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Koothanur is a small village located near Poonthottam in the
heart of the Temple belt of Tamil Nadu. This village is
especially famous for the Saraswati Temple and its association with
Ottakoothar, the Tamil poet.
The Legend
Once upon a time a young devotee desirous of knowledge performed severe
penance at the Saraswati shrine seeking the blessings of Saraswati.
Saraswati took the form of a courtesan and materialised before him and
expressed her desire to bless him. The devotee refused to accept her
blessings, not knowing who she was.
Ottakkoothar rushed to the spot upon hearing of this incident, and
recognising the identity of the courtesan, the poet prostrated before her
seeking her blessings. Only after this incident, the fame of Ottakkoothar
spread throughout the Tamil land. In fact, the name Koothanur derives from
the poet's name Ottakoothar.
About The Temple
The uniqueness of this temple lies in the fact that it is dedicated
exclusively to the Goddess of learning Saraswati. Although there are
shrines to Saraswati in most Shaivite temples as well as niche shrines to
Brahma, temples dedicated exclusively to Brahma or Saraswati are very
rare.
It is believed that the poet Ottakoothar erected the shrine very early in
the 2nd Millennium. He is also said to have celebrated Vijaya Dasami, the
day following the 9-day Navaratri festival in the Tamil month of
Purattasi. There are several stone inscriptions, validating the antiquity
of the temple.
On full moon nights, children are brought here in droves and the word "Om"
is written on their tongues, with a stick dipped in honey. It is believed
that such children blossom into fine orators, poets and musicians.
Rail: Koothanur is located near Poonthottam on the
railway line between Mayiladuturai and Tiruvarur.
Road: State government provides regular bus services from
Poonthottam to Koothanur.
Accommodation is available at the small hotels and lodges in Poonthottam.
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