Eragaram Skandhanadha Swamy Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Eragaram Skandhanadha Swamy Temple, Eragaram, Kumbakonam Town, Thanjavur District- 612303

Diety

Skandhanadha Swamy / Sankaranathar Amman: Sankari / Sankara Nayagi.

Introduction

Skandhanadha Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Eragaram Village near Kumbakonam Town in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Skandhanadha Swamy / Sankaranathar and Mother is called as Sankari / Sankara Nayagi. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar. The Temple is believed to be older than Swamimalai Swaminatha Swamy Temple.

Puranic Significance

Lord Murugan came to earth for annihilation of Sura Padman. He decided to stay here before the war. He constructed this Temple for his divine parents and got their blessings before he went to war. Arunagirinathar, Appar, Agastya with his consort Lopamudra visited this Temple and worshipped Lord Shiva. Eragaram is called as Er in olden days as per the 12th Century inscriptions found here. Eragaram is a combination of two words Er + Agaram. Agaram means an exclusive Brahmin residential area, adjacent to a village. Eragaram means an Agraharam near the village ER. The earliest reference of Er or Eragam is found in Thirumurugattupadai, written by Nakkeerar. (3rd Century A.D). He describes the six great temples associated with Lord Muruga – the Arupadai Veedu. The stone inscriptions discovered in Eragaram temple dated to 12th century states that this place Er was also called as Mummudi Chola Mangalam. The 12th century stone inscriptions only indicate that extensions and modifications were done by the Chola kings. It is reported that this temple had three /four prakarams. Presently, there is only one. Lot of land adjacent to the temple is encroached. The temple tank and its size will confirm that this should have been a very big temple in the olden days. It is also reported that in the nearby Cauvery River, there was a special place called Sankari Padugai and Lord used to give Theerthavari here and Lord Muruga from Swamimalai used to get his sacred spear from Sankari Amman, during Sura Samhara festival. All these practices and the deity’s name viz. Skandhanadha, prove the special link between Eragaram and Swamimalai. It is reported that Lord Muruga created Eragaram, which was also called Kumarapuram, and made this the abode of his parents. Later he made Swamimalai, his exclusive abode.

Special Features

The Temple is enclosed by compound walls on all sides. There is an entrance on the eastern side. The sanctum, built of bricks has one prakaram and a Theertham. Presiding Deity is called as Skandhanadha Swamy / Sankaranathar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Linga. The sanctum is preceded by a long Mandapam. Nardana Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Durga and Lingodbhava are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. There is a shrine for Adhi Kandaswamy behind the sanctum. Lord Murugan is in standing posture in royal posture. Mother is called as Sankari / Sankara Nayagi. She is facing south. Her shrine is situated on the Mandapam on the right side immediately after the temple entrance. There are shrines for Vinayaga, Mahalinga, Surya, Bhairava, Nagas and Navagrahas in the Temple premises. Sthala Vriksham is Nelli Maram and Theertham is Saravana Poigai.