Sangameswarar Temple, Erode

Sangameswarar Temple located in Bhavani, in the Erode District of Tamil Nadu is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple also famously called Thirunana and Thirukooduthurai is at a distance of 16 kilometers from Erode. The Moolavar (main deity) is Sangameswarar and Thayaar (Goddess) here is Vedha Nayagi.

History & Legend of the Temple

Bhavani Sangameswarar Temple is an ancient temple built by the first Pallava King, Mahendra Verman. According to legend, during the British Rule, William Karo who worked as a collector for Coimbatore District visited Bhavani. One night, when he was asleep, he was woken up and got out of the Bungalow he was staying in, by a small girl. Once he was out, the Bungalow is said to have collapsed.

After the priest of the temple informed him that it was Bhavani Vedanaayaki Amman who had saved him, he became an ardent devotee of the Goddess. The three holes that he had made in the temple walls in order to pray to the Goddess are still present. Another legend associated with the place is that Kubera, the Lord of Wealth, is said to have been advised by Lord Shiva himself that he would find a Shivalingam under the Illandai tree.

Prominent Features of the Temple

About the place

The place Bhavani is a well-known Parihara Sthalam (a place for absolution of one’s sins) in Tamil Nadu. The Sangameswarar Temple is a holy one located at the Sangamam (confluence) of three rivers – Kaveri, Bhavani and the mystic Amutha(flowing underground) and hence the place is popularly called the Dakshina Triveni Sangamam (Triveni Sangamam in the South). The place also has the name Kooduthurai again indicating the confluence of three rivers.

Prominence of the temple

The temple is one of the 276 Devara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam, the third Sthalam in Kongu Nadu and Lord Shiva shrine in the temple is a Swayambumurthi i.e it is self-manifested.

A place in literature

The Nayanmars Thevaram pathigam is composed by Sambandar. He had composed 10 poems in this temple in the praise of the Lord which comes under 2nd Thirumurai.

Architecture of Sangameswarar Temple

The temple has a unique architecture with beautiful stone carvings. Constructed on a 4-acre plot, the temple has a 5-tier Gopuram (tower) on the northern side.

Deities in the temple

The presiding deity is Lord Shiva as Sangameswarar along with his consort Vedanayagi. At the entrance is the shrines of Kottai Vinayagar (Lord Ganesha) to the left and Kottai Anjaneyar (Lord Hanuman) on to the right. The main tower encompasses the shrines of Raja Ganapathi and Lord Muthukumaraswamy (Lord Murugan). The corridors are adorned by the shrines of Lord Vinayakar, Lord Murugan and his consorts, Goddess Gajalakshmi, 63 Nayanmars, Jurahareshwarar (in dancing posture), “Pancha Bhootha” Lingams, Kasi Viswanathar, Goddess Visalakshi, Amirthalingam, and Jeshtadevi.
Separate shrines are found for Lord Adhikesava Perumal, Goddess Soundaranayaki and Yoga Narasimhar.

Temple Timings – Sangameswarar Temple

The temple timings are as follow: 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Pooja Timings & Details

The pooja timings is as mentioned below:

Sangameswarar Temple Festivals

Some of the major festivals observed in the temple that attracts huge number of devotees are

• The famous Car festival(Ther) conducted for 13 long days during the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May)
• The day celebrated as “Aadiperukku” falling on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Aadi (July–August).
• Pradosham Pooja, Amavasyas (new moon days), Shiva Rathri and Vaikunta Ekadasi are also observed quite ritualistically.

How to reach Sangameswarar Temple

Bhavani, located at 15 kilometres from Erode, 30 kilometres from Gobichettipalayam, 56 kilometres from Salem, is well connected to all major cities. Erode is the nearest Railway hub and Coimbatore International Airport at a distance of around 96 kilometres is the nearest Airport.

Accommodation

Good number of lodges and cottages at affordable rates are available at Bhavani.