Saraswathi Temple, also known as Saraswathi Ambal Temple, is a highly revered shrine situated at Koothanur, in
Tiruvarur District of
Tamil Nadu. It is about 22 km from
Tiruvarur and around 15 km from
Mayiladuthurai.
This ancient shrine enshrines Goddess Saraswathi, the goddess of learning, as the presiding deity. The deity is depicted in a white garment, seated in a white lotus in Padmasana posture, holding a book in her left hand and a Veena in the right.
There are separate shrines for Valampuri Vinayakar (Lord Ganesh), Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Nagaraja, Perumal and Goddess Lakshmi. There is a swayambhu idol of Narthana Vinayaka on the south-west corner of the prakaram. A rare image of four headed Lord Brahma with his hands folded for worship, in a standing posture and the idols of Brahmapureesar, Vinayaka and Muruga are installed in the maha mandapam.
Saraswathi Temple is believed to have been built by the Tamil poet Ottakoothar, a contemporary of Kamban and the author of famous work Kulottunga Cholan Ula, in the 2nd millennium CE. The temple features huge compound walls and has a single prakaram. Numerous stone inscriptions are seen validating the antiquity of the temple.
Navratri, celebrated here amidst much pomp and splendor, draws thousands of devotees from far and near.
Saraswathi Temple can be reached by bus from Poonthottam Bus Station (2 km).
