Tiruchengode
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Tiruchengode (तिरुचेनगोड) is a City located in Erode district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is famous for the ancient hilltop temple of Ardhanāreeshwara, dedicated to the unique combined male-female form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The equally famous Chenkottu Velavar Temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, is situated on the same hill.
Variants
- Tiruchchenagoda (तिरुच्चेनगोड) (जिला सेलम, मद्रास) (AS, p.401)
- Tiruchengode
- Thirukodimaadachenkundrur
- Thiruchengottankudi Nageswaram
Location
Tiruchengode is in northwestern part of Tamil Nadu, approximately 20 km from the City of Erode, 46 km from Salem, and 120 km from Coimbatore.
History
In ancient days, Tiruchengode was known as Thirukodimaadachenkundrur - one of the historic places in Tamil Nadu. It was also known as Thiruchengottankudi Nageswaram. It enshrines the Ardhanareeswarar (man-woman) manifestation of Shiva, representing the unity of Shiva and Parvati, is enshrined in this revered hill temple of great significance, accessible by a motorable road; this is an ancient temple mentioned in the Tamil work, Silappadikaram as Neduvelkunru. The red color of the hill is the reason that it was called Chengode. The image above, shows the view of the surrounding area from the top of the Tiruchengode hill. This temple is regarded as the 4th of the 7 Tevara Stalams in the Kongu Region of Tamil Nadu.
It is believed that Kannagi (Silappathikaram), after demolishing the city of Madurai by fire is called to Sorgam (Heaven) by her husband Kovalan and is in a wrath at the peak of the Tiruchengode hill.
The modern history of Tiruchengode includes many memorable events. Eminent leaders like Rajaji, EVR Periar, T.S. Pattabiraman, T.M.Kaliyannan Gounder and EVK Sampath are bound to this town.
Tiruchengode has the pride of having the country's first Gandhi Ashram a tribute to India's great leader Mahatma Gandhi and opened by country's then viceroy Rajaji (Rajagopalachari).
तिरुच्चेनगोड
विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[1] ने लेख किया है ...तिरुच्चेनगोड (AS, p.401) तमिलनाडु राज्य के मद्रास (वर्तमान चेन्नई) में स्थित है। यहाँ नागाचल पर्वत पर अर्ध-नारीश्वर भगवान शिव का प्रसिद्ध मंदिर है। मंदिर के मंडप पर उच्चकोटि की मूर्तिकारी प्रदर्शित है।
मंदिर की मुख्य मूर्ति 5 फीट ऊँची है। माना जाता है कि इस मूर्ति को सिद्धों ने औषधीय मिश्रण से तैयार किया था। मंदिर की मुख्य संरचना सातवीं शताब्दी की मानी जाती है। सोलहवीं और सत्रहवीं शताब्दी के दौरान यहां विभिन्न मंडपों को बनवाया गया।[2]