Urachikottai Sri Vedagiriswarar Temple, Erode

Address

Urachikottai, Vedagiri Hill,

Erode District, Tamilnadu – 638301.

Moolavar

Vedagiriswarar

Amman

Vedanayaki

Introduction

Urachikottai SriVedagiriswarar Temple is dedicated to lord Shiva, located in a mountain called Vedagiri is in Urachikottai village in Erode district. It is the first of the five hills known as Panchagiri. Standing high on the western side of the river Cauvery, this hill is home to many famous Saiva Vaishnava temples. Lord Shiva who has a temple here is known as Vedagiriswarar and Ambal is known as Vedanayaki. The temple is located near the bus route at a distance of 5 km from Bhavani in Erode district.

Puranic Significance

The story tells that Devendran crawled to this Deva Kiri and worshiped Vedagiriswara and removed his Brahma dosha. The place where this hill temple is located was once under the rule of Shankaralingam. Devoted to Sriranganathan, the king used to visit Srirangam with his family twice a year to visit him. Once his daughter had a stomach ache. There was no cure for it, and the daughter’s stomach ache became incurable. One day at dawn the king had a dream. There is a spring on top of the Vedagiri hill where Aranganathar appears and your fort is situated. Drinking that water early in the morning for nine consecutive days cures diseases. You don’t have to come here and serve me anymore. He said that he can build a temple for me and worship at the spot.

The king did the same. Her daughter’s stomach pain went away without knowing where it was. Then Shankaralingam made arrangements to benefit by drinking the water secreted by that miraculous spring. Even today we can see this spring on top of the hill.. Devotees call this water spring as “Nandipali” and “Podu Khana Sunai”. Sunlight does not shine in this water. It is very, very cold, like water in a refrigerator. It can cure all diseases. An inscription cut in 1867 can also be seen near it.

Beliefs

Vedagiriswar is a great boon who fulfils whatever our wishes are.

Special Features

The Temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old. If you climb the eighteen steps from the place where the Sunai is located, there is a Vedic Ganesha temple on the right. If you worship Lord Vinayaka and then go up you can reach Vedagiriswarar temple. In the centre of the hall are the shrines of Vedagiriswarar, Kalyana Subramaniyar and Vedanayaki facing east. Someskandar Kalyana Subramaniyar Uttaruli is special between Shiva and Ambal. Mandapam has Navagrahas in the north-east and Bhairava in the north-west, Vedakrisvara to the left and Chandikesvara’s wives in the south-west corner of the Ambal sanctum

Festivals

Three daily pujas are held at the Vedagiri hill temple. Special decorations on Saturdays, worship to Bhairava on Teipira Ashtami, Amavasai and Pradosha Pujas, and Krivalam on every full moon are performed here very well. Also, ippasi Annabhishekam, Karthikai Maha Deepam, Maha Shivratri and Panguni Uthra festival are held as special events.