Dedicated to Hindu God Shiva, Sugavaneswarar
Temple at Salem
in Tamil Nadu is a 500-year-old temple spread over two acres of land in the
heart of Salem
town. The Rajaganapathy temple and the Kashi Vishwanathar
Temple Manimuthar
River
The main murti of Shiva in the temple is believed to have
been worshipped by Suka Muni, Kamadhenu and Adi Sesha. The temple is also
associated with saint poetess Avvaiyar. Goddess Parvati is worshipped in a
separate shrine as Swarnambigai, Maragathavalli and Patchivalli.
Legends of Sugavaneswarar Temple at Salem
Legend has it that the temple was one among the five temples
visited by Bheema, the second of the Pandava Brothers.
The temple and the place is known as Sukha Vanam as Suka
Rishi worshipped the Shivling;
The place is believed to have offered redemption to Devas
for their various sins and so it is known as Papanasam;
The place is known as Patteshwaram as Kamadhenu worshiped
the Shivling.
The place is also known as Nageshwaram as Adi Shesha
worshipped here.
A unique aspect of the temple is that the position of Rahu
and Chevvai (Mangal) are interchanged in the Navgraha murtis worshipped in the
temple.
The temple has numerous minor deities that are worshipped
outside the main sanctum sanctorum. They are Maheshwari, Goumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi,
Mahenthiri, Chamunda, Valanpuri Vinayagar, Irattai Vinayagar, Ayyappan, Saptha
Kannigas, 63 Nayanmars.Dakshinamurti, Bootha Lingams, Saraswathi, Gajalakshmi,
Muruga, Valli and Devayani
Apart from Shivratri, the Aavani month Vinayaka Chaturthi is
an important festival in the temple.
Is from Morning 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
The most important pujas are held at
Early Morning: 6:00 AM
Morning: 9:00 AM
Before noon: 11:00 AM
Evening: 5:30 PM
Night: 8:00 PM
Early Morning: 6:00 AM
Morning: 9:00 AM
Before noon: 11:00 AM
Evening: 5:30 PM
Night: 8:00 PM
The temple is located in Salem Town in Tamil Nadu