Sathyagireeswarar Temple, Senganur – Religious Significance

Sathyagireeswarar Temple, Senganur – Religious Significance

Mada Kovils:

Kochengat Chola was an early Chola king and one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints) of Saivism. He is believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a spider that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship of the Lord Shiva. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his mother’s womb a little longer. His mother, looking into the baby red eyes said Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which literally means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat Cholan. After becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils, temples with elevated structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola empire. It is believed that this is one of the temple built by him.

Moola Linga Sthalam:

According to legend, Mahalingaswamy is the centre of all Shiva temples in the region and the Saptha Vigraha Moorthis (seven prime consorts in all Siva Temples) are located at seven cardinal points around the temple, located in various parts of the state.

The seven deities are;

·        Nataraja in Chidambaram Nataraja Temple,

·        Chandikeswarar in Senganur Satyagireeswarar Temple,

·        Vinayagar in Thiruvalanchuzhi Vellai Vinayagar Temple 

·        Muruga in Swamimalai Murugan Temple

·        Bhairava in Sirkazhi Sattainathar Temple 

·        Navagrahas in Suriyanar Koil Suryanar Temple

·        Dakshinamoorthy in Alangudi Apatsahayesvarar Temple

The other deities of a Shiva temple associated with Mahalingeswarar are;

·        Durga in Patteeswaram Thenupuriswarar Temple 

·        Somaskanda in Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple

·        Nandi at Thiruvaduthurai Gomuktheeswarar Temple

·        Ambal at Thirukadaiyur Amirthakadeswarar Temple 

Paadal Petra Sthalams:

This Temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram hymns. This Temple is the 95^th Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 41^st sthalam on the north side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thirugnana Sambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Thirupugazh Sthalam:

Arunagirinathar had celebrated Lord Murugan of this temple in his Thirupugazh Hymns. Hence, the temple is considered as Thirupugazh Sthalam.

Crowning ceremony of Chola Kings:

It is said in Periyapuranam that there were five places where the crowning ceremony of Chola kings used to take place. Senganur was one among them.