Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode – Sanctum
Sanctorum
Arthanareeswarar
(Shiva) is one of the 64 manifestations of Lord Shiva, representing the
unity of Shiva and Parvati (unique manifestation of Half Male Half Female). One
has to enter the temple from the main entrance-Rajagopuram-from the south;
sanctum sanctorum faces west. In this temple Lord Shiva appears in man-woman
combination in one idol; the right part of the idol is half of Parvathi Devi
and the left half is Lord Shiva’s half.
There is
a saying that wife is the better half; True to the saying, here Lord Shiva has
given his left part of body to goddess Parvathi, his wife . It means that there
is no Shiva without the Sakthi; and no Sakthi without Shiva. All men and women
are equal. No man without woman; no woman without man. It is an undeniable law
of nature.
So the
main deity is called Umai Oru Bagan, Ammaiappan, Mangaipangan and
Madhorubagan. There is a natural fountain in sanctum sanctorum.