Venni Karumbeswarar — A temple for diabetics

Yes, you read that right — There is indeed a temple, where it is widely believed that if you pray, you will be rid of diabetes or at least have the condition under control. This temple is situated in a picturesque hamlet called Kovel Venni, just off the National Highway 83 in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. Around 23 kilometers from Kumbakonam and around 28 kilometers from Thanjavur, this place can be easily accessed by road.

We set off in the morning from Kumbakonam and after a drive of close to 40 minutes, we were at the deviation off the national highway just after the Kovil Venni bus stop. Narrow winding single road with greenery on either side, we were there at the quaint temple site. Serene atmosphere with hardly two or three other pilgrims around.

The temple stands on the banks of a channel of the Kaveri river and has just one shop selling pooja items.

Now with gradually rising popularity, worshippers believed that offering sugar and sooji (rava) to the Lord here would relieve them of diabetes. A board has been put up by the temple authorities to offer prayers only and refrain from offering sugar and other sweet items as it leads to ants and other insects infestation affecting the hygiene of the temple. Good decision, never mind the grammar and misspellings.

A small courtyard and a compact sanctorum, is what we saw. Prayed to Lord Shiva called Karumbeswarar with the priest performing the aarti. Karumbeswarar means ‘Lord of the sugarcane’. The priest explained that this place once abounded in sugar fields, over 200 years ago. King Kochengan Chola of the Early Chola dynasty was out hunting in this area when he noticed a strange phenomenon. A cow would come every day and spill all its milk over an anthill in the forest. Curious, the king dug up the anthill and found a Swayambhu Shiva lingam. While digging up the anthill, a shovel had hit the Shiva lingam and it appeared as if it was bleeding. Kochengan was alarmed but not for long, as a sweet juice similar to sugarcane oozed out of the lingam and the bleeding stopped. Kochengan Chola is said to have built this temple, one among the 70 odd Shiva temples he built, before being celebrated as one of the 63 Nayanars or saints. Is this temple that old? Looks new, was our refrain. The priest patiently explained that the kumbabhishekam or renovation had taken place in recent years and hence the bright, new look. The Venni Karumbeswarar temple finds a place in ancient Sangam literature and is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalam with, Thirugnanasambandar singing about the Lord here. 

This temple is also known as a Parihara sthalam, where if you pray with a genuine heart, you are blessed by the Lord Himself, with good luck and more importantly good health. Some miracles had been witnessed on the health front for diabetics and hence the growing belief that praying here would make one diabetes-free. The priest hands over special vibhuti to worshippers, saying that for 24 days, if a small pinch of the vibhuti is mixed with water and drank before sunrise, with complete faith and belief, followed by some evening prayers at home, on the 25th day, you can see drop in your sugar levels. While this may not be a substitute for diet control, exercise and medication, it may act as an excellent support system for believers.

Karumbeswarar’s consort is Soundara Nayaki, who has a small shrine inside. Finished the worship, thanked the priest and stepped out of the sanctum sanctorum to complete our parikrama of the temple in the open. All done, in under 30 minutes. The peaceful atmosphere, the silence and the absence of crass commercialisation seen in larger, more renowned temples, adds to the divine feeling. As we got back into our car, could not help recalling the adage ‘Faith can move mountains’. If so, Faith can certainly move diabetes away from you.