Swetharanyeswarar Temple

Swetharanyeswarar Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geography
Coordinates 11°10′31″N 79°48′34″E / 11.17528°N 79.80944°E / 11.17528; 79.80944Coordinates: 11°10′31″N 79°48′34″E / 11.17528°N 79.80944°E / 11.17528; 79.80944
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Nagai
Location Thiruvenkadu, Tamil Nadu, India
Culture
Sanctum Swetharanyeswarar (Shiva), Brahma Vidya (Parvathi)
Major festivals Tamil Masi Month 10 days
Architecture
Architecture Dravidian
History
Date built 1000-2000 years old

Swetharanyeswarar Temple (சுவேதாரண்யேசுவரர் கோயில்)[1] is a Hindu temple located in the town of Thiruvenkadu near Sirkazhi. The main deity is Swetharanyeswarar, a form of Shiva and Brahmavidya Ambal as the consort. There is a separate Sannidhi for Budha. All four important Saivite saints have sung in praise of Swetharanyeswarar, the lord of the white forest and the lord of this large and important temple.

This temple is especially known for its unique incarnation of Shiva called "Agora Murthi".

Thiruvenkadu village is also famous for its unique structure of pools in temples. This temple has 3 pools, 3 Gods. It is a belief that who takes bath in all these pools, the one will be free from their problems like diseases, delay in marriage, etc.,.

This temple is one of the six temples along the banks of the Kaveri which are considered equivalent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. These temples are :

° Aiyarappar Koil, Thiruvaiyaru

° Mahalingeswarar Koil, Thiruvidaimarudur

° Mayuranathaswamy Koil, Mayiladuthurai

° Chayavaneswarar Koil, Sayavanam

° Swetharanyeswarar Koil, Thiruvenkadu

° Srivanchinadhaswamy Koil, Srivanchiyam

Legend

Swetharanyeswarar is the main God in this temple. It is said that Agora Murthi was one of the furious incarnation of Lord Shiva. There was an Evil named "Maruthuvasuran" in Thiruvengadu. He had a deep meditation on Lord Brahma for power. Being satisfied with his meditation, Lord Bhrama offered him many powers. But he used those powers in a wrong ways. He started to torture the saints and innocent people. Having nothing to do, all the saints and people requested Lord Shiva to put an end to this evil. As they asked, Lord Shiva took his incarnation 'Agora murthi' and killed the 'Maruthuvasuran under a tree (which is now in Thiruvengadu temple, back to the entrance of Agora murthi). All the people thanked Lord Shiva for saving them. The place is called by other names like Swetaranyam, Adi Chidambaram and Nava Ntirya Stala.[2]

Indiran, Airavatan, Budha, Sooriyan and Chandiran are said to have worshipped Lord Swetharanyeswarar here.

Shiva and Budhan Temple

From the stone inscriptions found inside this temple, it can be seen that the earlier Chola kings Aditya Chola and Rajaraja Chola made a lot of contributions to this temple.

There are several shrines of significance in this well visited temple, including those to Durga and Kali. The image of Natarajar here is of great beauty. Worship to Aghoramurthy (Veerabhadrar) is said to be of significance on Sunday nights in this temple. As found in Chidambaram, there is also a shrine for Lord Vishnu near the shrine for Natarajar. This temple is known as Adi Chidambaram because before Lord Shiva first danced here before dancing in Chidambaram.[3]

Festivals

Chariot festival at Thiruvengadu

There are many festivals which are being celebrated in this village. It includes the chariot festival which is celebrated every year in the month of February. This Chariot festival is celebrated for 10 days. On 5th day a special occasion is celebrated for Lord Agora Murthi. People from many surrounding villages would come here and pray here for their better life.


Rudra Padham

One of the main and important aspect of this temple is feet of Lord Shiva is found here. This place is famous for pithru tharpanam or ancestors rituals. Thithi for 21 ancestor generations can be given at this place. Thithi is performed at the feet of Lord Shiva. One has to get the priest services externally or can contact the temple, they will arrange the priests. Or if one goes early morning they can get a direct contact. Else commission for reference will be included in the service charges. For tharpanam 200-300 will be charges, else based on banana leaves, rates are charged. One banana leaf costs 1000, 3 banana leaves costs 3500/- (includes commission). Best option would be one leaf, where n' number of pindams will be placed and the ancestor ritual performed. One has to take bath in all the 3 ponds and come to Rudra padam with wet clothes.


References

  1. ↑ ta:திருவெண்காடு சுவேதாரண்யேசுவரர் கோயில்
  2. ↑ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 31.
  3. ↑ "Navagraha temples". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  • "ThiruVenGadu Temple Guide".
  • "HolyIndia - ThiruVenGadu Temple".
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