Ardharnareeswarar Temple, Tiruchencode
(one of the Kongu Naattu Padal Petra Sthalams)
There are temples which are famous as the abode of Lord Shiva, some for
Lord Vishnu, Some for Shakti and some for Subrahmanya. If there is one which is special for Shiva,
Shakti and Subrahmanya, it is Tiruchencode. Interestingly there is also a temple of Adhi Kesava Perumal
too at this Kshetra.
Located on a large hillock, 20 kms from Erode,
this picturesque hillock (or should call it hill) looking majestic and visible
from a good distance is the temple of Ardhanareeswara at Tiruchencode. While
the Shiva temple is 1260 steps up the mountain, there is also a temple for Lord
Vinayaka at a level even higher than this temple on top of the mountain. You
have nice motorable roads taking you up the hill and the distance of 3 kms up
the mountain passes off like a breeze. But when you look at the land while
driving in the hill-road, you get butterflies in the stomach. Such a lovely but
scary view from the slopes of the mountain.
Even with no roads those days and only the steps to climb, it is amazing
how our people managed to construct such a big temple on top of the hill.
The temple is more than 2000 years old as is evidenced by the
inscriptions in the temple, but God only knows how long it existed, because the
presiding deity Ardhanareeswara is not a man-made structure, but a Swayambhu
Idol.
Ardhanareeswara represents the progressive mind, as the idol embodies
both Shiva and Shakti, the representatives of Man and Woman. Shiva and Shakti
are seen here as one part with the Right side of the (Swayambhu ) idol having a
male form and the left side of the idol having the female form; thus driving a
key point to this world that Men and Women are equal and one cannot exist
without the other.
The language of English also captures this concept beautifully….Man is
contained in Woman, Male in Female, He in She and so on.
The day we went to this temple, there were not many devotees at this
temple as it was a working day, but we are told that on weekends and festive
occasions, you could sight devotees in thousands.
The idol has two distinct halves
and four legs representing two separate forms. Body, head and hands are fused.
As the murthy is Swayambhu (self-made) face is not visible as in a typical
sculpture.
The Idol looks somewhat like the above picture (not the same as this
picture)
The sanctum sanctorum, being inside the hill, is pitch dark and the
Deepa Araadhana alone gives us visibility of the Divine Lord.
There is a spring under the feet of the God which is perennial and the
spring water is offered as the Theertham for the devotees.
Tiruchengode (also known as "Thirukodi mada chengundroor " in
vedic times) has many references in puranas, like Thevaram and Silapathikaram.
In Silapathikaram, Ilango adigal referred Tiruchengode as "Chengodu "
and that "it has numerous holy ponds and enjoys popularity and
prosperity".
This temple has been praised by Thirugnanasambandhar. Great poets and
saints like Arunagirinathar, Ilango adigal, Kaviraja pandithar amongst others
have enlogised this holy place in their divine poems. The idols of Birungi
Munivar and Arunagirinathar are found inside the temple, as, it is said that
they prayed at this temple.
As said earlier, this temple is famous for Shiva-Shakti as well as Lord
Subrahmanya. Arunagiri Nadha has sung in praise of Lord Murugha who is called
Senkottu Velavan.
Many of us may know this verse from Kandhar
Alankaram…
விழிக்குத்
துணைதிரு மென்மலர்ப் பாதங்கள் மெய்ம்மைகுன்றா
மொழிக்குத்
துணைமுரு காவெனு நாமங்கள் முன்புசெய்த
பழிக்குத்
துணையவன் பன்னிரு தோளும் பயந்ததனி
வழிக்குத்
துணைவடி வேலுஞ்செங் கோடன் மயூரமுமே
This verse was composed in Praise of the Lord here
by the great Saint Arunagirinadhar.
An interesting story about the Lord here goes like
this…..
Due to the confusions that took place because of
the (Divine mango) fruit and sibling rivalry, Lord Muruga left Thiru Kayilai,
leaving his parents behind, and stood on top of Thiruvaavinakudi hill
[Pazhani]. He simply did not want to see his parents at all. But from
Pazhani, he was still able to view
Kailayasam from where he stood, he travelled further until his parents
place completely vanished from his line
of vision and reached NaagaChalam on top of Kongu. As he was not able to View
Thiru Kayilai from where he stood, he decided to stay there. This place is none
other than Tiruchencode.
Despite high costs of maintaining a hill temple,
this temple is immaculately maintained with the walls of the temple around the
sanctum looking shiny and clean.
True to a hill temple, we have monkeys by the
dozens and devotees will have to be careful with their belongings.
Lord Murugha here is unique that in this temple his
Vel (spear) is taller than him and he holds a Rooster (Seval) in his left
hand. One may not get to see this sight
anywhere else.
There is also the temple of Adhikesava Perumal to
whom prayers and Poojas are offered as per Vaishanivite tradition.
The shrine of Adi Kesava Perumal is almost a
separate Vaishnava temple within the complex complete with separate kodi maram
and sthala vruksham, the punnai maram. Battars perform puja to Adi Kesava
Perumal and Sri devi, Bhu devi according to Vaishnava tradition.
It is said that Parvati received instructions on
observing Kedara Gowri vrattam from Adi Kesava Perumal, as a result of which
she was united in Shiva as Ardhanareeswara.
This write up may not have captured the temple in
all its greatness and readers are advised to use the materials available in the
TNHRCE site and other sites to know all about the temple.
Interesting Links about the temple:
A must visit temple.
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