01Vedika’s child
The temple’s katha tells of Vedika, wife of the sage Nidhruva, who was with child and too weak to rise when the sage Urdhvapada came begging for alms. He cursed her in anger, and the unborn child was in danger. Vedika prayed to the Devi of this forest, who came and kept the child safe in a sacred pot until it was born, and fed the infant with Kamadhenu’s milk. She has been Garbharakshambigai, the protector of the womb, since. Ghee blessed at her feet is given to women who wish to conceive and to those with child, and many return to lay their newborn on the cradle before her shrine.
02The anthill linga
Mullai is wild jasmine, and the place was once a jasmine forest. Mullaivananathar is a swayambhu linga of anthill earth, so it receives no water abhishekam; it is anointed with punugu, civet oil, and the marks of a jasmine creeper are seen on it. Appar and Sambandar sang Tirukkarukavur. It is one of the Pancha Aranya sthalams, the five forest shrines of this country, with Avalivanallur, Haridwaramangalam, Alangudi and Tirukollampudur; pilgrims visit all five in one day.
About 7 km south of Papanasam and 20 km south-west of Kumbakonam. The ghee prasadam is given at the temple office.
