sarawathi devi temple.  

Temple office number : 04366 239909