Samalapuram Choleeswarar Temple, Tirupur

Address

Samalapuram, Palladam Circle, Tirupur District – 641668

Moolavar

Choleeeswarar

Amman

Thillainayaki Ambal

Introduction

Samalapuram Choleeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Tiruppur district, in the town of Samalapuram, Tamil Nadu. Here the lord is called as Choleeswarar and Mother is called as Thillainayaki Ambal. In this temple, there are shrines for Choleeswarar, Thillainayaki, Panchalingam, Suryan, Chandra, Thandapani, Bhairavar, Dakshinamurthy, the 63 Nayanmars, Valli, Deivayanai Sametha Subramaniyar, and Vinayagar. This temple is classified as a primary temple according to the regulations of the Hindu Religious Department.

Puranic Significance

The kings of the past cleared the forest, dug ponds, increased fertility, and built temples. Among the temples built in this way is the Samalapuram Choleeswarar Temple. Both the town and the temple were established during the reign of King Karikalan. In the time of the feud between the Chola prince Uraiyur Cholan and his adversaries, the royal ministers of Uraiyur went to Vaishali and brought back a white elephant. They then presented the elephant’s trunk garland to the prince and told him to choose whomever he wished, as that person would be our king. The white elephant travelled to Kanchi. There, playing in the lake, the prince’s son Singamalaal tied the garland of flowers around the neck of the white elephant, declaring him as his king. Afterwards, the white elephant lifted Karikalan, the son of the Chola prince, and placed him on its back, leading him to the Thiyagaraja Temple in Thiruvarur. Then, in front of that temple, the white elephant set him down. Later, one of the temples built was the Choleeswarar Temple.

Special Features

The temple faces east, with a grand entrance arch leading to a spacious courtyard. Beyond the courtyard, there is a majestic hall with sixteen pillars continuing from the five-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram). In the central sanctum, Lord Choleeswarar and Goddess Thillainayaki are enshrined together, symbolizing their divine union. In the sanctum sanctorum, along with Choleeswarar, the idols of Sivathurga, Brahma, Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy, and Vinayagar bestow their blessings.

In the outer hall, Thillainayaki stands with her four attendants in a grand posture. Vishnu, Brahma, and Lakshmi grace the northern side. Nandikeswarar, in the Mahamandapam, gazes deeply at the deity.

In the vestibule, various deities including Surya, Chandra, Dandayudhapani, Valli-Devasena Sametha Subramaniar, Bhairava, Saneeswara, Navagrahas, Sandikeswara, Panchalingams, and the Sixty-three Nayanmars are present, each with their respective sanctums. The temple is said to be more than 1500 years old.

Belief

On Mondays, performing Abhishekam (ritual bath) with tender coconut water and offering a lotus-shaped lamp (placed behind the deity) for twelve weeks can calm the mind. For the goddess, on Sashti and Poornima days, offering milk, honey, and Abhishekam leads to the blessing of offspring for the couple who perform these rituals. Devotees who have received such blessings attest to their efficacy.