Saraswati Temple in Thiruvarur is located in the small village Kuthanur on the banks of the river Arasilar, a tributary of the River Kaveri in the district of Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. This is one of the few temples in India dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning and consort of Lord Brahma.
Folk tales point to the Ottakuttar, a famous Tamil poet who carried out penance to this deity for the existence of this temple during 12th century AD. It is believed that the saint poet got a darshan (vision) of goddess Saraswati at this place. A beautiful image of Ottakuttar is seen at the entrance of this temple.
This small but aesthetically attractive temple has the stone image of Goddess Saraswati in sitting posture on a lotus (Padmasanam). The idol has four arms with the rosary (japamala) and the water-pot (kamandala) in two arms, a palm-leaf manuscript in the third arm and showing chinmudra (indicative of knowledge) in the fourth.