Mullaivananathar Temple is located at Tirukkarukaavur near
Papanasam in
Tamil Nadu. The deities of the temple are Mullaivananathar(Siva) and Karu Kaatta Amman(
Parvati). The legend associated with the temple is that goddess Parvati assisted a helpless lady during her delivery and saved her offspring.This is the origin of the name Karukaavoor. Worship services held here are believed to bless barren couples with progeny and also aid healthy pregnancies.
Covering an area of about 125,000 sq.ft, the temple has the prakaram enclosed by a wall, and crowned with a gopuram at its entrance. To the western part of the sanctum is the Ardhanareeswarar. The temple has inscriptions of the Chola period. The main festival is the annual Brahmmotsavam celebrated in the month of Vaikasi. It also celebrates Arudra Darisanam, Kartikai Deepam, Aadi Pooram and Navaratri for Ambal, Skanda Sashti, Aippasi Pournami and Mahasivaratri.
