Koothanur Maha Saraswathi Temple, Hindu temple in Koothanur, Tamil Nadu.

Koothanur Maha Saraswathi Temple is a Hindu temple in Koothanur, Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning. It is Tamil Nadu's only temple with Saraswati as the main deity, and the Tamil poets Ottakoothar and Kambar sang its praises. Vijayadasami is its most popular festival.

The Tamil poets Ottakoothar and Kambar wrote verses about this temple, which places its presence in the region at least as far back as the medieval period. Their texts are among the earliest written records that mention the site by name.

The temple's name is linked to the Tamil poet Ottakoothar, who is said to have built it and whose verses praise the shrine; the poet Kambar also wrote in its honour. Vijayadasami is the most popular festival here, when devotees gather for rituals and devotional music in honour of Saraswati.

The temple stands in Koothanur, in Tiruvarur district; Kumbakonam is the nearest larger town with onward transport connections. Dress modestly, as at South Indian places of worship. Vijayadasami draws crowds from surrounding areas, so plan a visit outside that festival if you want to move through the complex without queues.

Among the major temples of Tamil Nadu, this is the only one where Saraswati is worshipped as the presiding deity rather than as a companion to a male god. This makes the temple a destination for pilgrims who travel specifically to honor her, rather than passing through as part of a larger circuit.