01The bowl that was filled
The temple katha begins with a kadamba tree. Vishnu stood here as the tree to try Brahma’s devotion, and Brahma bathed it in worship; the water became Kadamba Theertham, and the old name Kadambanur became Karambanur. Later Shiva came this way as Bhikshatana, Brahma’s fifth head fixed to his hand. At Vishnu’s word Lakshmi gave him alms, the skull-bowl filled for the first time, and Shiva’s burden began to lift. It was fully removed at Thirukkandiyur. So the Thayar is Poornavalli, and the shrines of Brahma with Saraswati and of Shiva as Bhikshatana stand within the same enclosure as Purushottaman.
02Karambanur Uthaman
Thirumangai Alvar names the Perumal ‘Karambanur Uthaman’ in a single pasuram, and that word gave the village its common name, Uthamar Kovil. Temple tradition holds that the Alvar stayed here while he built the walls of Srirangam. The temple also keeps the Saptaguru, seven teachers in one place: Shiva as Bhikshatana, Brahma, Soundarya Parvati, Brihaspati, Varadaraja, Murugan and Shukra. The Perumal reclines facing east. Uthamar Kovil is administered by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department.
The life of this place
- Alvar periodThirumangai Alvar sings of Karambanur Uthaman.
- 1751During the Anglo-French fighting around Tiruchirappalli the temple is used by troops but not damaged.
On the Salem road on the north bank of the Kollidam, about 3 km from Srirangam. Visit the Perumal, then the Brahma and Bhikshatana shrines inside the same wall.
