Sangameswara Temple

The main gopuram, of five tiers, stands to the north. Next to the tower is the Nandi Mandapa with a fine Nandi, and beyond it the sanctum of Adikesava Perumal, who stands with his consorts on either side. The ornate Venugopala to the left of this shrine was installed by the King of Mysore. The mandapa of Adikesava carries sculptures of scenes from the Ramayana.

In the Thayar Sannidhi are sculptures of Seetharama seated, with Hanuman at his feet doing bhajan with cymbals in his hands, carved on the pillars. There is also an image of a creature with tiger legs and an elephant head carrying a veena. Further south is the shrine of Vedanayaki Ambikai, whose east-facing idol is very realistic and looks compassionate. In the Nirudda Mandapa, ten pillars carry the Saiva saints and devotees.

Another shrine holds the dancing Surahareswara, with three heads, three hands and three legs, a god held to cure fever. Sangameswara stands to the south of the temple. Outside are the shrines of Gayathri Linga, Sahasra Linga and Amuda Linga, the last a swayambhu, self-manifesting. In the Amman Sannidhi are two identical statues: poured with water or milk, one seems to smile and the other to cry, such is the sculptor's skill.

Inscriptions name the deity here as Thirugnana Vudayar and his consort as Vedanayaki, Vedavalli or Ponnar Mozhi Ammai. An ivory cot was offered to Vedanayaki bearing the inscription, 'Presented to the Goddess Sangameswara Vedanayaki by William Garrow in 1804'. The temple has been heavily renovated and is today important chiefly as a pilgrim centre.

Bhavani is one of the seven Padal Petra Sthalas of Kongu Nadu, sixteen kilometres from Erode, and is known as Dakshina Prayag. It is also called Kooduthurai, for here three rivers, the Kaveri, the Bhavani and the underground Amuda, mingle. Saint Sambandar refers to the place as Tiru Nana, Nananvur. It is also named Panchagiri Madhya Pradesam, being set among five hills: Sangagiri, Nagagiri, Mangalagiri, Vedagiri and Padmagiri.

It is believed that worshipping the Amuda Linga will beget children. Sambandar has sung hymns on Sangameswara, and Arunagiri Nadhar on the Subramanya of this temple.

Early in the nineteenth century the Collector, William Garrow, was building a mansion near the northern gate. One night he dreamt of a little girl asking him to come out of his bedroom at once. He came out and was shocked to see the ceiling falling and the room in ruins. When he looked for the girl, no one was there. He believed it was Vedanayaki who had saved him, and he made three holes in the temple wall so as to see the Goddess from his house each day.