Erumbeeswarar Temple

Coordinates: 10°47′34″N 78°46′3″E / 10.79278°N 78.76750°E / 10.79278; 78.76750
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Erumbeeswarar Temple
Trichy
DeityErumbeeswarar(Shiva) Narun Kuzhal Nayagi (
Parvathi)
Location
LocationThiruverumbur
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Erumbeeswarar Temple is located in Tamil Nadu
Erumbeeswarar Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates10°47′34″N 78°46′3″E / 10.79278°N 78.76750°E / 10.79278; 78.76750
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
Website
http://erumbeeswararkovil.in

Erumbeeswarar Temple in

nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam
.

The temple is one in a series built by

Brahmotsavam (prime festival) is attended by thousands of devotees from far and near.[3]
Every full moon, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Erumbeeswarar by circumambulating the hill barefoot in a practice called girivalam. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Etymology

a precinct inside a temple with shrine at the end
The shrine of Narunguzhal Nayagi Amman inside the temple complex

According to Hindu legend, there lived a demon (

Kailash (the abode of Shiva) of South India.[2]

History

Erumbeeswarar temple in its current form was built by the

Sundara Chola (957-970 CE) period indicate gift of land to maintain four signs of Tirupadigam.[8] One another inscription indicates the donation of ten kalanchu (a measure) of gold to the deity by a temple woman in the year 875 CE.[1][9]
A king by name Siruthavur Sembian Veithi Velan from Kiliyurnadu is believed to have constructed the vimana (structure over the sanctum).[5] The temple was the only temple that Malik Kafur (1296-1316 CE) could not conquer in 1311 CE, during his South Indian expedition.[2] The temple is a declared monument of the Archaeological Survey of India on account of the inscriptions in the temple.[10] During the war between British and French during 1752, the temple acted as an infantry for the French troops.[5][11] In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[12]

Architecture

square temple tank as seen from top of the hill
The temple tank in the foothills of the temple

Erumbeeswarar temple is located atop a 60 feet (18 m) hill with a flight of granite steps to the top. Since the temple is atop a hill, it is locally called "Malai Kovil" (meaning hill temple). The temple complex has two

Dakshinamurthy (god of knowledge), Durga (warrior-goddess) and Chandikeswarar (a saint and devotee of Shiva). The central image of Erumbeeswarar is made of mud mound and is referred by other names like Erumbeesar, Mathuvaneswarar, Manikoodalachapathi, Piplikesvarar and Manickanathar. The inscriptions in the temple refer Erumbeeswarar as Thirumalai Alwar, Thiruverumbur Alwar and Thiruverumburudaya Nayanar. The shrine of the consort-goddess Narunguzhal Nayagi Amman, facing south, is in the second precinct of the temple. The second precinct is surrounded by granite walls. Narunguzhal Nayagi Amman is referred by other names like Sugantha Kuzhalal, Soundra Nayagi, Madhuvaneswari and Rathnambal.[5]

The path around the foothills, called Girivalam Path, is 20 ft (6.1 m) wide and 900 m (3,000 ft) long. The construction and beautification of the path was carried out by the Tourism department of the government of Tamil Nadu in 2011.[3] The temple has a garden maintained by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL, Trichy).[13]

Worship and festivals

The temple tower of the temple
The Rajagopuram - the gateway tower of the temple

The temple priests perform the

Mahashivaratri and Pournami Girivalam. Every full moon, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Erumbeeswarar by circumambulating the hill barefoot. The circumambulation covers the circumference of the hill, and is referred as girivalam.[3][5][14]

Literary mention

The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of

Thiruvasakam. Tiruverumbiyur Puranam is a religious work that describes the religious history of the temple. Ramalinga Swamigal (1823-74 CE) has revered Erumbeeswarar and the temple in his religious work, Thiruvarutpa.[5]

Gallery

  • Malaikovil Front View
    Malaikovil Front View
  • Rajagopuram at Erumbeeshwarar Temple
    Rajagopuram at Erumbeeshwarar Temple
  • Narungulal Nayagi Amman Gopuram
    Narungulal Nayagi Amman Gopuram
  • Teppakkulam Top View
    Teppakkulam Top View
  • Tamil Sculptures in Erumbeeswarar Temple
    Tamil Sculptures in Erumbeeswarar Temple
  • Erumbeeswarar Temple Corridor
    Erumbeeswarar Temple Corridor
  • Ruined Area of Erumbeeswarar Temple
    Ruined Area of Erumbeeswarar Temple

Notes

  1. ^ a b Orr 2004, p. 65
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-81-908569-0-4
    .
  3. ^ a b c d "Encroachments around Sri Erumbeeswarar Temple removed". The Hindu. 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  4. ISBN 81-206-0151-3
    .
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Thirukoyil". 1. 15. Hindu Religious And Endowment Board Tamil Nadu. January 2013: 42–43. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)[permanent dead link]
  6. ISBN 81-208-1937-3
    .
  7. ISBN 81-206-0574-8
    .
  8. ISBN 81-260-2171-3
    .
  9. ^ Orr 2004, p. 144
  10. ^ "List of Ancient Monument and Archeological Sites and Remains of Chennai and Tiruchur Circle". ASI. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  11. ISBN 9788120618893
    .
  12. ^ "Arulmigu Erumbeeswar Kovil". Hindu Religious and Endowment Board, Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Trichy Tourism - A land of tradition". Tamil Nadu Government. Tamil Nadu Government. 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  14. ISBN 978-1-57859-209-8
    .
  15. ISBN 9781684666041
    .
  16. ^ a b Swamigal, Tirunavukkarasu. "Tevaram Of Tirunavukkaracu Cuvamikal Tirumurai 5 part - 2 Poems(510-516)" (PDF). projectmadurai.org. pp. 33–34. Retrieved 13 December 2011.

References

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erumbeeswarar Temple, Thiruverumbur.
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