SREE SANGAMESWARAR, BHAVANI
Bhavani is a small town famous for its carpets and is 15 kms from Erode and 55kms from Salem in Tamilnadu. It is very well connected by road and buses can be taken from opposite to the Erode Raiway Station and also from the Erode Bus Stand. Rivers Cauvery and Bhavani merge here and river Amutha the third river is supposed to run underneath. Hence this is also a Triveni Sangam and the name of the Lord in this temple is Sree Sangameswarar. Bhavani because of the three rivers is also called as Dakshina Prayagai and Koodu thurai too. The lord here also is known as Kooduthurai Nathar. The consort of Sangameswarar (also called by the names- Sangamuganathar, Marundhunayagar, vanilingeswaran, Nattatreeswaran and Thirunannavudaiyar) is Sree Vedayanaki Amman and also called by the names- Sangameswari, Marundhunayaki, Pannarmozhiyammai.
Sree Sangameswarar
The place Bhavani is also called as "Panchagiri Madhya Pradesam" as it is centrally located to the five hills -Sankagiri, Nagagiri, Mangalgiri, Vedagiri and Padumagiri. Sthala vruksham is Pathari- that is Ilanthai (இலந்தை)- hence this is equated the northern Bathrighashramam and is also known as Thenbathrighashramam (தென்பத்ரிகாஸ்ரமம்). The temple also has the unique feature of Lord Sree Adhikesavaperumal with consort Goddess Soundaranayaki thayar within the temple itself.
Entrance (Northern) Gopuram
Legend has it that Kubera, son of Vishrava was gifted with a vimana to visit the various Shiva temples across the country, in recognition of his devotion to the Lord. While he was flying over the river Cauvery, he saw an elephant, a tiger, a cow, a deer, a rat and a snake were drinking water under an Ilandai (Badri) tree, without enmity. To answer his doubt, a voice from the sky said this was the place where vedas visited and inhabited by Gandharvas. He was advised to worship the Sivalingam under the Ilandai tree. This is Bhavani and also the place of sangam of the rivers Cauvery, Bhavani and Amutha.
Though there four entrances to the temple, the main entrance is the Northern side with a 5 tiered Gopuram. The entrance vimana sudhais depict many stories from Periya puranam and epics. To name a few -Sivaperuman showing the olaisuvadi and stopping Sundarar, Meenkshi Kalayanam, Sambandar saving the child from crocodile, Pandian King giving Manickavasagar bag of cash etc., Nxt to the Gopuram on the western side is the Paramapadavasal which opens on the Vaikunda Ekadasi day. Immediately after passing through the gopuram, are the sannidhis of Rajavinayagar and Muthukumarasamy. There is long open space from the main entrance Gopuram to the Kottai Vinayagar Sanndihi and to the right of this open space is the Perumal Sannidhi. Next to the Kottai Vinayagar Sannidhi is the Kottai Anjaneyar. On the eastern side to these is the Navagrahas and there is gate which leads to the river Cauvery and Lord Sangameswarar and Sree Vedayanaki face this direction. On the northern side of the Goddess Mandapam is the Golden Palanquin given by the British collector Garrow. Amman gives darshan from the golden palanquin on festival days. Opposite to the Goddess Vedayanaki Amman on the eastern wall are three holes. The then collector William Garrow (Bhavani was the joint headquarters for Coimbatore and Salem districts and Collector administered from here. On hearing of the Amman from the locals, Collector Garrow wanted to have darshan of her but people of other religions were not allowed inside the temple. The Thashildar who came to know about the collector's wish made these 3 openings on the eastern wall and Mr Garrow was having his darshans through these apertures. On one night, when the collector was resting in his bungalow, a lady dressed like Goddess Vedayanaki appeared to him and asked him immediately leave the Bungalow. When the collector came out, the Bungalow collapsed in a few minutes. Greatly overwhelmed by this, the Collector Garrow gave this Golden Palanquin to the Goddess with his name inscribed and the date on it indicates 11-1-1804. The three openings still exist and one can see the Goddess thorugh these openings.
Sree Valli Deivanai sametha Murugan
Lord Subramnya's sannidhi is between the sannidhis of Sree Sangameswarar and Sree Vedanayaki and the Subramanya here has the greatness of Somaskandar too. Arunagirinathar has sung in praise of this lord. South of Murugan sannidhi is Kasi Viswanathar and Vishalakshi. Next to it is the sannidhi of Jurahareswarar.
