KOOTHANUR TEMPLE

We can be proud that people the world over, when they get in search of theism, ancient arts, culture and spiritual knowledge, go now where else than our sacred nation-Bharat. It is because of the blessings of Goddess Saraswathi. Also known as ‘ Kalaimagal ’, the goddess of the total of 64 art forms that our nation is praised as the nation for spiritual knowledge or even,for that matter, any knowledge.

The rivers, Ganges, Yamuna, Indus, Narmadha, Godhavari, Krishna and Kaveri are given prominence when we hear praises of our nation. Kaveri, who spread out from the water container (kamandalam)of stage Agasthya, has brought about many famed places and incidents to the Chola region of Tamilnadu. There are many branches of the river Kaveri which run like blood vessels across the Chola region.

Among these, the very beautiful broad “Harisol” rivulet branches off from the Kaveri at Kumbakonam. There are quite a few holy shrines on the banks of Harisol.Of these, as if to symbolize her flow from the heavens to earth, Harisol flows the north to the south in Koothanur.

Many sages and savants chose the banks of the river in Koothanur to perform their penance in absolute peace. Right near the river, Harinatheswarar temple confers an absolutely peaceful for doing penance. A few feet away,Goddess Durga is found as the village protective deity.which is a rarity A nearby place known as ”Poonthottam” must have been a beautiful park full of lovely flowers in ancient times. People of the past, would have had their bath in river Harisol, and taken flowers from Poonthottam for worship of the Lord.

It is learnt, that this place was known as “Ambalpuri”, about a 1000years ago, even before poet Ottakoothan was born. So history has it it that Goddess Saraswathi did her penance towards Lord Brahma and conferred her blessings on her devotees for ages. Devotees offer their puja with lovely flowers that are known to be acceptable to the Goddess.