Sangameswarar temple (also called Thirunana and Thirukooduthurai) is a temple in Bhavani, in the Erode district, of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is 15 km from Erode, 30 km from Gobichettipalayam, 56 km from

Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada Ontario * Bruce County ** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie ** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce * Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...

and 106 km from

Coimbatore Coimbatore, also spelt as Koyamputhur (), sometimes shortened as Kovai (), is one of the major metropolitan cities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Noyyal River and surrounded by the Western Ghats. Coimbato ...

. The temple was built at the confluence of rivers Kaveri, Bhavani and the mystic Amutha (Agaya Gangai). The temple was praised in old Tamil literature as Thirunana. The place is also known as Dakshina Triveni Sangamam and Kooduthurai indicating the confluence of three rivers. Devotees perform last rites for ancestors on the riverbank and offer prayers at the Sangameshwarar temple.

Legend

''Kubera'', son of ''Vishrava'' was gifted an aircraft to visit Shiva temples across the country in recognition of his devotion to Lord Shiva. While he was flying near the river Cauvery ''Kubera'' was surprised to see a deer, tiger, cow, elephant, snake, and rat drinking water near an ''Ilandhai'' tree on the river bank without enmity, to answer his wonder ''Kubera'' heard a voice from the sky saying it was a place where ''vedas'' visited, inhabited by ''Gandharvas'' and advised him to worship the ''shiva lingam'' under the ''iilanadhi'' tree. The temples ''Ilandhai'' tree gives fruit on all season and was used for everyday puja even today. The cow behind the Vishnu statue remains the harmony between ''Saivism'' and ''Vaishnavism''. It was said that every inch under the temple has one ''shiva lingam''. The presiding deity is believed to have been worshipped by

Kubera Kubera ( sa, कुबेर, translit=Kuberā) also known as Kuvera, Kuber and Kuberan, is the god of wealth, and the god-king of the semi-divine yakshas in Hinduism. He is regarded as Guardians of the directions, the regent of the north (' ...

and sages

Vishvamitra Vishvamitra ( sa, विश्वामित्र, ) is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. According to Hindu tradition, he is stated to have written most of the Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Mant ...

and Parasara. During the period of Chera Chola and Pandya, there was a cave connection between the ''Chidambaram'' and ''Sangameshwarar'' temples and puja's are performed at same time in both temples. In the year 1804, William Karo, a British Collector of

district, visited Bhavani, camping in the Travellers'

Bungalow A bungalow is a small house or cottage that is either single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof (usually with dormer windows), and may be surrounded by wide verandas. The first house in England that was classified as a b ...

. One night, a small girl woke him up and got him out of the Bungalow when he was asleep. Once they were out, the Bungalow collapsed. Shocked by this incident, the Collector turned to thank the girl but to find, she wasn't there. The next day, the priest on duty informed him that it was Bhavani Vedanaayaki Amman, who saved his life. He bore three holes in the temple wall opposite Vedanaayaki Amman shrine and torched these holes to pray the goddess. He offered a gold plate to the goddess with his signature dated 11/01/1804. The holes and the gold plate are present even now and are taken care of with caution.

History

The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Architecture

The temple is constructed on a plot. The main RajaGopuram with 5 tiers is located on the north side of the temple. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva known as Sangameswarar along with his consort Pannaar Mozhiyaal or Vedanayagi. A shrine dedicated to Kartikeya is situated between the shrines of Siva and Parvati. There is also separate shrine inside the temple for Lord Vishnu and his consort Soundaravalli Thaayar. The stala vriksham is an ilandai ( Zizyphus mauritiana) tree. The annual Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Chitrai. Rock status of this temple represents the beauty of stone carving and the culture of the people. When water or milk poured on the two identical stone statues in front of ''ambal sannidhi''- Hindu goddess, one smiles at you, while the other sheds tears at you. The temple got a precious ''Ambal'' statue, a Hindu goddess donated by a district collector during British period for saving his life. Of all the seven holy Shiva centers of the Kongu Region, ''Bhavani'' is known as ''Thirunana'' in script. The holy waters of Sangameswarar temple is known as ''Cauvery theertham'', ''Surya theertham'' and ''Gayatri theertham''. The Amirthalingeswarar in the temple is placed on a seat called Avudayar according to Saiva principles. It is a mobile one that can be removed and placed on the seat again. Men and women seeking boons for children take the Sivalinga, perform puja and walk around it for three times and place it back on the Avudayar. The Amirthalinga is in the southern entrance of the temple.

Literary mention

It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. The

Nayanmars The Nayanars (or Nayanmars; ta, நாயன்மார், translit=Nāyaṉmār, translit-std=ISO, lit=hounds of Siva, and later 'teachers of Shiva ) were a group of 63 Tamil Hindu saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries CE who were de ...

Thevaram Thevaram is a town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thevaram is located in Tamil Nadu near on border of Kerala at the Eastern side foot-hill of the Western Ghats. It is connected with State Highway SH100. Farming is main o ...

pathigam is composed by Sambandar. He had composed 10 poems in this temple in the praise of the lord which comes under 2nd Thirumurai. Saint

Arunagirinathar Arunagirinaadhar (Aruna-giri-naadhar, ', ) was a Tamil Saiva saint-poet who lived during the 15th century in Tamil Nadu, India. In his treatise ''A History of Indian Literature'' (1974), Czech Indologist Kamil Zvelebil places Arunagirinathar's ...

who visited Thirunanaa, has composed many songs ( Thirupugazh) on Lord

Subramanya Subramaniam, Subrahmanyam, Subramanyam or Subramanian ( ta, சுப்பிரமணியம்; te, సుబ్రహ్మణ్యం) is a South Indian male given name. Due to the South Indian tradition of using patronymic surnames it ...

Gallery

File:Sangameswarar Temple 1.jpg, Prakara File:Sangameswarar Temple 3.jpg, Vimana File:Sangameswarar Temple 2.jpg, Vimanas File:Sangameswarar4.jpg, Entrance to Sangameswarar shrine File:Bhavani sangameswarar temple1.jpg, Nandhi mandapa in front of Rajagopura File:Bhavani sangameswarar temple2.jpg, Rajagopura File:Bhavani sangameswarar temple3.jpg, Sangameswarar shrine File:Bhavani sangameswarar temple4.jpg, Vedayanaki Amman shrine File:Bhavani sangameswarar temple5.jpg, Murugan shrine File:Bhavani sangameswarar temple6.jpg, Adhi Kesava Perumal shrine File:Bhavani sangameswarar temple7.jpg, Soundaravalli Thayar shrine

Ambal sannadhi with beautiful sculptures

File:Bhavani sangamesvarar temple amman shrine1.jpg File:Bhavani sangamesvarar temple amman shrine2.jpg File:Bhavani sangamesvarar temple amman shrine3.jpg File:Bhavani sangamesvarar temple amman shrine5.jpg File:Bhavani sangamesvarar temple amman shrine4.jpg File:Bhavani sangamesvarar temple amman shrine6.jpg File:Bhavani sangamesvarar temple amman shrine7.jpg

References

External links

Sangameswara Temple
{{coord missing, Tamil Nadu Hindu temples in Erode district Padal Petra Stalam Shiva temples in Erode district