SREE ARUDRA KAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE (EASWARAN KOIL), ERODE
Sree Arudra Kapaleeswarar
The temple has been renovated 5 years back, with a mandapam known as Kailayam, in front of the Urchavar Natarajar sannidhi. This mandapam is useful for the Pradhosham celebrations and some new sudhais depicting kailayam has been done in this area.
It is said that Sage Durvasa installed the Lingam in a lying posture. Also there is a story about a poor weaverman Thandavan who gave a piece of cloth begging for the same from his employer, as he had to give it a person who has asked his wife for help and that the person told he would be available outside the arudra kapaleeswarar temple. Thandavan obtaining the cloth from his employer and gave it to the person outside the temple. Next day when the temple priest opened the temple, he saw a new cloth adoring the deity and also the parivattam was missing and he told the temple management. The employer who came around there said he had given the cloth to Thandavan. Temple authorities tied Thandavan and beat him as the Parivattam also was missing. Lord Siva possessed on the son of the village head and he shouted that he only got the cloth and Thandavan was innocent and also had shown through him the Dharma that one had to help others with all odds.
The entrance gopuram is five tiered and the main deity faces east. Immediately after passing the Dwajasthambam and as we enter to our left is Vinayagar sannidhi. On the right are the sannidhis Lord Murugan, Saneeswarar. Sree Aruthra Kapaleeswarar (108 lingas have been carved on the main deity) is a small lingam and around the main deities prakara are the deities Jurahareswarar, Durgai, Nalvar, Dakshinamurthy on the southern side. Here is also Pollapillaiyar and 63 Nayanmars. On the western side, that is backside of the sanctum, after passing the Saptha Kannigas, pictures of 5 lingams are depicted to denote the five Panchabootha temples of Kanchi, Tiruvanaikaval (tiruchy), Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai and Kalahasthi. By the side of it here is the Sahasraligam. Immediate after passing this, is the sanndhi of Valli Devayanai sametha Subramanyar. To the right is Chandikeswarar and as we come out is the Navagrahas. The completion of circumbulation takes you to the sannidhis earlier mentioned Lord Dhandayuthapani and Saneeswarar.
Sahasralingam
The sannidhi of Varanambigai Amman is to the right of the Lord and one has to cross the Kayilaya mandapam to reach the sannidhi. The outer prakara from here leads to the Kanni Moolai Ganapathy (on the Southwest) and the temple sthala vruksha, Vanni Maram in the west. Siva linga and Varanambigai Amman idols have been installed under the sthala vruksha along with Nagarajans.
A small Goshala is next on the northwest corner and the temple garden is on the northern side of the outer prakara. As we come the east, before the Dwasthamba, from separate sannidhis Bhairavar and Chandran (Moon) grace the devotees. On the other side of the Dwajasthamba, Sun god with consorts Uma and Chaya bless the devotees.
I had worked in Erode for 11 Years and had darshan several times in this temple.
Pooja timings:
Sree Arudra Kapaleeswarar
Sree Arudra Kapaleeswarar temple is in the central part of Erode, known as Manikoondu. The local people call this temple as Easwaran Koil. The adjoining temple is Sree Kasturi Ranganathar temple. Lot of flower/Thlasi shops are available in front of the temples.
It is said that Sage Durvasa installed the Lingam in a lying posture. Also there is a story about a poor weaverman Thandavan who gave a piece of cloth begging for the same from his employer, as he had to give it a person who has asked his wife for help and that the person told he would be available outside the arudra kapaleeswarar temple. Thandavan obtaining the cloth from his employer and gave it to the person outside the temple. Next day when the temple priest opened the temple, he saw a new cloth adoring the deity and also the parivattam was missing and he told the temple management. The employer who came around there said he had given the cloth to Thandavan. Temple authorities tied Thandavan and beat him as the Parivattam also was missing. Lord Siva possessed on the son of the village head and he shouted that he only got the cloth and Thandavan was innocent and also had shown through him the Dharma that one had to help others with all odds.
The entrance gopuram is five tiered and the main deity faces east. Immediately after passing the Dwajasthambam and as we enter to our left is Vinayagar sannidhi. On the right are the sannidhis Lord Murugan, Saneeswarar. Sree Aruthra Kapaleeswarar (108 lingas have been carved on the main deity) is a small lingam and around the main deities prakara are the deities Jurahareswarar, Durgai, Nalvar, Dakshinamurthy on the southern side. Here is also Pollapillaiyar and 63 Nayanmars. On the western side, that is backside of the sanctum, after passing the Saptha Kannigas, pictures of 5 lingams are depicted to denote the five Panchabootha temples of Kanchi, Tiruvanaikaval (tiruchy), Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai and Kalahasthi. By the side of it here is the Sahasraligam. Immediate after passing this, is the sanndhi of Valli Devayanai sametha Subramanyar. To the right is Chandikeswarar and as we come out is the Navagrahas. The completion of circumbulation takes you to the sannidhis earlier mentioned Lord Dhandayuthapani and Saneeswarar.
Sahasralingam
The sannidhi of Varanambigai Amman is to the right of the Lord and one has to cross the Kayilaya mandapam to reach the sannidhi. The outer prakara from here leads to the Kanni Moolai Ganapathy (on the Southwest) and the temple sthala vruksha, Vanni Maram in the west. Siva linga and Varanambigai Amman idols have been installed under the sthala vruksha along with Nagarajans.
A small Goshala is next on the northwest corner and the temple garden is on the northern side of the outer prakara. As we come the east, before the Dwasthamba, from separate sannidhis Bhairavar and Chandran (Moon) grace the devotees. On the other side of the Dwajasthamba, Sun god with consorts Uma and Chaya bless the devotees.
I had worked in Erode for 11 Years and had darshan several times in this temple.
Pooja timings:
5.30 A.M. To 12.30 P.M.
4.30 P.M. To 8.30 P.M.
