Wednesday 23 January 2019

Sri Mahimaleeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ மகிமாலீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Erode, Erode District, Tamil Nadu

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06th January 2019.
Visit to this temple was a part of  Kongu Temples Heritage visit organized on 6th  January 2019. Coupled the visit along with the Kulatheivam temple darshan. Before boarding train to Chennai visited this Temple in Erode Fort area.


Moolavar    : Sri Mahimaleeswarar
Consort      : Sri Mangalambigai

Some of the important  salient features are…
The Temple is facing west with a three tier Rajagopuram. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.  In the artha mandapam, sannadhi for Vinayagar, Bala Dhandapani and Ambal sannadhi.

In the prakaram sannadhi for  Saraswathy, Veerabhadra, Saptamatrikas, 63var, 12 Shiva Lingas, Ganapathy, Subramaniyar, Bairavar, Chandran, Suryan and Chandikeswarar.

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala and Artha mandapam.  Rishabam, balipeedam and dwajasthambam are in the mukha mandapam.  The gopuram above the sanctum was renovated in the recent years. Lot of Stucco images are added during renovation. 


HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS
As per the History it is believed  to  be built by Kodumbalur Irukku Velir’s one of the descendant, Mahimalaya Irukkuvel Paranthaka Veera Chozhan ( 940 to 980 CE ). He was a Chieftain with Parantaka Chozha and also acted as a 1st King of Kongu Chozhas of Kongu region.

Before Chozha Kingdom the Kongu region was an independent country. Chozha King Adhithan ( 870 – 907 CE )  captured Kongu and delegate the power of ruling and also allowed them  for naming themselves  with Chozha king’s names like Rajendran, Vikrama Chozha, etc,. Hence they were  called as Kongu Chozhas.   Even-though it is believed that Irukku Velir King Veera Chozhan, built this temple, experts of the opinion  that the temple might have existed before 10th Century ie between 08th to 9th Century by the early Chozhas as a brick structure.

LEGEND
As per the legend the demons Mali, Sumali and Makima constructed the temple, hence Lord Shiva was named after the Asuras. Since moolavar is larger than the door's width, it was assumed that this temple was built by the Asuras,  in the contrary if the Lingam is smaller than the door then the temple might be built by Devas and if both are equal then the temple might have been built by Human beings.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened for darshan between 07.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
HOW TO REACH:
The temple is situated in the middle of the city Erode fort and close to Panneerselvam Park.
The temple is about 3.5 KM from Erode bus Stand and 2 KM from Erode Railway Junction.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE


 Stucco images are added on the original Vimana
Stucco images are added on the original Vimanam 
 Stucco images are added on the original Vimanam

Dwarapalakas
                       Old Photographs PC: Mrs Sakthi Prakash
 Old Photographs PC: Mrs Sakthi Prakash 
Old Photographs PC: Mrs Sakthi Prakash
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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