Sri Sozhapureeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ சோழபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Sholinghur, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Sozhapureeswarar Temple at Sholinghur was a part of the 596^th week abhishekam to Shiva and Ambal, by the Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group on 05^th April, 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Sozhapureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Kanakakusambal, Sri Ponmulai Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Nalvar, Shiva & Parvati, and Murugan are on the top of the entrance arch. A Vinayagar temple is in front of the entrance arch. A 5-tier Rajagopuram is at the south-side entrance. Entrance to the Shiva and Ambal temple sannidhis is from the east and south. Vinayagar and Murugan, with Valli Devasena, are at the south side entrance mandapam. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Shiva, and Parvati as Rishabaroodar and Sri Valli Devaseana Subramaniar are on the top of the south side entrance mandapam. A balipeedam and a Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum and in the praharam. A Banalingam, Nagar, and Vinayagar are on the left side of the entrance to the antarala. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the inner praharam, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar, Natarajar with Sivakami and Manickavasagar, and Palliyarai.

Ambal, Sri Kanakakusambal, is in a separate temple that faces east on the north side of the inner praharam. Vinayagar is on the left side of the entrance to Ambal’s shrine. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhayavarada hastam. A maha meru is in front of the temple.

In the outer praharam, Shiva Lingam & Rishabam with Nagar, a Shiva Linga banam without avudaiyar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan, Balipeedam, Dwajasthamabam with Rishabam, and balipeedam with Simham.

 Durgai

Chandikeswarar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram and the vimanam over the prastaram was constructed with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam/ maha mandapam, common for the Shiva and Ambal sannidhi. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada panda adhistanam, with jagathy, Muppattai kumudam, and pattikai. (Inside floor level was raised up to vedikai level, all three adhistanam components are not visible. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus.  

The brick vimanam is of one tala, greevam, and a vesara sigaram. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

 Prastaram nasi kudu

 Pilaster with Vettu pothyal

 A common ardha / Maha mandapam 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to the 10^th to 11^th century CE. Later received contributions from Vijayanagaras. Chozha and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the Rajagopuram’s kalkaram, here and there. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. Water wash was done before the February 2026 Maha Kumbhabhishekam.

A new Rajagopuram was constructed after 300 years, and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 3^rd September 2009.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on, 01^st, September 1982, 09^th December 2012, and February 2026.

10th - 11th Century inscriptions on the Rajagopuram Kalkaram

10th - 11th Century inscriptions on the Rajagopuram Kalkaram - Kept upside down

10th - 11th Century inscriptions on the Rajagopuram Kalkaram - Kept upside down

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar, Chaturthi, Kandar Sashti, Thai Poosam, Somavaras, Pournami, Amavasya, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Kirithigai, Ashtami, Sashti, Guru Poojas, Brahmotsavam, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal Gautham may be contacted on his mobile number +919043334924 for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Shiva temple is on the Bazaar St, the heart of Sholinghur Town. The temple is about 3 km from Sholinghur Bus Stand, 26 km from Thiruttani Railway Station, 29 km from Ranipet, and 30 km from Arakkonam Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruttani.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Bana Lingam, Nagar, and Vinayagar

 Bairavar

 Chandran

 Suryan

Nardhana Vinayagar

 Palliayarai

The newly constructed Vinayagar temple (completely with stone) is in front of the east side entrance

Yaga sala erected for the recent Maha Kumbhabhishekam

 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Arulmigu Masani Amman Temple /அருள்மிகு மாசாணி அம்மன் திருக்கோவில், Anaimalai, Pollachi, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Arulmigu Masani Amman Temple, at Anaimalai, Pollachi, was a part of “Temples, Hero Stones, Memorial Stones, Hero Stambhas (Mala Koil) and Heritage Sites Visit, around Pollachi”, on 31^st January 2026 and 1^st February 2026. Thanks to Mr Bala, Mrs Padma Jyothi, and Mrs Sakthi Prakash for accompanying me on both days. The temple is at the confluence of the Aliyar River and Upper Stream, at Anaimalai.

PC: website

The presiding Deity: Sri Masani Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

An entrance arch is at the beginning of the street. The temple faces north with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajastambham, balipeedam and Simham are after the Rajagopuram. A stucco image of Mahamuni is after the dwajaStambhamm. Moolavar Sri Masani Amman is in a lying posture, measuring 15 feet, and dwarf Bhuta gana is at her feet. Masani Amman is with 4 hands holding Damaru and a snake in the upper hands and a fire bowl and a bowl in the lower hands. (The Masani Amman’s image is made of stucco?). An image of Amman is in front of Masani Amman. There are no images in the koshtas.

