Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 260th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Kongu Naadu |
Kongu Naadu | 2nd Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
The
temple has an interesting legend. Proud of his prowess gained through
rigorous penance, demon king Soorapadman tortured the Celestial Gods (Devars)
and imprisoned them. Fearing for their lives, the disturbed Devars approached
Lord Shiva to seek his help. Lord Shiva sent Lord Murugan with a large number
of soldiers headed by lieutenant, Veerabhahu to destroy Soorapadman and his
associates. After a fierce battle, Lord Murugan destroyed the demon and
relieved the Devars.It is believed that Lord Murugan got Brahamahathi Dosham
due to the killing of the demon king Soorapadman and others in the battle. This
battle was referred to as “Surasamharam”.
To
seek respite from this dosham, Lord Murugan installed a lingam at this place
and worshipped it. Since this lingam was installed by Lord Murugan, it was
given the name “Thirumuruganathaswamy”. It is believed that while coming to
worship Lord Shiva, Lord Murugan left his divine spear (Vel) and his mount
peacock outside the temple. Because of this, Lord Murugan’s idol inside the
shrine does not have the Vel and the peacock with him.It is believed that the
Brahmmahati (the sin accrued by the killing of a Brahmin) that left Murugan is
now in form of a square stone under a neem tree near the temple.This is an
ancient temple and believed to have been built in the 9th Century CE.The temple
is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is declared
as a National Heritage Monument.
Pon maraithu vaidha idam:
This
temple is that of Saint Sundarar, one of the most celebrated saints of Saivism.
It is believed that Saint Sundarar received valuable gifts from king Cheraman
Perumal for his poetic excellence.When Sundarar was travelling with his gifts
near this place, Lord Shiva felt the need to listen to his compositions. He
decided to play a little game with the saint and sent his Boodhaganas (the
Lord’s army) in the guise of hunters to rob the Saint off all his valuables. Sundarar
complained and prayed to a nearby Vinayakar to help him recover the gifts. Lord
Vinayakar in turn directed him to this Shiva temple. Sundarar went to the
temple and rendered a pathigam blaming the Lord for not protecting him from the
hunters. Through his song, he expressed that the Lord’s divine presence in such
a notorious place was meaningless. He demanded Lord Shiva’s immediate action to
help him get back his valuables.
Lord
Shiva enjoyed the Saint’s composition and returned the stolen goods. This
incident is celebrated as a festival called ‘Vedupari’. There is a separate
place in this temple where it is believed that the Lord gave Saint Sundarar
back his valuables (Pon maraithu vaidha idam). Interestingly, the King Cheraman
Perumal who brought Saint Sundarar to this place later became a revered Shiva
devotee occupying a place among the 63 celebrated Nayanmars.
Two Sundarar idols:
Two
Sundarar idols at the entrance of the Lord Shiva’s shrine - one sad and
the other joyous, depicting his state of mind prior to and after the incident.
Lord Shiva’s idol is also there as a Hunter (Veduvan).
People who worshipped here:
Sages
Agasthyar, Markendeyar and Dhurvasar are believed to have worshipped the Lord
here.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
A large stone
Sthupam (Lamp Pillar) is present in front of the temple, as in most of the
Kongu Nadu Shiva temples.
·
Sage Durvasar is
said to have brought the Mullai tree – the Sthala Vriksham from Karpaka Lokam
(Heaven).
·
There is also a
hall in the outer corridor (Prakaram) called Adalvallan Sabha where the Lord is
believed to have performed the “Brahmma Tandava” dance.
·
There are three
springs in the temple - the Shanmuga Theertham, Gnana Theertham and Brahmma
Theertham.
·
Lord Murugan’s
idol inside the sanctum Santorum has six faces and it has the distinguishing
feature of being carved out of a single stone.
·
There is a shallow
well opposite to Lord Vinayagar’s temple. It is believed that once in every 12
years’ water gushes out of this well.
· Just across the road, there is another Shiva temple which houses Sri Madhavaneswarar and Goddess Mangalambika. This temple is considered to be the original Thirumuruganpoondy temple.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Avudainayagar /Sri Thirumuruganathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Avudainayaki / |
|
Theertham |
Shanmuga Theertham, Gnana Theertham, Brahmma
Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Gurukkathi / Mullai |
BELIEF:
It
is believed that devotees can be relieved from mental ailments and can get
respite from the evil effects of curses by worshipping the Lord at this temple.
This
temple is also famous as a Parikara Sthalam for Kethu Dosham and Brahmahathi
Dosham.
It
is also believed that devotees can recover their lost items by reciting Saint
Sundarar’s Pathigam of this temple.
It
is believed that taking a dip in the Shanmuga Theertham grants the boon of
childbirth to the childless couples. It is also said that the Pandya King
Maharadhan performed pooja here and was blessed with twins.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Vedupari Urchavam |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Brahmotsavam |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni Uthiram |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Thai Poosam |
|
Aipasi |
Oct-Nov |
Skanda
Sashti – Soora Samharam |
HOW
TO REACH:
This temple is 45 kms from Coimbatore and 5 kms from Avinashi and Tiruppur. Nearest airport is at Coimbatore.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri
Thirumuruganathaswamy Temple,
Thirumuruganpoondi,
Avinasi-Taluk,
Tiruppur District
Tamil Nadu - 641 652.
LOCATION:
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