Shri Erumbeeshwarar Temple at Thiruverumbur

This temple is situated at Thiruverumbur which is at a distance of 10 kms from Trichy in Trichy-Thanjavur route. This is a Padal Pethra sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri which was revered by Shaiva saints Appar and Sambandhar. Hence the temple must have existed even before the 7th century. The temple is believed to have been reconstructed by the chola king Aditya Chola. It has several stone inscriptions dating back to the 10th century. The present structure is about 1300 years old. The original temple may have been built during the Pallava period. It seems that the temple was reconstructed due to the damage caused by Moguls. According to Puran this hill temple was known as Pipileecharam, Manikoodam, Ratnakoodam, Thiruvembiyapuram, Erumbeesan, Brahmapuram, Lakshmipuram, Madhuvanapuram and Kumarapuram. During the Chola regime it was praised as Dakshin Kailas. 

Moolavar: Shri Erumbeeshwarar, Shri Pipilekshwarar, Shri Madhuvaneshwarar, Shri Erumbeesar, Shri Makutchalapati, Shri Maniknathar
Devi: Shri SaundaryaNayaki, Shri Madhuvaneshwari, Shri Ratanambaal, Shri NarukuzhalNayaki, Shri SugandhaNayaki
Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva
Sacred Teertha: Brahma Teertha, Madhu Teertha, Kumara Teertha, Padma Teertha
Puranik Name: Thiruverumbiyur, Thiruverumbar
Present Name: Thiruverumbur

Kshetra Purana:

According to the Purana, a demon named Taarakaasur captured Indraloka. He was tormenting the devas and Lord Indra. Hence they complained to Lord Brahma and sought his intervention. He advised them to worship Lord Shiva on the top of the hill at this place where he was in the form of a Shiva linga. He told them that he will kill the asura and save them. They came to this place to worship Lord Shiva. They transformed themselves into small ants to save themselves from Taarakaasur. When they tried to climb the top of Bana of the Shiva linga to place the flowers they could not reach the top as the Bana was steep and smooth. On seeing their plight shiva linga became rough and got inclined on the left side so that the ants could reach the top and worship. Pleased by devotion of ants (devas) Lord graced them and he destroyed Taarakaasur. As the ants (Erumbu in Tamil) worshiped Lord Shiva he is praised as as Erumbeeshwarar

The temple hill is believed to be a piece of Mount Meru which got detached during the fight between Vayu and Adishesha and fell at this place. 

It is believed that Ratidevi (wife of Manmada) prayed to Lord Shiva at this place so that she could be humble and not to be proud of her beauty. 

Those who worshiped at this place: Lord Muruga, Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Lord Agni, Ratidevi, Naimisharanya Muni, Kattangazhi Swami

Special Features:

1. The temple is on a hill believed to have come into existence during the trial of strength between Vayu and Adishesha.

2. The shiva linga is of an ant hill, it has a split in between and it is slightly inclined to the left. 

3. Ants come in a line when puja is performed for partaking the naivedya. 

4. Lord Shanmukha is with his consorts on a hexagonal chakra under his feet in a separate shrine.

5. Lord Swaranakaal Bhairav is with a fierce face

6. The dwarapalas at the entrance of the sanctum have different expressions on their faces. 

7. Lord Nartaraja is under a rudraksha mandap with anklets on his legs

8. The presence of Lord ShankarNarayan as a koshtha murti is very rare.

About the temple:

This temple is on a hill at a height of about 200 feet. There are about 125 steps to reach the temple. As the temple is on the top of a hill, this is also known as Malaikovil. There are a number of Mandaps on the way to the temple for resting. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandap. This is an east facing temple with a two tiered Rajagopuram and with two prakarams. The Rajagopuram is in the front of the sanctum sanctorum. Balipeeth, Dhawajastambha and Nandi are facing the sanctum. Idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga are on either side of the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. There are two dwarapalas at the entrance of the sanctum. One of the dwarapalas has a fierce face while the other has a smiling face. The shiva linga is an anthill which is slightly inclined towards the north with a rough surface. There is a gap in the shiva linga which looks as if it is made of two parts. It is believed that the left part is of Goddess Parvati and the right part is of Lord Shiva. Hence the shivalinga is praised as Shiva Shakti. No abhishek is done on the shiva linga as it is made of sand and only oil is applied. 

Koshtha murti: Lord Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord ShankarNarayana, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga. Lord Chandikeshwarar is in his usual position. We come across ants coming in a line and consuming the naivedya during the puja. In the prakaram we come across idols and shrines of Naalvar, Sapta Matrika, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Kashi Vishwanath, Lord Shanmukha with Valli and Deivanai. Behind the sanctum, there are shrines of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Gajalakshmi, Navagraha in which Lord Surya is with his wives, Lord Swaranakaal Bhairav. Goddess Gajalakshmi is opposite to Kalabhairav in the shrine. Lord Nararaja has an anklet in his leg. There is a subway near the Naalvar shrine. This is believed to be the escape route to Trichy rockfort. In the second prakaram Ambika is in a separate shrine facing south. There are two idols of Ambika in this temple. As one idol of Ambika was with a damaged lotus flower it was duly replaced by a new one. Daily alankars are done in different ways to Goddess Ambika. There is a path around the foothills for Girivalam. Lord Vinayaka is praised as Selva Vinayaka. Nandi is in a Nandi Mandap which is open from four sides. At the foothill there is an idol of Lord Ganesha. The sacred teertha is opposite to the temple. 

Prayers:

1. Devotees worship at this place to get rid of laziness and to become active. 

2. They also pray for overcoming difficulties.

3. Devotees worship Lord Shanmukha and the chakra under his peetham for removal of doshas.

Poojas:

Six times daily rituals are performed from 5.30 am to 8 pm. Special weekly rituals on Mondays and Fridays. Pradosha pooja is performed regularly. Monthly poojas are performed on New Moon day, full moon day and Chaturthi

Festivals:

Vaikasi (May-June): Brahmotsav on 10 days on Vishakha nakshatra

Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek

Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thiru karthigai. Devotees perform Girivalam on full moon days.

Maasi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri

Timing: 6.30 am to 12 noon, and 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm 

Address: Shri Erumbeeshwarar Temple at Thiruverumbur, Trichy 620013

Phone: +91-4316574738, +91-9842957568

Courtesy: Various websites/blogs