In praharam, Maha Muni, Vinayagar with Nagars, Kaliamman, Saptamatrikas, Pechiamman, Bhuvaneswari, Durga, Mahishasuramardini, and Bairavar.

Chilly grinding stone and “Neethi kal” - stone to apply for the prayer are in front of the sanctum sanctorum under the open mandapam.

PC: website - Maha Muni

PC: website

PC: website

PC: website

PC: website

PC - website

Sri Atru Vinayagar Temple, a Rahu & Ketu Temple

This temple complex is on the banks of the upper stream and just behind the Masani Amman Temple. The temple complex consists of Kali Amman, Nagars as Rahu Ketu, Veeramathi Amman Nadukal, Sapta Kannis panel with Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Narasimhar, Shiva Lingam, 18 aam padi Karuppu, and Karuppurayan

ARCHITECTURE

The Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers. Up to the entrance lintel level, the Rajagopuram was constructed with stone, and the rest of the 4 tiers are built with bricks. Stucco images of Amman’s various forms and the legend / sthala purana are on the Rajagopuram.

The whole temple was built with brick and concrete (may have been reconstructed in recent years). The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum and a big open mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape to accommodate Masani Amman’s lying posture. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam. Since the sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape, a Gajabruushta / Gajaprishta vimana, with one tala, greevam and sigaram is constructed. Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are on the tala, greeva and lalada nasi of the vimanam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The exact details of the temple are not known; the legend starts from the Sangam period. But the present structure was built with brick and concrete. The Rajagopuram, kalkaram seems to be very old.

மாசானி அம்மன்

தொல் பழங்காலம் முதல் இன்று வரை நாட்டார் வழக்காற்றில் பெரும் செல்வாக்குப் பெற்று விளங்கும் தாய்த் தெய்வ வழிபாட்டின் எச்சமாக விளங்குவது மாசானி அம்மன் வழிபாடு. இவ்வழிபாடு கொங்கு நாடு முழுவதும் பரவலாக வழிபாடு செய்யப் பெற்றாலும் ஆனமலை மாசானி அம்மன் நாடு முழுவதும் புகழ் பெற்று விளங்குகிறது. மாசானியம்மன் என்பது மயானத்து தேவதை. மயானம் மசானம் மாசானம் என்று மருவியது. மசானி பண்டை நாளில் காடு கிழாள்காடு காள் என்றழைக்கப்பெற்ற கொற்றவையின் வடமொழி பெயர்ப்பாகும்.

கொற்றவையாகிய காடுகிழாள் வழிபாடே மாசானி என்ற பெயரில் வழிபடப்பெற்று வருகின்றது. இத்தெய்வத்திற்கும். நன்னனால் கொல்லப்பெற்ற பெண்ணிற்கும் நெருங்கிய தொடர்புண்டு என்று ஒரு சாரார் கூறுகின்றனர். அம்பரம்பாபாளையம் ஆற்றில் உள்ள “பிங்கொனாம்பாறா” என்ற பெயர் பெண் கொன்றான் பாறை என்பதன் திரிபாகலாம் என்று கருதுகின்றனர். ஆனைமலைக்கு நன்னனூர் என்று பெயர் வைக்கப் பெற்றதால் பெண்கொலை புரிந்த நன்னன் வாழ்ந்த ஊர் ஆனைமலை என்று கருதுகின்றனர். 

