History
Koothanur Maha Saraswathi Temple is a Hindu temple located in the predominantly Muslim town of Koothanur in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Saraswathi, the Hindu goddess of learning. The temple has attained popularity by gaining the status of the only temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi.  It is learnt, that this place was known as Ambalpuri, about a 1000 years ago, even before poet Ottakoothan was born. A history of this temple talks about the restrictions on marriage between the brothers and sisters. Once upon a time at Satya Loga, Lord Brahma and his consort Saraswati were living.
Goddess Saraswathi, Goddesses Lakshmi and parvathi too came by in this river and hence we can get the blessings of the basic grace of them all-Adhisakthi. Blessed with the beningn looks of Goddess Kalaimagal, and the betel mouth Blessings of “Then Kani vagadevi”, Ottakoothar . It is learnt, that this place was known as “Ambalpuri”, about a 1000years ago, even before poet Ottakoothan was born. So history has it that Goddess Saraswathi did her penance towards Lord Brahma and conferred her blessings on her devotees for ages. Devotees offer their puja with lovely flowers that are known to be acceptable to the Goddess.

The origin of the word Koothanur was, a village gifted by Raja Raja Chola II to his Kingdom Poet Ottakkootthan. Hence this town came to be called as Koothanur. The temple is Tamil Nadu’s only Hindu temple for Saraswathi. Praises of the temple were sung by Tamil poets Ottakoothar and Kambar. Dusshera is the most popular festival celebrated in the temple. Legend holds that, once a dispute arose between Lord Brahma and Saraswathi. The quarrel between both of them worsened and hence to teach them a lesson they were born as siblings in the Earth. When their parents started looking for suitable matches they recalled their original relationship and approached Lord Shiva for the solution. Lord Shiva made Saraswathi as part of the Ganga river and brought her to Koothanur as Arasalar river. She became the Sacred Water for Lord Shiva. She also was blessed with a temple for Herself in Koothanur.