the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

This temple is situated in Trichy-Erode Rail route and can get down at Elamaanur Station reach the temple. From Trichy all the busses leading to Kulithalai or Karur will lead to this temple. The temple on the road-side. No much facilities available there. We have to either stay at Trichy or at Kulithalai and visit this temple.

The temple has a seven-tier Gopuram at the inner enterence. The Kodimaram is covered with the embedded with copper. The main deity here is in the form of Linga fasing East. The deities of 63 Nayanmar, Saptha Kanni, Somaskandar, Panchabootha Lingas, Muruga, Vinayagar, Bikshadanar, Brahma, Durga, Gajalakshmi and Bairavar. In the navagraha sannithi the Saneeswarar is on his vehicle Crow.

It is believed that Lord Shiva took the form of Bikshadanar to meet Saint Thaarukavana and vanished his ego. Lord Indra Kubera and Saptharishi worshiped Lord here. As this place was previously forest full of Parai trees it is called as Paraithurai. This place is also called as "Thaarukavanam". In Sanskrit the Parai tree means "Thaaruka Vriksha".The Shivalingam is said to have been dug out of an ant hill by a devout Chola King, upon his seeing a golden bird frequently flying by it. Much of the current structure is the result of renovations made earlier this century.

Bramhotsavam is celebrated in the tamil month Vaikasi(May-June) on star Visakam and celebrated for 10 days. Thula Neerattam festival is celebrated in the tamil month of Aipasai(October-November) on the River Cauvery.