SANGAMESHWARAR TEMPLE, BHAVANI
Sangameswarar Temple
NAME
Proper name : Sangameswarar Temple
GEOGRAPHY
Country : India
State : Tamilnadu
District : Erode
Location : Bhavani
CULTURE
ARCHITECTURE
Architectural styles: South
Indian, Temple
SANGAMESWARAR ALAYAM
Sangameswarar alayam 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.
The temple was built at the confluence of Kaveri river, Bhavani river and ‘agaya gangai’, an
invisible underground water source.
The temple was praised in old Tamil literatures Thirupugazh,
Pillaithamizh by Thirugnanasambandar and Arunagiriyar, as Thirunana.
Sangameswarar alayam is a Tamil Nadu tourism spot and has a huge hall
for social events, a beautiful river side garden, round boat ride, swim and
bath area, and an elephant too. Here Kaveri river, Bhavani river and Amudha river join
together. River Amudha flow as Antharvahini, just like Sarasvathy at Triveni
Sangamam of Allahabad. The place is also known as Dakshina Triveni Sangamam.
This place is also known as Padhuma Giri which is surrounded by Naga Giri, Veda
giri, Sanga Giri and Mangala Giri.The temple is known as Kooduthurai by locals.
HISTORY AND MYTHS
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 shivalingam under the iilanadhi
tree.
The temples Ilandhai tree gives fruit on all season which was
used for everyday puja even today. During the period of Chera Chola and
Pandya’s there was a cave connection existed between Chidambaram and Sangameshwarar
temple and puja’s are performed at same time in both temples.
The cow behind the Vishnu statue remains the harmony between Saivism
and Vaishnavism. It was said from generations that every inch under the
temple has one shivalingam.
In the year 1804, William Karo, a British Collector of Coimbatore district, visited Bhavani, camping in the Travellers' Bungalow. One night, when he was asleep, a small girl woke
him up and got him out of the Bungalow. 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 exactly opposite to 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 with caution.
INSIDE THE TEMPLE
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 font 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.
SPECIALTIES:
Ø This is the temple that releases
people afflicted with Naga- subjected to the anger of serpents. They make an
idol of the Snakes and install it in the Vinayaga temple on the banks of the
river Cauvery to quench the dhosha severety.
Ø Those having problems with the
Planet Mars, if men, should tie a Mangal Sutra to a plantain tree and leave it
in the river. Women perform pujas to Bodhi stick with leaves (Arasamaram) and
leave it in the river.
Ø This is the place where rivers
Cauvery, Bhavani and Amirtha (invisible) meet. People perform rites here to
satisfy their departed elders.
Ø The other speciality in Bhavani
is, that when dead bodies are burnt, the skulls do not scatter as generally
found in yards of other places. Because it said that there are 1008 Sivalingas
under the earth.
Ø For cure from high fever, people
offer rice prepared with pepper and Jeeragam to the Lord and get cured.
Ø Besides the above prayer
offerings, people also come here for removal obstacles to marriage etc.
Ø There will be heavy crowd here
during new moon days and 18th of Adi Tamil month (July-August). Devotees offer
pujas to Mother Cauvery with coconut, fruits, flowers, ear rings made of palm
leaves, black pearls etc. It is a scene of great delight. Also those who bathe
in the confluence spot of Cauvery and Bhavani rivers during the Solar and Lunar
Eclipse attain salvation. They offer fine clothing to the Lord and the Goddess.
Ø It is also believed that
performing pujas, offering donation for righteous causes ensure the devotee
with manifold benefits.
Ø The Amirthalingeswarar in the
temple is placed on a seat called Avudayar according to Saiva principles 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.
Ø The other names of the Lord here
are, Alagesan, Sangamanathar, Maruthulingam. Vakreswara, Nattatriwara and
Thirunannavudayar.
Ø The Goddess Vedanayaki is also
known as Sangameswari, Bhavani Amman, Maruthunayaki and Vakreswari. It is said
that the Four Vedas came into being on this soil only.
FESTIVALS:
13
days Car festival in the Tamil Month Chithirai (April-May) and this is the most
famous of the temple attracting lakhs of devotees. Also on Adiperukku day,
Amavasyas, especially Thai Aamavasya, eclipse days are devotionally followed in
Bhavani temple bathing in the river and performing rites. Devotees from other
states would be large in numbers during November and December months
corresponding to Tamil Karthikai and Margazhi. Also special pujas are performed
to the Lord and Goddess on English and Tamil New Year days, Pongal and
Deepavali days.
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