19th
September 2015.
CONTINUATION
FROM THE PREVIOUS POST....
SRI ARUDRA KAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE – ERODE
Sri
Kapaleeswarar temple is in the heart of Erode city near Pannerselvam Park
and market and about 3 km from the Railway station.
The Rajagopuras of Moolavar and Ambal Temples
Moolavar : Sri Thondeeswarar, Sri
Cheddeswarar,
Sri
Chozheeswarar and Sri Arudra Kapaleeswarar.
Consort : Sri Vaaranambigai.
Some
of the important features of this temple are...
The
temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Rishabam, and balipeedam are at the entrance of the maha mandapam.
In
the outer praharam sannidhi for Suryan with his consorts Sayadevi and Usha
Devi, Moola Vinayagar, Gajasamkara Murthy, sthala vruksham with Vinayagar and
Amman, Kala Bhairavar, Chandran, 63var, Saptamatrikas and Chandran.
In
the inner prakaram, Durgai, Nalvar, 63var, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar and Navagrahas.
ARCHITECTURE
On the facia of the maha mandapam stucco images of Sthala Puranam and Sthala Puranam of Avinashi Shiva temple. Kali and Oorthuva Thandava Murthy are worth seeing on the Maha Mandapam pillars.
At the entrance of the sanctum it was learned there was only one Dwarapalaka and later the second Dwarapalaka was added.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
was believed (hearsay) that the temple was built during the year 1004 -1280 CE, the Kongu Chozhas period, and the King's name was Karikalan. Also with the help
of Samayar Mudali built 36 Shiva temples on the banks of Cauvery. From
the inscriptions available at the base of the sanctum wall, the temple is
called Thondeeswaram, and Lord Shiva as Thondeeswarar, Thondeeswaram
Udaya Mahadeva, "Thondeeswaram Udaya Thambiranar", "Thondeeswaram Udaya Pidarar",
Nayanar, Thondargal Nayanar, etc.
The Tamil inscription of the base of the sanctum
LEGENDS
One
of the temple history goes like this....,
As
per hearsay, The king by the name Lakshmikanthan once performed a yagna. The milk was brought from Pechiparai the present Park with an underground
sump ( which was used as Ko salai ). On nearing this place the milk poured at a
particular place. To analyze, The King ordered to dig the ground, and he found
blood oozing from that place due to the hitting of the crowbar on Shiva Lingam. The
Shiva Linga's top was split into 4 parts and thrown to 4 places. The four
place names end with ‘de/du’ ( Erode, Chithode, Vellode, Perode ).
Since Shiva Linga’s head ( Kabalam ) was split into parts, Lord Shiva is
called Sri Kapaleeswarar.
The
other story goes like this...
A
poor weaver Thandavan, used to worship Lord Arudra Kapaleeswarar before
proceeding to work. The Lord, with the intention of making the weaver’s
devotion known to all, went to his house when the weaver was absent. The
Lord in the form of an old man asked Thandavan’s wife for a piece of cloth
to cover himself from shivering cold. The woman told the Lord that she too had
only one piece and promised what she could do for Him and asked his
whereabouts. Lord Shiva replied that he would be available outside of the Arudra
temple.
Thandavan’s
wife told him what happened when he was away. The weaver rushed to his boss
seeking a piece of cloth on credit and promised to pay the price in
installments. He got the cloth and gave it to the old man at the temple.
When
the temple priest opened the sanctum sanctorum the next morning, he was
surprised to see a new piece of cloth on the Lord and the Parivattam was
absent. He informed the matter to all. All gathered there including the
weaver’s boss who said that he gave it to Thandavan. Thandavan narrated what
happened. Nobody believed the poor weaver and tied him to a pillar and began to
beat him. Lord Shiva through the son of the village head shouted.
"Despite one’s own difficulties, one should not hesitate to help those
poorer than them. To establish this Dharmam, I acted through Thandavan,"
Hence Lord Shiva is called Thiruthondreeswarar. As per the Gurukkal, only
new cloth is used every day by Lord Shiva.
It was believed that Moolavar was installed by Sage Durvasa in a lying position ( Palli Konda Position ).
It is believed that Sun worships Lord Shiva of this temple. The sun rays fall on Moolavar on Tamil Masi from month 23rd to the 27th.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The
temple is kept open between 05.30 Hrs to 12.30 Hrs and 16.30 P.M. to
20.30 Hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS :
The
temple office may be contacted for the details and the Land Line number is +91-424-2267578
Web
site address: http://www.arudrakapaleeswarartemple.tnhrce.in/
HOW
TO REACH :
The
town buses to the Railway station pass through Panneerselvam Park and from there
a walkable distance.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
View of Moolavar Vimanam
Vilakkuthoon ( on the
background of the Rajagopuram of Perumal Temple )
Gajasamhara Murthy
Vanni Tree Vinayagar and
Amman's image
Temple Complex View
Front Mandapam view
through Rajagopuram
Paintings of 12 Rasis on
the ceiling of Rajagopuram
Painting on the praharam/mandapam wall
SRI PERIYA MARIAMMAN TEMPLE - BROUGH ROAD, ERODE.
This temple is on Brough
Road a Km from Sri Arudra Kapaleeswarar Temple. This is also an old temple.
SECOND VISIT.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Nice post on Sri Kapaleeswarar temple . The pictures are amazing and its a very important temple. The temple gives immense sense of peace to the visitors. Check the Kapaleeswarar temple timings for detailed information.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this place called Shani Chandra stalam?
ReplyDeleteIs it.. I will get the details and write it ma...
DeleteSure please sir, because it's the only temple which is shani chandra stalam it seems and I didn't get to know much about dis....I am so curious to know
DeleteYet to Get the details Sri Varshini
Delete