Tamilnadu Tourism: Sugavaneshwarar Temple, Salem

Sugavaneshwarar Temple, Salem – Temple Architecture

This temple is located in central part of Salem, temple looking towards east and the entrance way of the temple is south side. The temple has an East facing 3 tiers Rajagopuram with single praharam. The place has many names in ancient literatures. Sukha Brahmma rishi worshipped and so has the name Sukha vanam; has cleared off the sins of Devars and so called Papanasam; Worshipped by Kamadhenu and so called Patteeswaram; Worshipped by Adiseshan and so called Nageswaram.

The 500-year-old Shiva temple, which carries the historical traces of the rulers of Cheras, Chozhas and Pandiyas of the past and the Mysore dynasty with its imposing towers, sits on a sprawling two acres in the heart of the town. The temple garden contains many varieties of flowers and tall coconut and `Vilwa' trees in hundreds.

Legend has it that Avvaiyar went to Kailayam with the help of this Vinayagar
Arunagirinathar sang Thirupugazh on this Murugan. Apart from the usual shrines of a Lord Shiva temple, there are shrines for Gangala Moorthy, Kasi Viswanathar, Pancha Bootha lingams, Saraswathy, Gaja Lakshmi, Saptha Kannigaas and 63 Nayanmars.

The main linga is in a slightly slanted position. Goddess Swarnambikai is housed in a separate sanctum. Moolavar of this temple is Arulmigu Sugavaneshwarar. Other names of this god are Kili Vana Nathar, Papanasar, Patteeswarar, Nahisar, and Mummudinathar. Other names of Amman in this temple are Sornambigai, Maragathavalli, and Patchivalli.

Valampuri Vinayagar and Irattai Vinayagar are the two Vinayagas found in this Temple. These gods are "Mummoorthigal" of this temple. In this temple front side "Thiru Nandhi Mandapam" and "Front Mandapam” located before entrance gateway. Vinayagar is located in south side of tower entrance. The temple has numerous minor deities that are worshipped outside the main sanctum sanctorum.

Deities of the temple are Maheshwari, Gowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahenthiri, Samundi located in south side. In west side of this temple Valampuri Vinayagar, Irattai Vinayagar, Iyyapan, and Thatchinamoorthy & above row Gangala Moorthy, Kasi Vishwanathar Pancha Bootha Lingams, Sarasvati, Gajalakshmi, Sesta Devigal. North side Lord Murugan with Valli and Deivanai temple is located. Moolavar of this temple "Arulmigu Sugavaneshwarar" located next to the "Artha Mandapam".

Planets Rahu and Mars are installed in different places against usual tradition. Praying to these planets would ensure a happy marriage and good jobs. The symbols of Lizard and Udumbu-also a creature belonging to this family- above the Navagraha shrine relieves the affected ones, according to faith. Thalavirutcham of this temple "Pathiri Tree" is located in Nandavanam.

It is also said that the Saint Poetess Avvaiyar performed miracles here and that the monarchs of the three great Tamil kingdoms, i.e. the Chola, Chera and the Pandya kingdoms visited this shrine to attend the marriage of the adopted daughter of Avvaiyar. The glories of this temple have been sung by the Saivite Saint poets. This temple is said to date back to the Sangam Period, over 2000 years ago.

This temple has approximately ten types of inscriptions. Those inscriptions’s copies are kept in government records (i.e) south Indian inscriptions the year was 1888 and the number of that inscriptions is from 42 to 51.