Sugantha Vaneswarar Temple, Perichikoil, Sivaganga
Sugantha
Vaneswarar Temple is located at Perichikoil near Kandramanickam in Sivaganga
District of Tamilnadu. This is one of the Ashta Bhairava importance temples.
Lord Maha Ganapathi is the Sthala Vinayaka.
Legends
King
Maravarman Sundara Pandian, after winning a war wanted to build a Shiva
Temple. He had confusion in finding a suitable location. Lord Shiva
appeared in his dream and said that he would find a Shiva Linga in a particular
place and the temple should be built there. The king was happy to find the
Linga and built this temple. As the location was in the midst of fragrant
flowers, Lord is named Sugantha Vaneswarar – Lord amidst gardens of fragrant
flowers.
The
Temple
Lord
Kasi Bhairava graces the devotees in the temple from under a separate Vimana in
the sanctum sanctorum. It is said that Bogar has installed this idol made of
Navapashana. The shrine has a special tower for Bhairava. He is worshipped as
Kasi Bhairava. He is holding weapons in eight hands wearing a garland of
skulls. There are three worshipping him while Baladeva is holding the dog
vehicle. Special Pujas are performed to Bhairava on Full Moon days. There is
also another Bhairava in the front hall.
As the
idol of Kasi Bhairava is made of Navapashana (nine herbals), humans cannot bear
the power of the Lord, hence the Vadamalai Prasad and abishek Theertha are not
offered to devotees. The Vadamalai is thrown above the shrine. It
is also a wonder that even birds do not take this. Arrangements are made
to direct the abishek water away from the temple so that devotees do not touch
it.
Sani
Bhagwan in the temple is respected as Bhairav’s disciple with Shiva
attributes. He is behind his shrine under the Vanni tree as if he is
always worshipping Lord Bhairava. It is said that Lord is gracing Sani
Bhagwan with one face not visible to devotees. There is a separate shrine for
Mother Sameebavalli. Sameeba in Tamil means nearby. As Mother is
always near the Bhaktas-devotees to protect them she is so respectfully
named.
The
Sthala vruksha is Vanni and the theertham is the water in the well. Lord
Shiva solemnized the wedding of an orphan girl as his own daughter. When
she was abandoned by the husband, he deposed before a panchayat in the form of
Vanni tree, well and Linga. Such an event took place at Madurai also. This
tree and well exists in this place also. There are shrines for
Dakshinamurthy and Muruga. Four Vinayakas grace the devotees in the
Prakara.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Festivals
2 day
Aani festival in June-July; Shivarathri in February-March and Tirukarthikai in
November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Devotees
pray to Lord Bhairava for cure from illnesses. Devotees perform milk abishek on
Ashtami day (8th day) of new moon fortnight and offer Vadamalai (a garland made
of Vada, a popular dish of Tamilnadu) to Lord Bhairava.
Contact
Sri
Sugantha Vaneswarar Temple,
Perichikoil,
Via Kandramanickam,
Sivaganga
District, Tamilnadu
Phone: +91- 4565 - 255
373
Mobile: +91 - 94866
71544, 97863 67380
Connectivity
The
devotee has to reach Tiruputhur 60 km from Madurai. From there, he/she has to
proceed further 8 km to reach Kandramanickam. Perichikoil is 2 km far from
here. As there is no convenient bus facility, autos can be hired to reach the
temple. Nearest Railway Station is located at Karaikudi and Nearest
Airport is located at Madurai.
