Sundareswarar Temple, Nannimangalam, Trichy
Sundareswarar Temple
is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Nannimangalam near Lalgudi Town in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. Nannimangalam is also called as Sennivaikkal.
The Temple is believed to be 1200 years old.
Legends
Snake Pit:
There is a snake pit near the compound of this
Temple. It believed that snake from the pit enters the sanctum via Komukham and
stays at night in the sanctum. Snake returns back to the pit when it hears the
priest Paasurams.
Swarna Vilva Tree:
It is believed that when Brahma was having 5 faces
worshipped Lord Shiva here. Lord Shiva gave darshan to Brahma with five faces.
Since Brahma worshipped Lord Shiva with five heads and attained salvation, this
place is called as Senni (Senni means Head). Lord Shiva gifted Swarna Vilva
Tree to Lord Brahma. In turn Lord Brahma gifted it to Lord Kubera. Kubera
gifted the same to his sons Manikriva and Nalakooban and said this tree will be
visible to siddhas only.
Further he asked him to plant the tree in earth on
appropriate place and start worship. A divine voice guided them to
Thiruthavathurai. They took bath in the Shiva Ganga Theertham and they were
surprised to get up in some other place. Also, the Swarna Vilva Tree got
disappeared from their hands. At that time sanctum door got opened and they
found the Vilva Tree with the Maragatha Linga in the sanctum. This incident
happened in this place on a Pournami Day.
The
Temple
Presiding Deity is called as Sundareswarar and
Mother is called as Meenakshi. The Temple is believed to be built by Pandya
King. The largest Maragatha lingam in the world is in this ancient temple. But this
temple is not known to people. Shrines of valli-Devasena-Murugan, Saneeswarar,
Bhairava, Sevi Saitha Vinayagar, Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Varada Raja Perumal
along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, 2 Chandikeswarar can be seen in
the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Sandalwood Tree and Pon Vilvam Tree. There is a
snake pit near the compound of this Temple.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 3 Kms from Lalgudi,
3.5 Kms from Lalgudi Bus Station, 4 Kms from Lalgudi Railway Station, 7 Kms
from Anbil, 26 Kms from Trichy and 31 Kms from Trichy Airport.