Sangameswarar Temple / Thiru Nanaa :



The temple is situated at confluence spot of River Bhavani and River Cauvery. This is one of 275 Siva Devara sthalam. The place is about 60kms from Salem.










Here River Cauveri, River Bhavani and River Amudha join together. River Amudha flow as Antharvahini, just like Sarasvathy at Triveni Sangamam of Allahabad. The place is also known as Dakshina Triveni Sangamam.
This place is known as Padhuma Giri which is surrounded by Naga Giri, Veda giri, Sanga Giri and Mangala Giri.









It is good to have bath at Sangama Kshetram. They have provided rooms for changing wet cloths. Near the sangamam ghat there is a Aswattha tree under which Nagar is installed. This place is considered good for any type of pariharam. Rituals for ancestors are performed here. On the day we went here lot of devotees were performing rituals and pariharam.









There is a big Aswattha tree and a Siva Lingam known Koteeswarar is installed under it.









We see a small sanctum for Amirtha Lingeswrar.
Amirtha Lingeswarar is placed on an Avudai, which is mobile and it is removed and given in the hands of couple, who come here to perform pooja for sake of child. The couple should have bath in sangamam,and they carry Amritha linga in hand and go around the sanctum three times and place it back on Avudai.




Illandhai Tree is Sthala Vruksham of this temple.
The sweet fruit of illandhi from tree is offered to Lord Siva after pooja everyay. The fruit is given as prasadam for the couple who come and worship forsake of child. This fruit is consumed by ladies for fertility.











As we go further there is a separate sanctum for Sahasra Lingeswarar. Sthala purana says Ravana worshiped sahsralingeswarar here.










We see a small Gopuram leading inside the temple premises from west side.









Main Raja Gopuram is of five tiers facing North.
Here in this Kshetram we see Lord Siva, as well Perumal within the same premises.










As we enter from the main Raja Gopuram there is a sanctum for Perumal is seen to right. Main deity here is sri Adi Kesava Perumal in standing posture. There is another sanctum for Sri Venugopalan to the right side of sri Adi Kesava Perumal.









Next to Adi Kesava perumal we see seperate sanctum for Sri yoga Narashimar with Lakshmi as santha swaroopam.







Next to sri Yoga Narashimr we find Soundara Valli Thayar sannidhi.














There is small sanctum for Siddhi vinaykar.










Here the sanctum of Lord Siva, Ambal, and Subramanya is in the form of somaskandam. This is side entrance of sri sngameswarar temple.









Main sanctum of Sri Sangameswararis facing east side.
We find Dwajasthambam in front of the main dwaram of Sri Sangameswarar sanctum We find Vinayakar and Subramanian in small sannidhi, to either side of the main entrance.




Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Sri Sangameswarar / Alagesan.
Thiru Gyanasambandhar Sang Hymns on Lord Sri Sangameswarar.







As we go round we see Dakshina Moorthy. This is the picture of sri sangameswara sanctum gopuram.








Subramanya Swamy is seen in separate sanctum. This sanctum is seen in between Lord Siva and Ambal Sanctums. Arunagirindhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Subramnya of this temple.









There is a mandapam, in which where we see Stone pillar to the centre with Ganesha to a side and Cow with calf to other side which looks very attractive.















Next we come to Veda Nayaki Amman sannidhi.
Here in the main sanctum, we see Vedanayki Amman in standing posture.









There is a mandapam where, we see beautiful carvings to the pillars.









We see beautiful Carvings, to the inner ceiling hall in front of Ambal sannidhi.




Importance is during the month of February sun light falls for three days on Sri Sangameswarar, Vedanayki and Subramanian.














We see sanctum for Navagrahas.









We see separate Sanctum of Bairavar here.











There is a Separate sanctum for Saneeswarar here in this kshetram.



Sthala purana says once Kuberan was visiting places. When he was crossing this place, he saw lot of Rishi, and Muni penancing here. All animals were friendly with each other. He felt good vibration of this place and started penancing here. Lord Siva and Perumal were pleased with Kubera, and as a result swayambu Lingam came under the Sthala Vruksham.
Kubera heard a voice which said he can ask for a boon. Kubera wished the place to be known as Alagesan and the sthala should be a blessing place and fulfil the wishes of devotees. Vishnu also stayed in this place as Adi Kesava Perumal.

