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Sri
Vasavi Kannika Parameswari Amman Temple
This temple, situated in Vysial Street is dedicated to Goddess Sri Vasavi (an
incarnation of mother Goddess). The Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the
temple is unique in many ways. It is made of ruby red granite in three dimensional
Khalasam (celestial vessel) . Apart from the main deity, the temple houses the
deity of Lord Rama with Devi Sita, Sri Lakshman, Sri Hanuman, Sri Raja rajeswari,
Sri Murugan, Sri Ganesh and Navagrahas. The temple is open from
6 am to 5 pm; but will kept closed at noon. Navarathri festival that falls in
the month of September is celebrated here with much enthusiasm.
Perur
Patteeswara Swamy Temple
Located 6 km towards the west of Coimbatore on the Siruvani road, Perur Patteeswara
Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Here the presiding deity is known as
'Patteeswarar' and his consort Goddess Parvati is known by the name 'Panchanayaki'.
Perur temple is closely related to Shiva’s cosmic dance and the 'Swayambu Lingam'
is the idol worshipped here. This ancient temple stands on the banks of the
holy river Noyyal called 'Kanchi Manadi' by the locals is one of the best known
Shivastalams of the Kongu region. The temple is also known by the name Arulmigu
Patteswarar Thirukoil.
Perur temple is a unique blend of fine sculpture and exquisite
architecture. There is a legend behind the construction of this temple. According
to that, a calf of Kamadhenu while playing in the Arasu trees forest hit on
a hard object and blood gushed out from it. Later a sacred ‘Siva Lingam’ was
discovered from that place which led to built a temple here. The Garba
graha, i.e the sanctum sanctorum that enshrine Lord shiva in the form of Shivalingam
is believed to be built by the Chola monarch, Karikala Cholan. Chola,
Hoysala and Vijayanagara rulers have gave architectural contributions to this
temple during their time in power. Images of Kamadhenu and Bhoga Shakti are
enshrined in the walls of the sanctorum. The inner circumambulatory passage
that surrounds the sanctum sanctorum has images of 63 Saivite saints, Sahasra
Lingam, Bhairavar, Surya and Chandra.
The major attraction of the temple is the Kanaka Sabha or the
‘golden hall’, supposed to be built in the 17th century by the ruler Alagadri
Nayaka of Madurai. It is exquisitely garnished with a gold plated statue of
Nataraja showering blessings upon two sages namely Gowmuni and Pattimuni. The
gopurams and pillars of the hall have beautifully carved out sculptures highlighting
the Dravidian architecture.
At the entrance, the temple has prominent figures of the Indian
soldiers. Holy palm tree Irava Panai (the deathless palm) and a holy Tamarind
called Pirava Pule (the unborn Tamarind) can be seen within the temple compound.
Pilgrim from all over visit this temple to pay homage to their ancestors, as
it is believed that after about 144 days the mortal remains of the dead turn
in to white stones. On the bank of the temple tank, there are two additional
temples to Shiva and one of these temple is known as Arasambalavaanar temple.
Besides these, there are also shrines dedicated to Bhairavar and Nataraja.
Perur temple celebrates the festival 'Panguni Uthiram'
in its full spirit during the month of March. The annual temple festival is
celebrated in the tamil month of Pankuni. During September, Perur Natyanjali
dance festival is held where dance programs by leading artistes are hosted within
the precincts of the temple. Chitrai (Tamil New Year), Aadi (Pooram and Ammavasai),
Purattasi (Navarathri), Ayppasi (Soora Samharam), Karthigai (ThiruKarthigai),
Margazhi (Aarudra Dharisanam), Panguni (Uthram) are some of the auspicious occasions
celebrated in the temple.
The temple is kept open for worship from 05.00AM to 12.00 PM
and 03.00 PM to 08.00 PM.
Contact Address :
Arulmigu Patteswarar Thirukoil
Siruvani Main Road, Perur, Coimbatore - 641 010
Phone: 0422 2607991
Marudhamalai
Murugan Temple
Dedicated to Lord Murugan, Marudhamalai Murugan Temple located on a scenic hillock
at a height of 600 feet, is about 12 Kms from Coimbatore railway station. Murugan
in the form of Dhandayuthapani is enshrined in the sanctum and worshipped. Marudhamalai
Hills also known as Marundhumalai is abound with shrubs and bushes of medicinal
properties. Due to this, the holy shrine is said to have miracle power to get
rid of both physical and mental afflictions and attachments.
The name Marudhamalai has a legendary origin and according
to that, a siddha overcome by tiredness, take shelter under the shade of a Marudha
tree and pray to God to help him to quench his thirst. Suddenly water sprinted
out from the roots of the tree and leaped in joy, the saint worship Muruga as
the Lord of Marudhajalapathi. With the passage of time, the place came
to known as Marudhachalapati and later marudhamalai.
On the south east slope of the temple, there is a shrine called
'Pambati Siddhar Cave'. It is said that a snake charmer who became a Siddha
used this cave for worshipping Lord Muruga and attained salvation. A naturally
formed rock image of a snake is a prominent feature of this temple. There are
two springs on the hill namely 'Marudha Thirtam' and 'Pambatti Sunai' which
is believed to cure a number of diseases.
Apart from Thaipoosam and Thirukarthigai falls in the month
of January and February, other festivals like Navarathri, Aadipperukku, Tamil
New Year, Vaikasi Car festival, Karthigai Deepam, Margali pooja and Aruthira
Darisanam are also celebrated here. Temple is opened from 6 am to 1 pm and 2pm
to 8.30 pm. Daily four different poojas are conducted here.
