19th
September 2015.
CONTINUATION
FROM THE PREVIOUS POST....
SRI ARUDRA KAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE – ERODE
Sri
Kapaleeswarar temple is in the heart of Erode city and near Pannerselvam Park
and market and about 3 Km from 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 is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Rishabam and balipeedam are at the entrance of the maha mandapam.
In
the outer prakaram sannadhi 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 to see on the maha mandapam pillars.
At the entrance of the sanctum it was learnt there was only one Dwarapalaka and latter the second Dwarapalaka was added.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
was believed ( hear say ) that the temple was built during the year 1004 -1280 CE,
Kongu Chozhas period and the King 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 as Thondeeswaram and the Lord Shiva as Thondeeswarar, Thondeeswaram
Udaya Mahadeva, "Thondeeswaram Udaya Thambiranar", "Thondeeswaram Udaya Pidarar",
Nayanar, Thondargal Nayanar, etc.
The Tamil inscription of the base of sanctum
LEGENDS
One
of the temple history goes like this....,
As
per hearsay, The king by name Lakshmikanthan, once he performed a yagna. The milk was brought from Pechiparai the present Park with under ground
sump ( which was used as Ko salai ). On nearing this place the milk poured at a
particular place. To analyse, The King ordered to dig the ground, he found
blood was oozing from that place due to hitting of crowbar on Shiva Lingam. The
Shiva Linga's top was split in to 4 parts and thrown to 4 places. The four
place names are ends with ‘de/du’ ( Erode, Chithode, Vellode, Perode ).
Since Shiva Linga’s head ( Kabalam ) was split in to parts, Lord Shiva is
called as Sri Kapaleeswarar.
The
another 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 to known to all, went to his house when the weaver was absent. The
Lord in the form of 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 will be available at outside of 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 on
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 on a pillar and began to
beat him. Lord Shiva through the son of the village head and 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 as Thiruthondreeswarar. As per the Gurukkal, only
new cloth is used every day to 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 falls on moolavar on Tamil Masi month 23rd to 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 fro 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 Railway station passes through Panneerselvam Park and from there
a walk-able distance.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK
HERE
View of Moolavar Vimanam
Vilakku thoon ( on the
background the Rajagopuram of Perumal Temple )
Gaja samhara murti
Vanni Tree Vinayagar and
Amman moortham
Temple Complex View
Front Mandapam view
through Rajagopuram
Paintings of 12 Rasis on
the ceiling of rajagopuram
Painting on the prakaram /
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.
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