Tala Cauvery:



The place Tala Cauvery is about 45 kms from Madikere and about 10 kms from Bagamandala in Coorg District.








This is the starting point of River Cauvery at Brahmagiri hills. We see a welcoming arch as we reach Tala Cauvery.









We climb steps to reach the original starting place of River Cauvery. There is a small tank known as Kundike which is the starting point of River Cauvery. There is a bigger tank attached to the small one were pilgrims take bath in the holy water of Cauvery. Here we find room for changing the dress.





None, other than the priest, is allowed to touch the holy water of Cauvery from the Kundike. After having bath in the tank they perform kumkum pooja for the piligrims who opt to do.








We find few more steps to climb and here we find sanctum for Ganesha, and Lord Siva. Here Lord Siva is known as Agastheeswarar. The Siva Lingam was worshiped by Agasthiya Muni. When he came to Bramagiri Hills, he made a Siva Lingam by mud, to worship. There is an Aswattha tree seen here and there is a small sanctum for Naga devar. Purana says Agasthiyar worshiped the Aswattha Tree, and was blessed with the darshan of Lord Vishnu, Lord Siva and Lord Brahma known as Tri moorthy.





Importance: On the first day of Tula month Cauvery sprouts out like a fountain and starts flowing. They have built the small tank where she emerges. Having bath during Tula Sankramana is considered auspicious. It was the day Cauvery started flowing as river from the Kamandala.





Purana says, once Lord Vishnu for the benefit of mankind he gave a girl to Lord Brahma. He did not reveal the secret. King Kaveran did not have child so he started penancing. Brahma was pleased by his worship and asked him reason for the penance. King asked for a daughter, and Brahma gave Lopamudra, to him. King went to Brahma Giri along with Lopamudra. She is also known as Cauveri, being the daughter of King Kaveran.




One day Agasthya muni on his way, came to Brahma Giri where he met Lopamudra and he wanted to marry the girl. Lopamudra was in confused state, at that moment Lord Vishnu answered “yes” through Lopamudra for Muni’s request with a condition that he should be with her always and should not leave her alone. Muni agreed to the condition and the marriage took place. They lived happily in Brahma Giri.




One day Muni had to leave for the other side of Brahma Giri to have bath, where River Kannika was flowing. He transformed Lopamudra to “water” and filled in his Kamandala and asked his students to take care of the Kamandala until he returns. Lopamudra was feeling uneasy in the Kamandala, and she came to know the secret of her birth.



Agyastiya munidid not keep to his words and gave up the condition to which he agreed. She thought this is the right time for her to leave. She throttled out of Kamandala and started flowing. Students of Muni tried to stop her, and she started flowing under ground as Antharvahini.



After her flow like this for sometime, Cauvery came up again at Naga teertha. Here Naga Devas requested her to go back to Agasthiyar. She told them she was created for the purpose of benefit to “Mankind” to flow as River. She said, Agasthiyar knew the cause of my birth and he only transformed her into water from human being. Naga Devas were convinced with her, and allowed her to flow. Cauvery joins with River Kannika and River Sujyothi which is Antharvahini.














View point from Tala Cauveri

Our next place of visit was to Bagamandala, which is about 40 Kms from Madikere.














The place Bagamandala is situated at the confluence of two Rivers, Cauvery, and Kannika.







Here another River Sujyothi flow as antharvahini, and join the two Rivers.









Hence the place is considered as Triveni Sangamam. The place is considered auspicious to have a dip and perform rituals for their ancestors.







There is a small Siva Lingam seen here.







There is a Peepul tree, here and we see lot of Nagar installed.



There is a Siva temple here, in Bagamandala near the sangamam. Lord Siva is known as Sri Bhagandeshwara. The temple was established by a Rishi known as Bagamandala.







We have to climb few steps to reach the main entrance of the Temple. There is a Raja Gopuram of three tiers for the temple. The temple is constructed in Kerala style.









Main deity is Lord Siva in Lingam form known as Bhagandeshwara. There are separate sanctums for Ganapathy, Ambaal, Mahavishnu and Subramanya. Here Subramanya Swamy is Swayambu Moorthy. In front of Lord Subramanya there is a mandapam with wodden carvings relating story of Subramanya