Sangameswarar Temple, Erode, Tamil Nadu

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Sangameswarar temple (also called Thirunana and Thirukooduthurai) is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple located at Bhavani, in the Erode district, of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is located in the Sangam (meeting point) of three rivers — Kaveri, Bhavani and Amutha. The place is also known as Dakshina Triveni Sangamam and Kooduthurai. The temple was praised in old Tamil literature as Thirunana.

History

Kubera, son of Vishrava was flying near the river Cauvery, 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 of this 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.

In the year 1804, Coimbatore district British Collector William Karo camping in the Travellers’ Bungalow once he visited in Bhavani. One night a small girl woke him up from his sleep and got him out of the Bungalow. Once they came out from the Bungalow, it collapsed. Collector was shocked by this incident and find out the girl to thanks her. Next day, from the priest he came to know that she was Bhavani Vedanaayaki Amman. By knowing the Goddess power, he wanted to worship her. But as he was not a Hindu, the temple priests did not allow him to enter the temple. He made three holes or eyelets in the temple wall so that he could worship the Goddess through them every day, standing outside of the temple. He offered a gold plate to the goddess with his signature dated 11/01/1804.

Architecture

The temple is constructed on a 4-acre 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 temple got a precious Ambal statue, a Hindu goddess donated by a district collector during British period for saving his life. 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.

Temple Timings:

The temple opens Morning 5:30 A.M – 1:00 P.M. and Evening 4:00 P.M – 8:00 P.M.

Pooja Details:

The temple priests perform six times pooja everyday.

Temple Festivals:

13 day Brahmmotsaam during Tamil month Chithirai (April-May)
Vaikasi Visakam in (May-June)
Aadipooram in (July-August)
Aadi Velli in (July-August).
Maha Shivarathri in (February-March)
Tirukarthikai in (November-December)
Thai Poosam in (January-February)
Skanda Sashti in Aipasi in (October-November)
Vinayaka Chaturthi and Navarathri in Purattasi (September-October) are the festivals celebrated in the temple.