Contact Address:
Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Thirukoil, Marudhamalai, Coimbatore-641046
Phone: 0422 2422490
Eachanari
Vinayagar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Vinayaka, Echanari \/inayagar temple is located about 13 km
away from Coimbatore on the way to Pollachi. Dated back to 1500 AD, it is considered
as one of the oldest temple in the city. The idol of the deity is one of the
biggest in South India with a height and width of 6 feet and 3 feet respectively.
It is believed that the moolavar (deity) was actually taken from Madurai to
be installed at Perur Patteshwarar temple. But on its way, it got struck at
Eachanari and the place became blessed by installing the deity.
Contact Address:
Arulmigu Echanari \/inayagar Thirukoil,
Pollachi Main Road, Coimbatore - 641 021
Phone: 0422-2672000
Dhyanalinga
Temple
Situated at the foothills of Velliangiri Mountains, 30 km west of Coimbatore,
Dhyanalinga temple offers a spiritual seed of enlightenment through yoga. Dhyanalinga
temple is not associated with any religion and does not ascribe to any particular
belief or faith. Measuring 13' 9", Dhyanalinga is the largest mercury based
live linga in the world which is consecrated by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, a realized
master, mystic and yogi. It is housed in an elliptical dome measuring 33 ft
from the ground level and has a diameter of 76 ft at the bottom. The temple
is the only structure of its kind built using brick and mud mortar stabilized
with lime, sand, alum and herbal additives. The Temple is open to all from 6
am to 8 pm on all days.
Contact Address:
Dhyanalinga Temple
Isha Yoga Center, Semmedu (P.O), Coimbatore 641 114
Phone: 0422-2615345
E-mail : Contact
Velliyangiri
Temple
The beautiful Velliyangiri is located on the way to Siruvani on the sacred Velliyangiri
hill in the western ghats at a distance of 40kms from Coimbatore. It is one
among the five hills symbolically representing the five different faces of Lord
Shiva. It is only in this temple that the devotees can have the darshan of Panchalinga.
During May, the pilgrims trek to the top of the hill from Maha Shivaratri to
Agninakshatram period.
Avinashi
Lingeswarar Temple
Avinashi Lingeswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the celebrated
Shaivite temple, located 40 km away from Coimbatore and 5 km from Tiruppur.
The word Avinashi means indestructible and the sanctum sanctorum of the presiding
deity stands as the indestructible force here. Dating back to the 15th century,
this temple believed to be built by Sundarapandiya is regarded as the first
of the 7 Thevaram Sthalams in the Kongu region. The temple is also known by
the names, Karunaiyaaththaal temple and Dakshina Varanasi.
The temple has some exquisite stone carvings and inscriptions.
Several inscriptions reveal that the Cholas, Pandyas and the Hoysalas have made
extensive endowments to the temple. The temple has 2 prakarams (ramparts) and
the inner prakaram is adorned with Navaranga Mandapam. There is a separate shrine
for Goddess Karunambika (Ambal) which is located to the right of the main sanctum.
It is believed that worshipping the scorpion symbol sculpted behind the Goddess,
one will get relief from the fear of poisonous bites, bad dreams etc.
Earlier known as Pikkoigul, the place has a history that is
closely related to Shiva saint Sundaramoorthy Nayanar. The saint on his way
to Tiruvanchikulam is said to have miraculously rescued a boy from the clutches
of a crocodile, in a tank called Tamaraikkulam. On the shore of tank, there
is a shrine dedicated to the saint and this event is commemorated during the
'Mudalai Vaai Pillai' Utsavam on Panguni Uththiram.
Several festivals are celebrated here. One among them is the
12 day long Brahmotsavam held in the month of Chittirai (mid April - mid May).
This festival symbolizes the penance of Brahma on Lord shiva and the holy padhiri
tree in the temple compound blossoms only during this festival. The car festival,
conducted during the month of Chithirai called the Chithirai Thiruvizha, is
celebrated with great pomp and pageantry. The temple's car is known for its
fine wooden carvings and it is one of the biggest cars in South India.
Avinashi Lingeswarar Temple is opened from 5:00 am to 1:00
pm and from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The temple is protected as a monument by the
Archeological survey of India.
Masani
Amman Kovil
The highly revered shrine Arulmigu Masani Amman temple alias Anaimali Masani
Amman temple, situated between Pollachi (15 km south- west) and Palakkad, is
about 45kms from Coimbatore. The temple is nestled amidst emerald grassland
interlaced with criss-cross pathways and rivulets against the backdrop of Anaimalai
Hills at the joining of Aliyar River and the Uppar stream.
Goddess Arulmigu Masani is the presiding deity here with four
hands of which two of them are placed on the ground and two are raised above
and the 15 feet high idol is seen in a lying posture. The two right hands of
the deity hold a skull and a snake while the left hands hold a tiny drum and
a trident. Apart from the main deity, Neethi Kal and Mahamuniappan are other
deities worshipped here. Neethi Kal is a stone image in the temple representing
the Goddess of justice with the body of a serpent. It is believed that by applying
grinded red chilly paste on this deity, the lost valuables of the devotees will
be restored.
Legend has it that, Lord Ram stayed in a graveyard here while
he was wandering in search of Sita. The temple is always crowded with devotees,
especially women, during Tuesdays and Fridays. The 18 day long annual temple
festival named 'Kundam Thiruvizha' commence with flag hoisting on the new moon
day of the Tamil Month Thai.
Contact Address:
Arulmigu Masani Amman Temple,
Anaimalai - 642104, Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore District. Tamilnadu
Ph : (04253) 282337
E-mail : Contact
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