On the outer walls of Sangameswarar sannidhi, on the southern side is Dakshinamurthy, on the western wall is Lingothbhavar and on the northen side is Brahma. By the side is the Vishnu Durgai and opposite to her is Chandikeswarar.
Opposite to the Murugan Sannidhi is the eastern gate leading to river cauvery and the Surya theertham. From here, as we go towards south is the Gayathri theertham, Gayathri Sannidhi and Kooduthurai.
Birds eyeview of temple with Kooduthurai
At the Kooduthurai, underneath peepal/Neem tree is the kooduthurai vinayagar with abundance of Naga devatha idols. Here is an Abhisheka Mandapam and to the North of it is the Sree Amirthalingeswarar. It is said the Amutham turned as Lingam here and top portion of the lingam can be removed and placed over again on the Avudaiayar. Sage Parasara got the pot of Amudha and he hid it from the Asuras under the ground. After it was taken out, it was dug deeper and thus the place became Amutha theertham. From that theertham, a spring was formed and that converged with river Cauvery and Bhavani to make triveni (முக்கூடல்). To the east of Amirthlingeswarar is the sannidhi of Sahasralingam. Special poojas are offered on Full Moon day to both Amirthalingeswarar and Saharalingeswarar. Directly to the east of the Sahasralngeswarar sannidhi is the Gayathrilingeswarar sannidhi.
Urchavar, Adhi Kesava Perumal
An important temple to have darshan for people who visit Erode, Salem or Coimbatore. Its importance being a place of triveni sangamam and also both Siva and Perumal have their sannidhis here.
Temple Timings:
5.30 AM-1.00 PM
4.00 PM-8.00 PM
Bhavani is a small town famous for its carpets and is 15 kms from Erode and 55kms from Salem in Tamilnadu. It is very well connected by road and buses can be taken from opposite to the Erode Raiway Station and also from the Erode Bus Stand. Rivers Cauvery and Bhavani merge here and river Amutha the third river is supposed to run underneath. Hence this is also a Triveni Sangam and the name of the Lord in this temple is Sree Sangameswarar. Bhavani because of the three rivers is also called as Dakshina Prayagai and Koodu thurai too. The lord here also is known as Kooduthurai Nathar. The consort of Sangameswarar (also called by the names- Sangamuganathar, Marundhunayagar, vanilingeswaran, Nattatreeswaran and Thirunannavudaiyar) is Sree Vedayanaki Amman and also called by the names- Sangameswari, Marundhunayaki, Pannarmozhiyammai.
Sree Sangameswarar
Sree Vedanayaki Amman
The place Bhavani is also called as "Panchagiri Madhya Pradesam" as it is centrally located to the five hills -Sankagiri, Nagagiri, Mangalgiri, Vedagiri and Padumagiri. Sthala vruksham is Pathari- that is Ilanthai (இலந்தை)- hence this is equated the northern Bathrighashramam and is also known as Thenbathrighashramam (தென்பத்ரிகாஸ்ரமம்). The temple also has the unique feature of Lord Sree Adhikesavaperumal with consort Goddess Soundaranayaki thayar within the temple itself.
Entrance (Northern) Gopuram
Legend has it that Kubera, son of Vishrava was gifted with a vimana to visit the various Shiva temples across the country, in recognition of his devotion to the Lord. While he was flying over the river Cauvery, he saw an elephant, a tiger, a cow, a deer, a rat and a snake were drinking water under an Ilandai (Badri) tree, without enmity. To answer his doubt, a voice from the sky said this was the place where vedas visited and inhabited by Gandharvas. He was advised to worship the Sivalingam under the Ilandai tree. This is Bhavani and also the place of sangam of the rivers Cauvery, Bhavani and Amutha.
