Wednesday, 23 January 2019

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

IndiBlogger Badge
06th January 2019.
Visit to this temple was a part of the Kongu Temples Heritage visit organized on 6th  January 2019. Coupled with the visit to the Kulatheivam temple darshan. Before boarding the train to Chennai visited this Temple in the 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, sannidhi for Vinayagar, Bala Dhandapani and Ambal sannidhi.

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 recent years. A lot of Stucco images are added during the renovation. 


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

Before Chozha Kingdom the Kongu region was an independent country. Chozha King Adhithan ( 870 – 907 CE )  captured Kongu and delegated the power of ruling and also allowed them to name themselves with Chozha king’s names like Rajendran, Vikrama Chozha, etc,. Hence they were called Kongu Chozhas.   Even though it is believed that Irukku Velir King Veera Chozhan, built this temple, experts believe that the temple might have existed before the 10th Century ie between the 08th to 9th Centuries 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,  on the contrary, if the Lingam is smaller than the door then the temple might have been 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 open 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 to the original Vimana
Stucco images are added to the original Vimanam 
 Stucco images are added to 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---

No comments:

Post a Comment