Sasivarneswarar Temple, Sivaganga
Sasivarneswarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Sivaganga Town in Sivaganga
District of Tamilnadu. Presiding deity is called as Sasivarneswarar and Mother
is called as Periyanayaki. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa. Urchavar of this Temple is
Somaskandar. Aagama of this Temple is Shivagama.
Legends
The
Sanskrit words Sasi and Soman mean Chandra the Moon. Moon got relieved
from some adverse effects by worshipping Lord Shiva. As the Lord graced
the Moon, He is praised as Chandrasekhara and Somasekhara. The
temple was built by a king and named the Lord Sasivarneswarar. The temple
is under the administration of the Devasthanam of Sivaganga Samasthanam.
The Temple
Presiding
deity is called as Sasivarneswarar and Mother is called as Periyanayaki. Sthala
Vriksham is Vilwa. Urchavar of this Temple is Somaskandar. Mother Perianayaki
is all graceful. As a tradition, Mother Durga is on the wall of
Shiva shrine facing north. Mother Durga is in a separate shrine facing south
with two hands the left leg bent and pressed on a demon in this Temple. She is
facing south.
This is
a small temple without tower. There is a Linga in the Prakara under a
Naga-snake. There are shrines for Sun, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga with His
consorts Valli and Deivanai, Kala Bhairava and Moon.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is generally open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m and 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
On Tuesdays, based on Rahu Kalam time, the second shift would be from 3.00 p.m.
to 8.30 p.m. On Fridays, it is open from 5.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in the first
shift.
Festivals
New Moon
day in July-August- Aadi Amavasya, Masi Magam and Shivrathri in February-March,
Navarathri in September-October are the festivals celebrated in the temple. Special
pujas are performed for Ambica. Vilakku Puja (lamp puja) is
performed on the first day of Chithirai falling almost on April 14 or a day
before or after rarely. Lord comes in procession that day.
Prayers
Pregnant
women of this place pray to Mother Perianayaki for safe delivery. For this,
they perform a ceremony called Marundhu Kudippu (taking medicine). They
perform milk abishek to Mother and consume it as medicine. Where the woman
is unable to visit the temple personally, her family members come to the temple
for this prayer.
Some
children never stop crying. Some never cry. Both are a matter of
concern. Parents come to Mother for a remedy in both cases. They
perform abishek to Mother, take the abishek water to the temple complex with
the child and bathe the child there. They believe that this would solve
the problem.
Women
also pray to Mother Periyanayaki for wedding boon, for cure from monthly
disorders and for girls not attaining puberty despite age. They offer garlands
of red flowers (Sevvarali) and light lamps in lime cups. They also
go round (circumambulating) the prakara 27 times. Lakshrachana
(chanting the name of Mother with one lakh names and offering flower for each
name) is performed to Mother on Masi Magam.
Those
facing problems due to adverse aspect of snake planets, obstacle in wedding
matters and problems of the health of spouse called Kalathra dosha pray here on
Sundays between 4.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. – Rahu Kalam for remedy performing
abishek with turmeric powder and milk. This prayer is also undertaken in
the Nagar shrine under the Vilwa tree.
Contact
Sri
Sasivarneswarar Temple,
Sivagangai
– 630 561
Mobile: +91-98439 39761
Connectivity
The
temple is very near the Sivaganga bus stand. Nearest Railway Station is
located at Sivaganga and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai.