Though there four entrances to the temple, the main entrance is the Northern side with a 5 tiered Gopuram. The entrance vimana sudhais depict many stories from Periya puranam and epics. To name a few -Sivaperuman showing the olaisuvadi and stopping Sundarar, Meenkshi Kalayanam, Sambandar saving the child from crocodile, Pandian King giving Manickavasagar bag of cash etc., Nxt to the Gopuram on the western side is the Paramapadavasal which opens on the Vaikunda Ekadasi day. Immediately after passing through the gopuram, are the sannidhis of Rajavinayagar and Muthukumarasamy. There is long open space from the main entrance Gopuram to the Kottai Vinayagar Sanndihi and to the right of this open space is the Perumal Sannidhi. Next to the Kottai Vinayagar Sannidhi is the Kottai Anjaneyar. On the eastern side to these is the Navagrahas and there is gate which leads to the river Cauvery and Lord Sangameswarar and Sree Vedayanaki face this direction. On the northern side of the Goddess Mandapam is the Golden Palanquin given by the British collector Garrow. Amman gives darshan from the golden palanquin on festival days. Opposite to the Goddess Vedayanaki Amman on the eastern wall are three holes. The then collector William Garrow (Bhavani was the joint headquarters for Coimbatore and Salem districts and Collector administered from here. On hearing of the Amman from the locals, Collector Garrow wanted to have darshan of her but people of other religions were not allowed inside the temple. The Thashildar who came to know about the collector's wish made these 3 openings on the eastern wall and Mr Garrow was having his darshans through these apertures. On one night, when the collector was resting in his bungalow, a lady dressed like Goddess Vedayanaki appeared to him and asked him immediately leave the Bungalow. When the collector came out, the Bungalow collapsed in a few minutes. Greatly overwhelmed by this, the Collector Garrow gave this Golden Palanquin to the Goddess with his name inscribed and the date on it indicates 11-1-1804. The three openings still exist and one can see the Goddess thorugh these openings.
Sree Valli Deivanai sametha Murugan
Lord Subramnya's sannidhi is between the sannidhis of Sree Sangameswarar and Sree Vedanayaki and the Subramanya here has the greatness of Somaskandar too. Arunagirinathar has sung in praise of this lord. South of Murugan sannidhi is Kasi Viswanathar and Vishalakshi. Next to it is the sannidhi of Jurahareswarar.
On the outer walls of Sangameswarar sannidhi, on the southern side is Dakshinamurthy, on the western wall is Lingothbhavar and on the northen side is Brahma. By the side is the Vishnu Durgai and opposite to her is Chandikeswarar.
Opposite to the Murugan Sannidhi is the eastern gate leading to river cauvery and the Surya theertham. From here, as we go towards south is the Gayathri theertham, Gayathri Sannidhi and Kooduthurai.
Birds eyeview of temple with Kooduthurai
Sree Amirthlingeswarar Sannidhi
At the Kooduthurai, underneath peepal/Neem tree is the kooduthurai vinayagar with abundance of Naga devatha idols. Here is an Abhisheka Mandapam and to the North of it is the Sree Amirthalingeswarar. It is said the Amutham turned as Lingam here and top portion of the lingam can be removed and placed over again on the Avudaiayar. Sage Parasara got the pot of Amudha and he hid it from the Asuras under the ground. After it was taken out, it was dug deeper and thus the place became Amutha theertham. From that theertham, a spring was formed and that converged with river Cauvery and Bhavani to make triveni (முக்கூடல்). To the east of Amirthlingeswarar is the sannidhi of Sahasralingam. Special poojas are offered on Full Moon day to both Amirthalingeswarar and Saharalingeswarar. Directly to the east of the Sahasralngeswarar sannidhi is the Gayathrilingeswarar sannidhi.
Urchavar, Adhi Kesava Perumal
After the sannidhi of Sree Vedanayki Amman on the western side are the sannidhis of Adhi kesava perumal, Lakshminarasimhar, Soundaranayaki Thayar and Rukmani, Sathyabama Sametha Santhanagopalan. The entrance mandapam to the sannidhis have beautiful sudais of Rama with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, Gajalakshmi and Ramar Pattabhishekam. The Adhi Kesava Perumal temple was originally in Kalingarayan Pudur on the South of river Cauvery and was in a dilapidated condition. As per inscriptions found in the temple, Puliyur Gounder brought the deities here and built the temple next to Vedanayaki Amman sannidhi. The Venugopalan sannidhi forming part of the Rangamadapam was built by the King of Mysore Sri Wodeyar.
An inside view of the temple with Dwajasthambam
An important temple to have darshan for people who visit Erode, Salem or Coimbatore. Its importance being a place of triveni sangamam and also both Siva and Perumal have their sannidhis here.
Temple Timings:
5.30 AM-1.00 PM
4.00 PM-8.00 PM
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