Kailasanathar Temple, Elur,
Namakkal
Kailasanathar
Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Elur Village in Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu.
Presiding Deity is called as Kailasanathar / Theneeswarar and Mother is called as
Visalakshi / Thenukambigai. Elur is situated near Agaram and hence this village
is also called as Agaram Elur. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu
Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple.
History
Elur
was known as Ezhur in the past. It was the head of seven Nadus in ancient
Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu. The seven Nadus were Perumpalappatti,
Perumagoundanpatti, Vandipalayam, Veppampatti, Puthupatti, Kannanpatti and
Ezhur. The Temple is believed to be constructed by karikala Chola. The temple has only one stone inscription. The temple was destroyed and
probably looted when Tamil Nadu was under the rule of the Nawabs.
Only
the imposing Sivalingam of Kailasanathar, the idol of Visalakshi and the idol
of pancha Naga remained. The foundation
stone of the present temple was laid by Thiru Muruga Kirupanandha Variyar on
13.4.1981, and the temple was built by the villagers and kumbabhishekam was
performed in 1990.
The Temple
This
is a small east facing Temple. There is no Dwajastambam or flagstaff but a
stone Vilakku Thoon or Deepastambam, which is unique to the temples of Kongu Nadu
is seen. This is a unique stone pillar with sculptures of Shiva Linga,
Dakshinamurthy, Nandi and Durga carved on all four sides of the pillar. There
is a pillared mandapam in front of the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Kailasanathar / Theneeswarar. He is housed in the sanctum in
the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy. He is about 5 feet tall housed
in a 9 feet Avudaiyar.
Nandhi,
located on the outer courtyard, can be found facing the sanctum. Mother is
called as Visalakshi / Thenukambigai. She is housed in a separate small shrine.
Her shrine is located to the right side of the sanctum. There are shrines for
Suryan, Chandran, Vinayagar, Panchalingam, Balamurugan, Durga, Dakshinamurthy,
Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, and Kala Bhairavar in the Temple premises. There are no shops near the temple selling
puja articles. Buy flower garlands and puja offerings either in Rasipuram or in
Namakkal.
Temple
Opening Time
The temple is open throughout
the day. The priest house is just outside the temple and outstation visitors
can call on him if necessary.
Literary
Mention
The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this
Temple. It is also believed that Saint Arunagirinathar has composed a
Thirupugazh hymn on the Murugan of this sthalam. The Temple is mentioned in 6th
Thirumurai in 70th Patikam in 5th Song.
கொடுங்கோளூர் அஞ்சைக் களஞ்செங் குன்றூர்
கொங்கணங் குன்றியூர் குரக்குக் காவும்
நெடுங்களம் நன்னிலம் நெல்லிக் காவும்
நின்றியூர் நீடூர் நியம நல்லூர்
இடும்பா வனமெழுமூர் ஏழூர் தோழூர்
எறும்பியூர் ஏராரும் ஏம கூடங்
கடம்பை யிளங்கோயில் தன்னி லுள்ளுங்
கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே
Contact
Kailasanathar
/ Theneeswarar Temple
Elur,
via Puduchatram
Namakkal
District – 637 018
Mobile: +91 98650 13481 / 80121 27189 / 96267 84010 / 97875 38452
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 9 Kms from Kalangani Railway Station, 17 Kms from Rasipuram,
21 Kms from Namakkal, 21 Kms from Namakkal Bus Stand, 22 Kms from Namakkal
Railway Station, 46 Kms from Salem and 150 Kms from Coimbatore Airport.
Devotees travelling from Salem on NH 44, at Puduchatram on the Salem –Namakkal
stretch, take the service road into Puduchatram and then turn on to Elur road. The
Temple is situated at about 9 Kms and located on the main road itself.
Location
References