Sri Ardhanareeswarar Temple / Arulmigu Athanareeswarar Temple / அர்த்தநாரீஸ்வரர் கோவில் / திருச்செங்கோடு / Tiruchengode / Kodimadachengundrur, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 262^nd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam  and 4^th Shiva Sthalam in KONGU NADU. The details of my previous visit's post on this Sri Ardhanareeswarar temple was recorded in the same blog. The place was called as Thirukodimada Chengundrur ( கொடிமாடச்செங்குன்றூர் ) during 6th to 7th Century and now called as Tiruchengode. This is a Hill Shiva Temple where Sri Murugan is given equal importance with Lord Shiva. Thiruganasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

    வெந்தவெண் ணீறணிந்து விரிநூல் திகழ்மார்பில் நல்ல
    பந்தண வும்விரலாள் ஒருபாகம் அமர்ந்தருளிக்
    கொந்தண வும்பொழில்சூழ் கொடிமாடச் செங்குன்றூர் நின்ற
    அந்தண னைத் தொழுவார் அவலம் அறுப்பாரே

... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்

The sthalapurana of this temple was written by Karmarga Pulavar in his Kongu mandala Sathagam.

    பணிமலையில் எழுந்தருளிப்
          பரைக்கொருபா கம்கொடுத்த பரிசின் தோற்றம்
    அணிமணித்தண்டு உச்சியின்மூன்று
          அங்குலியை வளைத்தமைத்த வனப்புக்கொப்பாம்
    மணிவரைமாது உமையிடத்து
          வைத்தணைத்து மகரகுழை வலத்தே நாலத்
    தணிவில் ஒளிதயங்கியதண்
          தரளமணித் தோடுஇருபால் ஆகித்தானே

... திருச்செங்கோட்டுப்புராணம்

Moolavar : Sri Arthanareeswrar
Consort   : Sri  Bagam Priyal
Murugan : Chengottu Velavar.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

There are about 1200 steps to reach the top of the hill shrine. Steps are neatly constructed. In some places rock was cut to form steps. There are about 9 mandapams to take rest and proceed to the top of the hill constructed through various castes. At one place a there is a relief of snake  about 20 feet length  cut on the rock and devotees used to do prayer with kungkumam.

The Rajagopuram is  of 5 tiers which can be viewed from distance. Moolavar is facing west, where as Chengottu Velavar is facing east with separate Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Peacock vahana. The mandapam pillars are beautifully chiseled with lots and lots of relief. Entrance to the moolavar sanndhi is from east. Balipedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam are visible through salaram/ Jala apposite to moolavar.

Main sanctum sanctorum Dwarapalakas are female on the left and male on the right. Since moolavar is of Arthanareeswarar there is no separate Ambal Sannadhi. Moolavar is of swayambu. Gurukkal showed Shiva’s thandam on the right and Jadamudi. Shiva is  on the right &  Ambal on the right and  Swamy & Ambal Pathams ( Legs  - silambu on one leg and Kazhal on one leg ).

In the inner prakaram  sannadhi for Dakshinamurthy, Khedhara Gowri Amman, Naari Ganapathi, Golden (Thanga) Chariot Urchavar, Durgai. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Chengottuvelavar ( Vellai pashanam, swayambu moorthi ), Kumaresar, Navagrahas, Desikar, Mukkootu Vinayagar, Nageswarar, Aathikesava Perumal, Nalleesar, Pancha Lingas, Mallikarjunar, Sangameswarar,  Selva Vinayagar, Saptamatrikas, 63 var, Vishnu Durgai, Kubera Lakshmi, Niruthi Vinayagar, Manonmani, Natarajar sabha, Kasi Viswanathar and Visalkshi, Adiseshan, Kala Bhairavar.  ( All the sannadhis are not in a sequence – scattered in the outer prakaram ).

Chengottuvelavar sannadhi is adjacent to moolavar sannadhi facing east. Arunagirinathar has sung Chengottu Velavar  in his Thirupukazh.

