Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode, Namakkal
Arthanareeswarar
temple is located in Tiruchengode in Namakkal District, in the southern Indian state of Tamil
Nadu. This ancient temple is mentioned in the Tamil
work Silappathikaram as Neduvelkunru. It is also famous for Chenkottu
Velavar (Lord Muruga) Temple, which is situated in the same hill in
Tiruchengode.
Another
name of this temple is Thiru Kodimaada Chenkundrur is an ancient Hindu
Temple known for its
manifestation of Half Male Half Female Lord Ardhanarishvara (Shiva). One of the 64 manifestations of Shiva,
representing the unity of Shiva and his consort Parvati, is enshrined in this hill temple. The temple is
situated on a hill near Tiruchengode.
Tiruchengode
(also known as "Thirukodi mada chengundroor " in Vedic times) has
many references in Puranas, like Thevaram and Silappathikaram. In Silappathikaram,
Ilango Adigal referred Tiruchengode as "Chengodu” and that "it has
numerous holy ponds and enjoys popularity and prosperity".
This
temple has been praised by the Nayanmar Thirugnanasambanthar in his devotional hymn
Devaram. Great poets and saints like Arunagirinathar, Ilango Adigal, and
Kaviraja Pandithar amongst others have eulogized this holy place in their
divine poems. The idols of Birungi Munivar and Arunagirinathar are found inside
the temple.
This
ancient hill temple according to the inscriptions on the walls must have been
built about 2000 years ago. Many renovation works and additions were done by
the kings and chieftains ruled over Tamilnadu in the past. Lord Arthanareeswarar is giving salvation to
all souls, from the hill top temple. Lord Sengottuvelavar and Lord Aadhikesava
Perumal are located in separate shrines as presiding deities.
Lord
Arthanareeswarar has a unique form here, which combines half male and half
female form. The lord is also known as Madhorubagan and Ammaiappan. It is
claimed that this rare posture of the Lord as prime deity can be found only in
this temple in the whole of Asia. The hill top temple can be reached by
climbing up 1206 steps, made of stone.
Lord
Arthanareeswarar gives a benign darshan to devotees from this hilltop temple.
The deity in Arthanareeswarar Temple faces west, something that is not common
in Shiva temples. The main deity is 6 feet in height with the right half of the
image sculpted as a male figure and the left half as a female figure. An
eternal spring runs under the feet of Lord Arthanareeswarar.
Devotees
believe that the water from this spring is divine water and is called Deva
Theertham (water of the gods). It is also believed that this holy water can
cure any disease if a devotee continuously drinks it with devotion for one
mandala of 48 days. The priest in the shrine serves this holy water to the
devotees as prasadham (offering).
To the
south is a shrine for Aadhikesava Perumal. Lord Muruga occupies a place in the
hilltop and here he is called Sengottuvelavar with a unique stone-spear
(Velayudham) in the right hand and the flag bearing his cock symbol in the left
hand and his shrine faces east. This is the 262nd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 4th Shiva Sthalam in Kongu Naadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this Temple.
Location
This
Siva temple is in Tiruchengode in the vicinity of Erode and Salem in Tamil
Nadu. A Motorable Ghat road is available to go to the top of
the hill and one can reach the temple by bus or car. Another way to reach the
temple is to alight 1200+ steps to the top of the hill.
Tiruchengode
is in approximately 20 km from the City of Erode, 46 km from Salem, and 120 km
from Coimbatore. It is a part of Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu. Kongu Nadu
includes in it 24 villages, out of which Poondhurai, a suburb of Erode city is
one of the important pilgrimage centre.
West of
Cauvery is Melakarai Pundhurai and East of Cauvery is Kilakarai Pundhurai.
Kilakarai Pundhurai is famously known as Thiruchengodu. The word
"Thiruchengodu" means beautiful, steeped hill in Tamil Language.
Legends
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brief details, please refer below link;
History
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brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Complex
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Chariots
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Pooja
Timings
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Festivals
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Girivalam
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Prayers
The
waters in Arthanareeswarar Temple are considered to contain healing elements.
So people with illness, childlessness and others seeking solutions to their
problems, and seeking wealth and prosperity come here to take a holy dip in the
ponds. There is small shrine for Pandeeswarar on the hill. People offer cradles
and they believe that they can have children.
On the
way to temple, the sixtieth step is considered as step of Honesty and
truth-that is sathiyappadi. When people had problems and litigations among
them, one who was ready to tell the truth from this place was believed to be
the true and honest person; his evidence played vital role in delivering
justice in those days.
Pasuvan
Swami attracts many farmers and villagers. They offer milk, butter and curd to
Lord in a deep belief that this would be returned abundantly and richly. Many
people who have Nagadosham offer Abishegams to Adiseshan with turmeric and
kumkum. It is generally believed that they are blessed with marriage.
Literary
Mention
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Contact
Arulmigu
Arthanareeswarar Temple,
Arthanareeswarar
Hills,
Thiruchengodu
– 637211
Tamilnadu,
India
Phone: 04288 255925
Connectivity
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brief details, please refer below link;
