Bhavani, Tamil Nadu - Sangameswarar Temple

Sangameswarar Temple

History
According to Hindu legends, Kubera, son of Visirava (Visrava) was gifted with an aircraft in recognition of his devotion to Lord Shiva. While visiting all the Shiva temples at various places in the country, he saw an Ilandhai Jujube tree on the banks of the Cauvery river where the deer, tiger, cow, elephant, snake and the rat were drinking water without any sign of enmity among them. It was a place inhabited by holy men, gandharvas and such good people. Kubera heard a voice from the sky saying that the Vedas came to the earth at this place near the Ilandhai tree and that there was a Shivalinga beneath it and advised him to worship the Lord and reap the benefits. The Lord "Shiva" thereafter appeared before Kubera. At his request, the Lord also is named Alagesan.

This is the place where rivers Cauvery, Bhavani and Amirtha (invisible) meet. People perform rites here to satisfy their departed elders.

The other speciality in Bhavani is that when dead bodies are burnt, the skulls do not scatter as generally found in graveyards at other places. It is said that that this is because there are 1008 Sivalingas under the earth.

For cure from high fever, people offer rice prepared with pepper and jeeragam to the Lord and get cured. Besides these prayer offerings, people also come here for removal of obstacles to marriage etc.

There are heavy crowds here during new moon days and the 18th day of the Adi Tamil month (July–August). Devotees offer pujas to Mother Cauvery with coconut, fruits, flowers, earrings made of palm leaves, black pearls etc. It is a scene of great delight. Also, those who bathe in the confluence spot of Cauvery and Bhavani rivers during the Solar and Lunar Eclipse are said to attain salvation. They offer fine clothing to the Lord and the Goddess.

It is also believed that performing pujas and offering donation for righteous causes ensure the devotee with manifold benefits.

The Ilandhai tree in the temple yields sweet fruits offered to the Lord each day during puja times. Women seeking boon for begetting a child, consume the fruits and become fertile.

The Amirthalingeswarar in the temple is placed on a seat called Avudayar according to Saiva principles. It is a mobile one that can be removed and placed on the seat again. Men and women seeking boons for children take the Sivalinga, perform puja and walk around it for three times and place it back on the Avudayar. The Amirthalinga is in the southern entrance of the temple. The other names of the Lord here are Alagesan, Sangamanathar, Maruthulingam, Vakreswara, Nattatriwara and Thirunannavudayar.

The Goddess Vedanayaki is also known as Sangameswari, Bhavani Amman, Maruthunayaki and Vakreswari. It is said that the four Vedas came into being on this soil.

The holy waters of Bhavani are known as Cauvery theertham, Bhavani & Amirtha River, Surya theertham and Gayatri theertham. The temple is situated at the confluence spot of the Cauvery and Bhavani rivers, known as Kooduthurai. Of the seven holy Shiva centers of the Kongu Region, Bhavani is one. The scriptural name is Thirunana.

Reputation
As the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswathi are revered as Triveni Sangamam of the North, Bhavani is the Triveni Sangamam of the South with the confluence of rivers Cauvery, Bhavani and Amirtha. Lord Muruga is seated in between the Lord Shiva and the Goddess Vedanayaki in the temple. His posture is known as Somaskanthamurthy. Arunagiriyar in his Thirupugazh sang praises about this Lord Muruga. As the temple is in a pleasant environment on the banks of the three rivers, it is also a tourist center. Saint Thirugnanasambandar also sang praises of the Lord. The Goddess is praised in Pillaithamizh literature.

Festivals
The 13 days Car festival in the Tamil Month Chithirai (April–May) is the most famous in the temple attracting lakhs of devotees. Also on Adiperukku day, Ammavasyas, especially Thai Ammavasya, eclipse days are devotionally followed in the Bhavani temple by taking bath in the rivers and performing rites. Devotees from other states also come in large numbers during November and December months corresponding to Tamil Karthikai and Margazhi. During the Sabari mala season, lots of devotees come and do pujas in this temple, on their way to Kerala. Special pujas are performed to the Lord and Goddess on English and Tamil New Year days, Pongal and Deepavali days. The annual Bhrammotsavam here is celebrated in the month of Aadi (Cancer).

Accessibility
Bhavani is 11 km from Erode, 101 km from Coimbatore, 58 km from Salem and 40 km from Mettur. Transport facilities are readily available as Bhavani lies on the Erode - Mettur highway.

The nearest railway station is Erode Junction 15 km and the nearest airport is at Coimbatore.

Description
This Shivastalam, is a shrine at the confluence of Bhavani, Kaveri & Amrutavahini (Mukkoodal). It is believed that no evil will befall those who visit here (known as "Teemai nannaa ooru", hence "Tirunanaa"). Other Sanskrit names associated with this shrine are Dakshinaprayag, Dakshinabadri and Triveni Sangamam. This shrine is surrounded by the 5 hill shrines of the area such as Sankagiri, Tiruchengode, Padmagiri, Mangalagiri and Vedagiri. This temple is regarded as the 3rd of the 7 Thevara Stalams in the Kongu Region of Tamil Nadu.

Legends
Kuberan, Rama, Arjuna, Viswamitrar and Parasarar are said to have worshipped here. Legend goes that the remnants of the celestial nectar which came out of the milky ocean was buried here by Parasarar; who was protected from the demons by virtue of his devotion to Shiva; the remnants of the nectar turned into the Shivalingam.

The Temple
A shrine to Lord Subramanyar (Muruga) is situated between the Shiva and Ambal shrines; there is also an image of Jwarahareswarar in this temple. This temple covers a 4-acre (16,000 m2) area and it owns an ivory palanquin which was gifted by a European collector in the 19th century.