ABOUT ARTHANARESWARA TEMPLE, TIRUCHENGODE

Kongu Nadu in Tamil Nadu abounds in temples and one of the famous temples is Tiruchengode Arthanareeswarar temple. It is about 55kms from Salem and 20kms from Erode. Let us peep into its puranic lore.

Presiding deity - Arthanareeswarar

PURANIC LORE

AadhiSesha and Vayu wanted to establish their supremacy and wished to find out as to who was superior. They entered into a race to test as to who was the winner. Aadhi sesha pressed the peak of Mount Meru and Vayu tried to loosen Aadis Sesha's hold on the peak. In the ensuing battle the universe trembled and the celestial beings trembled with fear. They requested Aadhi Sesha to relent. At this juncture Aadhi Sesha loosened his grip over the mountain and Vayu tightened his hold on the mountain. Due to this a peak of the peaks collided with one of the hoods of Aadhi Sesha and the peak was blanketed in blood. As a result the peak disintegrated into three parts and fell in the following places -in Srilanka, Tiruvannamalai and Thiruchengode.

It took the shape of a mountain in Tiruchengode.

GENESIS OF THE TEMPLE

Sage Bringhi wanted to worship Lord Shiva at first without worshipping the Goddess. Thus he took the form of a bee and flew to the abode of Shiva-Mount Kailash and circumambulated the Lord alone. Angered by his action the Goddess eliminated Shakthi from his body. The sage became weak and helpless. He swooned and fell down.

Shiva took pity on him and bestowed him with a third leg and explained the divine powers of the celestial couple Shiva and Shakthi and gave him darshan as Ardhanareeswarar ( half man half woman) in this hallowed spot. There is a statue of Sage Bringhi inside the sanctum sanctorum.

BRAHMA ABSOLVED OF HIS SIN

Brahma bluffed that he saw the lengthy Jatamudi of Shiva.As a result he lost one of his heads. Lord Shiva cursed him that there should be no temple dedicated to Brahma. In order .to absolve of his sin he visited Thiruchengode and worshipped Arthanareeswarar.