நன்னன் வடமலையாள நாட்டிலுள்ள எலிமலையினை தலைமையிடமாகக் கொண்டு ஆட்சி செய்தவன். இந்த எலிமைலையை சங்க இலக்கியம் ஏழில் குன்றம் என்று அழைக்கிறது. இவனுடைய தலைநகர் பாழி என்று கூறப்பெறுகிறது. மேலும் மாமரம் அவன் தலைநகரத்தலிருந்த காவல் மரமாக இருந்திருக்க வேண்டும். அந்த மரத்தின் பழத்தைத் தின்றதால் பெண்ணைக் கொன்றிருக்க வேண்டும். காரணம் காவல் மரம் என்பது குலத்தின் சின்னமாக இருந்திருக்கவேண்டும். குலச்சின்னத்திற்கு ஊறு விளைவிப்பவர்கள் குலத்தில் உள்ள ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் ஊறு விளைவித்தவர்கள் ஆவார்கள். அவர்களை கொலைத் தண்டனைக் குள்ளாக்கப்பட வேண்டும். அந்த அடிப்படையில் தன் குலச்சின்னமான மாமரத்தின் பழத்தைத் தின்றதற்குக் கொலைத் தண்டனை அளிக்கிறான். அந்தப் பெண்ணின் பெற்றோர்கள் அவளைப் போலப் பொன் உருவத்தினையும் எண்பத்தொரு யானைகளையும் தண்டக் குற்றமாகத் தருவதாகவும் அவற்றைப் பெற்றுக் கொண்டு பெண்ணைக் கொலைத் தண்டனையிலிருந்து விடுவிக்குமாறும் கேட்டும் விடாப்பிடியாக நின்று கொலைத் தண்டனையை நிறைவேற்றுகிறான். தன் உருவப் பொன்பொம்மையையும் எண்பத்தோர் யானைகளையும் கொடுப்பது இராஜதுரோகக் குற்றம் செய்தவர்கள் தண்டக் குற்றமாகத் தருவது. அதனால் மாங்கனியைத் தின்றது இராஜ துரோகக் குற்றம் என்று கருதப்பெற்றது. 

இந்த வரலாறு இன்றும் வடமலையாளப் பகுதியில் நாடகமாக நடத்தப் பெறுகின்றது. இந்த நாடகத்தில் பயின்று வரும் பெண் கொலை புரிந்த வரலாற்றினை 'வட மலையாள நாட்டு நன்னன் நினைவுகள்' என்ற கட்டுரையில் பி.எல்.சாமி அவர்கள் விளக்கியுள்ளார். அதனால் மாசானி அம்மன் வேறு என்பது உறுதிப்படுகின்றது. ஆனால் கொங்கானம் கிழான் நன்னனின் ஆட்சி ஆனைமலை வரை பரவியிருந்தது.

It is believed that Masani Amman worship is the extension of Thai Deiva worship. Masani Amman is a cremation ground deity. Masani Amman worship is the extension of Kotravai alias Kadu Kizhal worship. Some researchers believe that there is a relationship between Masani Amman and the lady killed by King Nannan, who ruled North Malaiyala Nadu. Since Anaimalai is also called Nannanur. To substantiate this statement, there is a rock called “Pingondrampara” at Amaparampalaiyam, which means Penkondram Parai – பெண் கொன்றான் பாறை. 

Nannan ruled Vada Malaiyala Nadu with its capital of Elimalai. He had a sacred Guarding Mango Tree. The lady who ate the fruit of the Guarding Tree (Kaval maram – காவல் மரம்) was killed, and she is believed to be worshipped as Masani Amman. Even though the lady’s father came forward to give a Gold image of his daughter and 81 elephants, Nannan refused and killed the lady. Still, this is staged as a folk drama in Vada Malayala Nadu. This was recorded by PL Swamy in his article. Hence, it is concluded that Masani Amman is different from the Lady killed by Nannan.    

Ref

கோவை மாவட்டத் தொல்லியல் கையேடு.

After thirupani, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 12^th December 2024, after 14 years.

LEGENDS

As per the local legend, Rama, in search of Sita, stayed in the mayanam of Anaimalai. Before leaving to Srilanka, he made a goddess in a lying posture out of clay and worshipped. Masani Amman blessed Rama to win over the evil Ravana and bring back Sita.

Neethi Kal – It is a unique prayer of this temple, in which the people affected by legal cases, mental worries, theft, cheating, loss of property, pray at this temple. The Chilly has to be grounded and applied on this neethikal as a part of prayer. It is believed that the prayer will be answered within 90 days. After the prayer is fulfilled, the devotee has to return to the temple to do Abhishekam to Amman with ne vasthram.

Devotees celebrate the ear-piercing ceremony of their children, after tonsuring, as a part of prayer. Devotees also pray to get cured from the problem when their girl children attains puppetry.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Tuesdays, Fridays, amavasya days, 18 days annual festival with kundam / fire walk, in the month of Thai, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs, without a break.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landlines +91-4253 282 337, 283 173, may be contacted for  

E mail: masaniammantemple[at]gmail[dot]com

HOW TO REACH

The Masani Amman Temple, at Anaimalai, is 14 km from Pollachi, 37.7 km from Thirumoorthy Hills, 40 km from Udumalaipettai, and 56 km from Coimbatore.

The nearest Railway Station is Pollachi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---