Choleeswarar Temple, Mulanur,
Tiruppur
Choleeswarar Temple is a Hindu
Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Mulanur Village in Dharapuram Taluk
in Tiruppur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Choleeswarar
and Mother is called as Soundarya Nayaki. The Temple is considered as Thevara
Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple. This Temple is
considered as Parihara Temple for Child Boon. This temple is believed to cure
problems due to planetary position for people born in the Uthiram star.
Legends
Mulanur is a fertile region
with agriculture as occupation of the residents here. A sage by name Moolan
lived here about 1,200 years ago and the place is named after him as Moolan
Nagar and Moolan Maanagar and finally Moolanur came to stay. Moolan had an
ambitious plan to build a temple for Lord Shiva. Lord Choleeswarar temple came
into being with the help of the chieftain of the place Poosa Kula Thondaiman.
Chera and Chola kings had done renovations later. The temple is praised by
Saint Sundarar in his Thevaram hymns. He worshipped Lord Shiva while on his way
to Palani, according to local history.
The Temple
The east facing temple has a
long compound wall on all sides with aesthetic workmanship with a beautiful
entrance. There are front and Maha and Artha Mandapas and the sanctum
sanctorum. Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva and the Balipeedam adore the
mandapams. Presiding Deity is called as Choleeswarar and is facing east. He is
housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Vishnu
and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar
Shrine can be found in his usual location. Mother is called as Soundarya Nayaki.
She is housed in a separate shrine. In between the sanctum and Mother’s shrines,
there is a shrine for Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai.
There is a 60 feet tall
lighting post – Deepastambam – before the temple praised as Kambathu Andavar
meaning lord of the pole. Lord Muruga adores the post. It is also adored with
Sri Anjaneya on one side and an elephant on the other.
There are also shrines for
Vinayaka, Kasi Viswanatha, Nataraja, Kala Bhairava, Durga, Kasi Visalakshi, Sivagamasundari,
Sani Bhagawan, Moon, Sun and Navagrahas in the Temple premises. Sthala Vriksham
is Vilwa tree. There is also a neem and Arasu tree embracing each other.
Vinayaka, Nagas and Nandhi are under this tree.
Temple Opening Time
The temple remains open from
7.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Special pujas are dedicated to
Kambathalwar in the temple on Thai Poosam day (January-February),Vaikasi
Visakam (May-June) and Panguni Uthiram (March-April) days and on Kruthika star
days and full moon Sashti days. Pradosha (13th day of new moon or full moon
fortnights), new moon day, monthly Shivrathri days and Aipasi Annabishekam in
October-November are also observed with special pujas. Four-time puja is
observed on Maha Shivrathri day occurring in February-March – Masi month
according to Tamil calendar. A great Maha Deepa is lit on a 60 feet tall light
post brightening the entire surroundings on Karthika Day in November-December.
This Deepa burning would last a week bringing all prosperity to the residents,
it is believed.
Literary
Mention
The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Sundarar had a mention about
this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 7th Thirumurai in 12th
Patikam in 3rd Song.
மூல னூர்முத லாயமுக்
கண்ணன் முதல்வன்ஊர்
நால னூர்நரை ஏறுகந்
தேறிய நம்பன்ஊர்
கோல நீற்றன் குற்றாலங்
குரங்கணின் முட்டமும்
வேலனூர் வெற்றியூர் வெண்ணிக்
கூற்றத்து வெண்ணியே
Prayers
Devotees take part in the
pujas dedicated to Lord Kala Bhairava on Ashtami days (8th day of
new moon or full moon fortnights) and in the pujas for planets Rahu and Ketu on
Tuesdays for relief from the adverse impact of these planets and for relief from
various worries they face and for child boon. People use to worship Lord Kala
Bhairava with red flowers and lights Deepas in coconut shells for six weeks. This
Temple is considered as Parihara Temple for Child Boon.
Abishekam is offered to Lord
Dakshinamurthy. People participate in the pujas for Nardana Ganapathy,
Pasupatheeswarar and Mother Soundarya Nayaki to achieve excellence in
education. During the pujas on Thursdays and Sundays a herbal root is placed at
the feet of Lord Choleeswarar and offered to those affected by poisonous bites
and by jaundice. They wear it as a garland with diet restrictions for three
days for total relief. Many confirm this with their personal experience. This
temple is believed to cure problems due to planetary position for people born
in the Uthiram star.
Contact
Choleeswarar Temple,
Vellakoil Main Road,
Mulanur – 638 106
Dharapuram Taluk,
Tiruppur District
Phone: +91 94437
89272 / 97884 64852
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
19 Kms from Vellakoil, 24 Kms from Dharapuram, 51 Kms from Karur Junction
Railway Station, 53 Kms from Karur, 65 Kms from Tiruppur, 100 Kms from Coimbatore
Airport and 105 Kms from Coimbatore. Mulanur is located on SH21, which runs
between Dharapuram and Karur. Mulanur is well connected by frequent buses with
Dharapuram, Karur, Vellakoil, Erode, Madurai, Palani and Chennai.