Arulmigu amanalingeswarar temple

Overview

Sri Mahadevar (Irattai Appan) temple is located in the city of Peruvanam, Trissur, Kerala and is about 2000-3000 years old.

About the temple

This temple is supposed to be very old and famous. The three - fold faces of the God are called Ayan, Aran and Aari. The name Amana means the one who is unblamed. The three - fold functions of the deity here are creating, safeguarding and destroying. Thirumoorthy Temple is situated at the foot of the Thirumoorthy hills or Thirumoorthy hills adjoining the Thirumoorthy dam. The scenic beauty of the Anamalai hill range of Western Ghats includes the cascading water to the Thirumoorthy reservoir from the Panchalingam Falls. A perennial stream flows by the side of the Sri Amalingeswarar temple. The presiding deity is called ammlingeshwara. Thirumoorthy Hills is located about 50 kilometers from Pollachi and 20 kilometers from Udumalaipet. Amanalingeswarar Temple, Panchalingam Falls and Thirumoorthy Dam are located on the foothills of Thirumoorthy Mountains. Thousands of tourists arrive here every day as these places are en-route to Munnar. Amaravthy Dam and Amaravathy Crocodile farm are also located nearby.

To reach Panchalingam falls, one must climb up for about 2 kilometers. Several movies have been shot in this area. Few notable ones are: Mettukudi and Kannan Varuvan starring Karthik, Jeyam Ravi and others.

About the Deity

The principal Deities are Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma

Other Deities

Sri Sundara Ganapathi , Sri Balasubramanian

Legend and stories

It is believed that a few thousand years ago Athari Maharishi along with his wife Anusuya Devi lived here. Sage Narada praised Anusuya's "pativratyam" (Devotion to husband) a lot before the wives of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva making them jealous of her. They requested their husbands to reduce her pativratyam. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva went to Anusuya as guests when Athari was not there at home and asked her to serve them food. When she agreed to do so, they said that they will accept her alms on the condition that she serves them without wearing clothes. Anusuya falls into a dilemma. If she comes without clothes in front of other men her pativratyam will be reduced. If she refuses then that is dishonor to the guests and they can take away all the power of Athari.

Anusuya felt that the three guests who asked such a strange favour are not normal people since they are trying to place her in a tricky situation. Anusuya prayed to her husband in her mind and said that she doesn't have any fear serving them without clothes as she is not affected by lust. Since the guests asked for alms saying "Bhavati Bhiksham Dehi" (Oh Mother! Give us some food) and indirectly called her a mother. She decided that she will consider them as her children and serve them as requested. Because of her greatness and as per her thinking by the time she came to serve food the three gods became small children and her breasts started producing milk. She then breastfed them and put them to sleep in a cradle. Athari came back afterwards and hearing the story from Anusuya praised the three gods sleeping in the cradle. They woke up in their original form and praised Anusuya's pativratyam and gave her a boon. Anusuya requested that these three should be born as her children—the incarnation of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma as sage Durvasa, Dattatreya and the moon-god Chandra. Also, on seeing the power of devoting Anushiya Devi, the Thiru Moorthi's blessed the couple and hence the place is known as Thiru Moorthi hills. It has an old temple with beautiful setting and some rare sculptures with a spacious front hall. It is also believed that Jain priests or Samanar lived in the hills when Jainism flourished in Tamil Nadu. The huge rock which is worshiped as Thirumoorthy has a sculpture of a Jain priest. A popular belief is that this rock rolled down from the hills few centuries back during a flood. This is supported by the fact that sculpture is carved upside down on rock.

Festivals

Mahashivarathiry festival celebrated in this temple ,Every tamil month of "masi" Theypirai sathurthi thithi(at moon depreciating eve).At this festival day ,the devotee's are fast ,and they avoid sleping and pray the lord. In the tamil month of Aadi,at new moon day,the volunteers are come and take bath at Thono river.Similarly ,Tamil new year day Aadi perukku,and every new moon day the devotee's are together and pray the lord.

Four pujas are performed on Mahashivarathri day in February-March. The devotee crowd is usually huge on Aadi new moon day (Aadi Amavasya in July August), Thai new moon day-Thai Amavasya- in January-February, Mahalaya Amavasay-new moon day in Purattasi in September-October. Special pujas on Sundays at 12.30 p.m. and special pujas in Aavani Sundays in August-September and annual abishek days in August are the festive days in the temple.

Significance

It is believed that those waiting for a child should bathe in the holy spring, worship the Saptha Kannikas for the purpose. Those having rashes or scars in the face (called Maru in Tamil) are advised to bathe in Thoni river and put salt and pepper in the river.

Accessibility

It is situated 50 Kms from Pollachi and 20 kms from Udumalpet on the highway from Palani to Coimbatore. Thirumoorthy temple is situated at the foot of the hill adjacent to Thirumoorthy Dam. Importance of this temple is three Moorthy Idols originate in same place.

Road

It is also connected to all the important cities and places of interest by road.

Rail

PALANI Railway Station - 39.21 kms
COIMBATORE JN Railway Station - 63.59 kms

Air

Coimbatore International Airport - 65.0 distance from Pollachi

Address

Arulmigu Amanalingeswarar Thirukoil
Thirumoorthy Malai
Udumalpet.