This is a small, unique Divya Desam near Trichy city. This a rare temple in that, it has sannidhis for Sri Vishnu, Siva and Brahma in the same campus. It is popularly known as Uttamar Koil or Bhikshaandaar Koil. If you are travelling to this Divya Desam, refer to it as Uttamar Koil. Local people will most likely not recognize the official name of Thirukkarambanoor.
Location and Access:
Uttamar Koil is very easy to access. It is located about 5 km from SriRangam and about 12-13 km from the centre of Trichy city. If you leave SriRangam after breakfast, you can comfortably make a trip to Uttamar Koil and be back to SriRangam for lunch. Uttamar Koil itself has very few places for food or stay and hence your travel base should be SriRangam or Trichy.
If you are driving, you can consider combining a visit to a nearby Divya Desam - Thiruvellarai. These two Divya Desams are in the same direction. You need to cross the Kollidam river bridge to get to these two places. Thiruvellarai is a little farther (after Uttamar Koil). The two temples can be covered in one morning - if they are not crowded. Uthamar Koil is also accessible by public bus.
Legends and History:
It is believed that, Lord Shiva worshipped at this Divya Desam to get freed from the sin of removing one of Brahma's heads. When Shiva prayed to the ThAyAr here, she gave him alms (Bhikshai) which completely filled his kapalam-bowl. Since the Grace of ThAyAr filled Shiva's bowl and thus completed his penance, She is known as Poorna-vaLLi. Shiva here is known as Bhikshaandaar and the temple is also known as Bhikshaandaar Koil.
The temple is said to have been built by King Janaka, the father-in-law of Lord Sri Rama.
The Temple:
The temple is not very big but has many sannidhis. The ThAyAr here - Sri PoornavaLLi is in a standing pose (Ninra Thirukkolam). Sri PerumAL is in a recumbent posture on Adiseshan. His moniker is Sri Purushottaman.
There are also sannidhis for Lord Shiva and His consort, Brahma, Saraswathi, Sri Hanuman. There are also a few other smaller sannidhis. It can take about 1-2 hours to cover all the sannidhis in a leisurely manner (if the temple is not crowded)
AzhwAr MangaLAsAsanam:
This Divya Desam has been mentioned in one pasuram by Sri Thirumangai AzhwAr (Periya Thirumozhi 5.6.2). The pAsuram goes as follows:
ஊரானை, கரம்பனூர் உத்தமனை, முத்து இலங்கு
கார் ஆர் திண் கடல் ஏழும், மலை ஏழ் இவ் உலகு ஏழ் உண்டு
ஆராது என்று இருந்தானைக் கண்டது தென் அரங்கத்தே.
In this pAsuram, Sri AzhwAr refers to five Divya Desams - ThiruppEr Nagar (AppakudathAn or Koviladi), Thirukkurungudi, Thiruthankaal, Thirukkarambanoor and Thiruvarangam.
Sri Poornavalli ThAyAr sametha Sri PurushOttama PerumAL thiruvadigaLE saranam
