- Sri Sukavaneswarar Temple:
Sri Sukavaneswarar temple is in Salem Town. It is about 2kms from bus stand. The temple is as old as thousand years.
Main Deity is Lord Siva in Lingam form known a Sukavaneswarar and his consort known as Sri Swarnambikai Amman. In this temple, Lingam portion is little slanting and there is a cut on the top of Lingam. Swarnambikai Amman in standing posture is seen in separate sanctum.
Sukahabrahma Rishi worshiped Lord Siva of this place in the form of a parrot and he was blessed hence, Lord Siva is known as Sukavaneswarar here. There is a metal urchava Vigraham of Sukavaneswarar in the main temple of Lord Siva near Natarajar..
Other deities seen in the temple are Irrattai Vinaykar, in separate sanctum. Purana says Ovvayaar worshiped Vinayakar of this temple and left for Kailayam. We see Ovular idol in the sanctum.
Sthala Vruksham is Padri.
There is a separate sanctum for Subramanyar.We see sculptures of Arupadai veedu Murugan on outer wall.
Other deities like Duragai, Dakshina Moorthy, Chandikeswarar and Navagraham are seen in the temple. We see Somaskandar utsava vigraham on Rishba Vahan mounted to temple chariot,which is kept in a room closed with shutter. They open the shutter only during Aarthi time during pooja hour. They close with a screen and shutter is dropped.
Though we were just few steps away from the shutter we missed the darshan of Somaskandar on Rishba vahanam. As we are alien to this place we never knew the shutter will be kept open for neyvedyam and Aarthy.
We were fortunate enough to have the darshan of Somaskandar on our next day visit to temple.
There is a small sanctum for Bairavar to the corner of the temple. They temple premises is kept clean and neat. We came to know they perform pooja, four times in a day. The temple was crowded with devotees.
We find Raghu and Chandaran have changed their place in the Navagraha sanctum which is unusual. By worshiping Navagraha here, one is blessed with good job and good life partner.
Sthala purana :
Once Brahma was describing about the difference in each of his creations. Sukha Muni,who heard this, conveyed it to Saraswathy. Brahma cursed Sukha muni to become a parrot. Sukar had to worship Lord Sivaand get rid of his curse. Sukar worshiped Lord Siva in this place with a group of parrots.
One day a hunter came to this place and drew them away which took shelter in the Anthill (Puttru). Hunter demolished the ant hill, all the parrots died, except Sukar who was in the form of parrot. The parrot kept its wing open and seated on the Lingam portion to protect. Hunter saw this and he attacked the parrot which died and the blood started oozing out of the lingam.
Hunter realized his mistake and he sacrificed his life there. Sukar got rid of his curse by Lord Siva who blessed him Sukar requested Lord Siva to stay back in this place as Sukavaneswarar and bless mankind.
Arunagirinadhar has sung Thirupugazh on Lord Subramanaya of this temple.
- Raja Ganapthy Temple:
The temple is about 2 kms distance from bus stand and it is nearer to Sukvaneswarar Temple, Salem Town. The temple is about 400 years old.
Raja Ganapathy temple is in busy street, the temple is one of the popular temples of Salem Town. Temple is small one but noted for its glory. Ganesha in the sanctum is of medium size and everyday he is seen withRaja Alankaram, hence he is known as Raja Ganapthy.
Devotees pray to Raja Ganapathy, who inturn fulfill their wishes. We find the temple is always crowded. Couples pray for child and students pray for knowledge which is showered on them by Lord Raja Ganapathy who is residing here in this sanctum.
Thiru Sundareswarar Temple: Thiru Vettakudi, Puduchery.
The place Thiru Vettakudi is about 9 kms from Karikaal. This temple is One of 275 Siva Devara Sthalams. The Main Raja Gopuram is of five tiers in this temple, and it has two prakaram.
Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Sundareswarar and his consort known as Santha Nayaki. Urchvar in this temple is known as Veda moorthy. Arjuna is seen with pasupdha asthram, Soolam in his hand and with Rudraksha garland, as urchava Vigraham.
As we go around the temple prakaram, we see Vinayakar, Subramanayar with valli Devanai, Maha Lakshmi, Natarajar, Punnai Vana Nadhar, Sani Bagawan, Sambandhar Poorna Pushkla Samedha Iyappan, and Chandekeswarar.
Sthala Vruksham is Punni Maram and Teertham is known as Deva Teertham.
Importance of the temple is here, Urchavar known as Veda Moorthy is seen with Bow and Soolam in his hands. Lord Subramanyar also has bow in his hand, along with Valli Devanai to his side. The purana says Lord Siva brought Lord Subramanyar along with him, hence both of them is seen with bow in their hand which is a unique.
Punnaivana Nadhar seen in separate sanctum in the prakaram is the Lord, on whom Sambandhar sang his Hymn. Near this sanctum Sani Bagawan and Sambandar are seen.
Sthala Purana says Vyasa guided Arujuna to penance in this place to get Pasupadha astharam from Lord Siva, to win in the war. Duruyodhan came to know about this and he saked Mukasuran to disturb Arjuna. Mukasuran came to the place in the form of a pig and disturbed Arjuna. Mukasuran was killed by Arjuna for his act.
A hunter with his wife and son came, to claim the pig which was a prey for his arrow. Arjuna refused to spare the pig. There was argument between the two. Lord made him realize that the hunter and his wife were Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathy. Lord Siva gave Pasupatha asthrum which is the best one in the weapons and blessed Arjuna. Lord Siva was requested by Arjuna to stay in this place and bless the mankind as he has done for him. That is the reason here urchavar and Subramanyar are seen with bow in their hands and Parvathy holding a pot on her head.
Once at Kailasam Parvathy Devi told Siva, without her presence, he is nothing and cannot do anything. Lord Siva was offended by her ego, made her to be born in a fisher man’s family. She was brought up here as a fisherman’s daughter. As she grew she was worshiping Lord Siva who came down as a fisherman and married her. This is a place of parihara sthalam for marriage delays.
Thiru Gyana Sambandhar sang Hymns on Lord Siva of this temple.
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