SANGAMESHWARAR TEMPLE, BHAVANI

               

                   SANGAMESHWARAR TEMPLE, BHAVANI  

 

Sangameswarar Temple

 

NAME

Other names      :           Thirunana

Proper name      :           Sangameswarar Temple

 

GEOGRAPHY

Country            :           India

State                 :           Tamilnadu

District              :           Erode

Location            :           Bhavani

 

CULTURE

            Primary deity     :           Shiva

 

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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