VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Arulmigu Sangameswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு சங்கமேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Kottaimedu, Coimbatore,Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

Friday, 1 November 2019

Arulmigu Sangameswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு சங்கமேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Kottaimedu, Coimbatore,Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

12^th October 2019.

The visit to this temple was a part of the Kongu Heritage Walk scheduled on the 12^th and 13^th of October 2019. This temple is in the heart of Coimbatore City. Once, there was a fort, believed to have been built during the Tippu Sultan period, and now the place bears the name of Kottaimedu, without any trace of Kottai / Fort. There are many stories behind the City’s name, Coimbatore. One such story is… The name Covanputhur (கோவன்புத்தூர்) was named after an Irula King Covan, who ruled this region, Perur Nadu. It was said that this place was once covered with Sangu flower plants/creepers. These plants were destroyed, and the temple was built; hence, the temple was called Sangeechuramudayar Temple and later called Sangameswarar Temple.

Moolavar : Sri Sangameswarar

Consort : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance arch and mandapam. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in the open Mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. In the Prakaram 63var, Somaskandar, Ambal, Kannimoola Ganapathi, Neelakandeswarar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar with Nagar under Peepal tree, Bhairavar, and Navagrahas.

Ambal Sri Akilandeswari is in a separate temple, like a sannidhi facing east. In koshtam Brahmi, Kaumari, Varahi, Vaishnavi, and Maheshwari. Arumuga is in a separate temple, like a sannidhi facing east in between Shiva and Ambal sannidhis. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and peacock vahana are in front. In addition to this, there is an Elephant vahana in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Sri Arumuga is not like an idol but like a bas-relief panel.

ARCHITECTURE

The Temple was reconstructed in recent years with new stones, and the fate of the old pillars and structures is not known. The reconstructed temple complex consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The adhistanam is with Upana, jagathy, Muppatai kumuda, and pattikai. A Two-tier Nagara vimana with Vesara sigaram is over the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There are 9 inscriptions, recorded under Kovai Mavatta Kalvettukal and published by the State Archaeological Department in 2006. As per the inscriptions, this Place was called "Covanputhur Uma Parameswari Chaturvedi Mangalam", "Veera Kerala Nallur", "Perur Nattu Covanputhur" also called "Veerakerala Nallur", and Lord Shiva was called "Veera Chozheeswarar", "Covanputhur Sangeechuram Udaiyar".

The inscriptions recorded belong to Kongu Chozhas, Veera Rajendran (1227 CE, 1230 CE), Vikrama Chozha-II (1265 CE), Vikrama Chozha–III (1285 CE), and Veerakeralar Veera Narayanan (13^th century).

A 13th-century Kongu Chozha inscription speaks about donations of a portion of the income from the land, to this temple for Naivedyam, Donation of Minted money for Naivedyam and Thirukarthigai festival, donation of two kalanju Gold, Chozha Mandalam Karuppur Vellalan donation for Sandhya Deepam, and Donation of land after the installation of Uma Maheswarar Cheppu/copper idol, Vadapaarisaranattu Kamundan donated a Sandhya Deepam / Evening Lamp.

The temple was completely destroyed during the 1792 CE Mysore War III and reconstructed after the fourth Mysore War (1798- 99 CE). A part of the old temple inscription stones, ie, Adhishtanam Jagathy and Kumudam, is used as a pedestal for 63var, and most of the old inscriptions are not available now.

Old inscription stones are used for the 63-var pedestal
Old inscription stones are used for the 63-var pedestal, which mentions the name of the City as "Covanputhur"