This Shiva temple at Sambanarkovil is situated at a distance of about 10 kms from Mayiladuthurai on Mayiladuthurai-Porayur route. This is a Padal petra sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri revered by Shaiva saints Sambandhar and Appar. This place is believed to be more than 3000 years old. This temple finds its mention in the Brahma Kshetra khanda in the Vaivartha puran’s. It is under the heading Swarnasthala mahatmya. It is stated that Suka muni explained the greatness of this place to the other sages in Naimisharanya. The present structure is a mada kovil constructed by the Chola king Kochengat Cholan.
Moolavar: Shri Swarnapooreshwarar, Shri Semponpalliyar
Utsav Moorthy: Somaskandar, Lord Nataraja and Chandrasekhar.
Devi: Shri Sugandhakundambika, Shri Sugandhanayaki, Shri Maruvarkuzhaliamman, Shri Pushpalagi, Shri Dakshayani, Shri Sugandhavananayaki
Kshetra vruksha: Bilva, Shami (Vanni in Tamil)
Sacred teertha: Surya teertha and River Kaveri
Puranic name: Laxmipuri, Skandhapuri, Indrapuri
Kshetra puran:
1. Dakshayani went to attend the yagnya arranged by her father at Dakshamahapuri (present day Parasalur) which is 2 kms to the west of this place. Lord Shiva destroyed Daksha and his yagnya by sending Lord Veerabhadra and Goddess Bhadrakali. Later he brought to life Daksha and fitted him with a Goat's head. In order to get rid of being called, as daughter of Daksha, the person who committed the sin of mistreating Lord Shiva, She did penance at this place (Chemponpalli) standing in Panchagni. Lord Shiva gave her darshan as Swarnapooreeshwar and asked her to stay at this place as His wife Sugandhavallai.
2. According to Sthala puran Lord Shiva refused to accept Devi Parvati after Daksha yagnya. Lord Muruga came to Goddess Parvati in the form of Lord Shiva and imparted advice to her at this place. To substantiate this Lord Muruga in this temple carries Akshamala.
3. Once upon a time there was a King named Bridu who wanted to have a hamlet of brahmin at this place. This place was a forest at that time with abundant trees. When he tried to cut the trees, he heard a celestial voice stating that he should not do so as these trees are none other than the sages performing penance. It also stated that there was a sacred teertha at this place known as Suryapushkarini and there is a Shiva linga on the western bank which is capable of granting any siddhi. When the king found the linga, he found that the Linga was shining with a lustrous golden (Swarna) color. He started worshiping the Shiva linga daily after taking bath in the Suryapushkarini. Once he happened to meet Sage Agastya at this place who explained to him about the greatness of the Linga. Later King Bridu constructed a temple around the linga.
4. This is the place where Goddess Laxmi did penance to marry Lord Mahavishnu. Hence the place is known as Laxmipuri.
5. Indra did penance after bathing in Surya teertha and worshiped Lord Shiva. He obtained his weapon Vajraayudh to defeat Vruddhasur. Hence the place got the name Indrapuri.
6. Lord Muruga worshipped Lord Shiva and slayed Tarakasur. Hence the place is known as Skandhapuri.
7. Lord Veerbhadra manifested at this place to destroy Daksha yagna.
8. Rati devi got her husband Manmada by her penance after he was burnt to death by Lord Shiva.
9. Lord Vishnu worshiped the Shiva linga at this place.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Lord MahaVishnu, Lord VeeraBhadra, Lord Indra, Goddess MahaLaxmi, Sage Agatsya, Sage Vashishta, river Kaveri, Naga-kanyas, Lord Kuber and Ashta-Dighpals.
Salient features:
1. One of the 70 madakovils built by the Chola king Kochengatchola. No elephant can enter the sanctum-sanctorum as the entrance is very narrow.
2. The rays of the Sun fall for 12 days on the Shiva linga from 7th to 18th day in the Tamil month of Chitrai (April-May).
3. The Shiva linga is placed on a lotus shaped Avudaiyar (base) with 2 rows of 16 petals.
4. There is a bas-relief of a king worshiping a Shivalinga along with a monk and a minister on both sides.
5. The temple was built by Chola kings who were also known as Sembian, hence the place got the name SebanarKovil.
6. Sempon also means gold in Tamil. It is believed that the sanctum tower was originally built with Sempon (gold).
7. There are beautiful reliefs on the walls of the temple.
About the Temple:
This is an east facing temple. There is no Rajagopuram but it has a very beautiful arch at the entrance. There are idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati along with Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Lord Ganesh on mushika and Lord Muruga on Peacock. There is only one parikrama. There is no Dwajastambha. The temple is built on an elevation as it is a mada kovil. The roof is made of Sempon (gold). Hence the place is known as Semponarkovil. The Shiva linga is on an Avudaiyar (base) which has 2 rows of 16 rose petals and is a Swayambhu linga.
Koshta Moorthy: Indra Ganapati, Lord Dakshinamoorthy, Ardhanareeshwarar & Goddess Durga. Lord Chandikeshwar is in the usual position.
Other Shrines & deities: At the entrance to the mandap we have dwarapals in seating position. The utsav murtis are found in a mandap. There is a very old idol of Bikshadanar. In the mahamandap we have idols of Lord Ganesha, Surya linga, Chandra linga and Lord Subramanya with his consorts. To the right of Lord Subramanya’s shrine we find the shrine of Goddess Parvati who is addressed by various names mentioned earlier. She is facing the west. According to the puran, the idol faces the west towards her father’s palace at Parasalur. To the southwest we have the shrine of Saptamatrikas. Idols of Prasanna Vinayaka, Mahaganpati, Surya linga, Chandra linga, Surya, Chandra, Vanadurga, KashiVishwanath, Lord Bhairava and Chandikeshwarar are in the parikrama. Idols of King Kulotamacholan and his minister are in the corridor. We also come across idols of Shrinivas Perumal (Shri Vishnu), Balasubramanyam, Goddess Gajalaxmi and Veerbhadra. Jeshta devi is in a separate shrine in the parikrama. There is an idol depicting the incident of Lord Shiva granting darshan to King Shibi. Lord Shiva is holding a deer and a weapon known as Mazhu in Tamil in his hands.
Prayers:
1. Devotees believe that by taking holy-dip on new moon day in the Tamil month of Chitrai and Vaikashi their sins will be absolved.
2. Devotees believe worship of Saptamatas removes marriage obstacles.
3. Women after purchasing new jewelry and ornaments first offer them to Goddess Sugandhakumdalambika before wearing it. They believe by doing this they will get more gold jewelry and ornaments.
Pooja:
Daily rituals as per Karana agama.
Pradosh pooja and other weekly and monthly worships.
Important festivals:
Aani (Jun-Jul): Thirumanjanam
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Ganeshchaturthi
Aaipassi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thirukarthigai
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvarthirai
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Shivaratri
Chittrai (Apr-May): Special Surya pooja are performed when the Sun's rays fall on the Shiva linga.
In the Tamil month of Karthigai, on all Mondays special abhishek is performed for Lord Shiva with 108 conch shells.
Temple Timings: 7.30 to noon; 4.30 to 8.30pm
Temple address:
Shri Swarnapoorieshwarar temple
At-post Sembanarkovil,
Taluka Tarangampadi.
TN 609309
Telephone: +91-9943797974
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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