    அன்பாக வந்து உன்றாள்ப ணிந்து ஐம்பூத மொன்ற நினையாமல்
    அன்பால்மி குந்து நஞ்சாரு கண்க ளம்போரு கங்கள்            முலைதானும்
    கொந்தேமி குந்து வண்டாடி நின்று கொண்டாடுகின்ற குழலாரைக்
    கொண்டேநி னைந்து மன்பேது மண்டி குன்றாம லைந்து        அலைவேனோ
    மன்றாடி தந்த மைந்தாமி குந்த வம்பார் கடம்பை யனிவோனே
    வந்தேப ணிந்து நின்றார்ப வங்கள் வம்பே தொலைந்த          வடிவேலா
    சென்றேயி டங்கள் கந்தாஎ னும்பொசெஞ்சேவல் கொண்டு வரவேணும்
    செஞ்சாலி கஞ்ச மொன்றாய் வளர்ந்த செங்கோட மர்ந்த        பெருமாளே 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
There are totally 38 inscriptions recorded at Tiruchengode. Of which 6 are considered as the earliest, belongs to Kovirajakesarivarman Adhitha Chozha-I. Rajendra Chozha-I, inscription starts with his meikeerthi ”திருமன்னிவளர.....”. There are nine inscriptions without the name of the King, but one starts with Koparakesari. In that inscription mentions Rajendra Chozha’s 18^th year rule. Rajendra Chozha’s inscriptions are available from 5^th to 28^th Year Rule. These inscriptions mainly records the Donations made to this temple towards regular poojas, burning of perpetual lamps, Abhishekam, Naivedyam and celebration. 

The inscriptions also mentions the names of   Ekadasi Kanapperumakkal, Thiruvathirai Kanapperumakkal, Thiruvona kanapperumakkal, Thuvadasi Kanapperumakkal. These people looks after the important activities of the temple. Gold ( காசெட்டாங்கல் -  a measure ) will be offered to them and the interest will be used for feeding of Temple Brahmins on that particular Narshathra day like Thiruvonam, Thuvadisi, Ekadasi etc,. The Four inscriptions belongs to 13th Century, records that one lady Mooriamudhanar Ilangonadigal's  wife  Moori Kamakkanar donated totally 67 Kalanju gold towards feeding of Temple Brahmins, burning of Perpetual Lamps. Most of the inscriptions mentions the donation of gold towards feeding of Brahmins/ Andhanars of the temple. 

 

The Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan–II ( 1283 CE ) , period 3 inscriptions are available in this temple. One of the inscription  records the name of  Ulagam Kaaththa Kannaiyan, who had done an extraordinary  act, a Hero Stone was installed ( Not in the temple but in the Mosque street ).

The 1552 CE Krishna Devaraya period  inscriptions records the appointment of officers and taxes levied. The Taxes includes 5 panam for agriculture people, Tax exempted for 2 years and from 3^rd year 2 panam/ Thari – hand operated weaving machine  for the Kaikola Mudaliyars, and 1 panam for a house, totaling 3 panams ( inscription stone in Kailkolar street ).     

LEGEND

As per the legend Adisesha and Vayu fights themselves very often, due to this lot of disasters happened. To solve this the Sages gave the idea of prove themselves, who is great. Adisesha pressed the mount meru with it’s hood and Vayu has to release it by his valour. Since Vayu couldn’t release, he got angry and stopped blowing the air and ceased the air. With out air all the living things fainted. Sages and Celestial  requested Adisesha to release  his hold. As soon as Adisesha released its hood, Vayu forcefully bowed the air. Due to this Adisesha was thrown to earth in three pieces  with blood. The three places are Thiruvannamalai, Srilanka and Nagamalai also called as Tiruchengode.   

It is believed that the Prasatham of Devatheertham is distributed to the devotees which comes from the patham of moolavar. The story of Arthanareeswarar is associated with sage Brugu worshiping only Shiva, when Shiva and Parvati ( Sakthi ) are sitting together, Brugu worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of bee. Parvati thought the sage has not respected her, cursed the sage to loose his sakthi. The sage loosing his sakthi and fainted. Lord Shiva gave the sakthi with a third leg and told him Shiva cannot exists with out Sakthi. The result is the form of Arthanareeswarar. 

During Thirugnanasambandar’s visit, Tiruchengode people are infected with a decease Suram ( fever..?). He has sung the hymn starts with “ avvinaikku ivvinai- அவ்வினைக்கு இவ்வினை” and chased away the decease from that place. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

The Golden Chariot will be pulled in the prakaram itself during important functions and prathosham days. The important functions like Vaikasi Visagam, Chitra Pournamai, Vinayagar Chathurthi, Kanda Sashti, Navaratri, Karthikai Deepam, Aruthra Dharisanam, Padithiruvizha, Masimaham, Mahashivaratri and Panguni Uthira Thiruvizha are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open 06.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs and Poojas are 08.00 hrs, 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Temple office at base telephone number is 04288 – 255925 and Hill temple phone number is 9364229181.

Official Web site: http://www.arthanareeswarartemple.tnhrce.in/

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 3.8 KM from Tiruchengode bus Stand and 1.6 KM on foot path.

Temple bus is available from old and New Bus stand. The donation is Rs 20 to up and down. Can be utilized by those who cannot climb through steps.

Frequent buses are available from Salem, Namakkal, Erode (18 KM).

Tiruchengode is 37.9 KM from District head quarters, 18.0 KM Erode, 48.3 KM from Salem and 400 KM from Chennai

Nearest Railway Junction is Erode.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---