Nangavaram Sri Sundareshwarar Temple, Karur
Sri Sundareswarar temple situated at Nangavaram, 20 kilometers off Tiruchirapalli, is more than 1,000 years old. Built between 975-1000
A.D., the temple is the abode of Lord Sundareswarar believed to be a powerful
deity and munificent protector.
Sthalapuranam
The temple's story (Sthalapuranam) dates back to the
times of Arinjikai Cholan (Rajaraja Cholan's forefather), whose daughter
Varuguna Nangai built the magnificent temple. She married Maravan Bhoothy of
the Irrukuvel clan.
Since she had built the temple for her husband's well
being it was then called `Maravaneeswaram.'
And since Varguna Nangai established the temple and also
the settlement around the temple, the village came to be known as Nangaikudi,
which in due course became Nangaipuram and Nangavaram. The Sthalapuranam also gave the other connotation for
the village name Nangavaram — the place where the Lord blessed the Nangai
(lady) with a boon (varam).
The front portion of the temple is dedicated
to Lord Akhandeshwara, A saint who traveled from the state of Orissa and attained Samadhi somewhere close to the
current temple area.
Alternate version of temple's story (Sthalapuranam)
An alternate version of the Sthalapuranam states that
Varguna Nangai was born with a horse face and when King Arinjikai Cholan prayed
to Lord Shiva for her recovery, He appeared in his dream and informed him about
the great saint Akhandeshwara. Lord Shiva advised the Chola that he should
build a temple once Akhandeshwara attained Samadhi which would help Varuna
Nangai to get a human face. In the meantime, Varguna Nangai continued to pray
to Lord Shiva, once her father told her about his dream.
The dreams of the Chola king came true with Nangai
attaining a human face after Lord Akhandeshwara attained Samadhi and the Chola
king built the temple for Lord Shiva( as Sri Sundareshwarar) and dedicated a
sannidhanam in the front portion of temple in Saint Akhandeshwars's honor.
Since Shiva gave a boon or Varam to Nangai to restore her face coinciding with
Akhandeshwarar attaining Samadhi, this village is known as Nangai - Varam or
Nangavaram.