Kottaimedu Sri Sangameswarar Temple, Coimbatore

Address

Eswaran Kovil St, Ukkadam, Kottaimedu,

Coimbatore,

Tamil Nadu 641001

Moolavar

Sri Sangameswarar

Amman

Sri Akilandeswari

Introduction

The Kottaimedu Sri Sangameswarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located in the Kottaimedu village of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Sri Sangameswarar, with Sri Akilandeswari as the consort deity. The temple lies in the heart of Coimbatore City, in an area once fortified during the Tippu Sultan period. Though the fort no longer exists, the name “Kottaimedu” reflects its historical presence.

The city of Coimbatore has several legends behind its name, one being that it originated as Covanputhur, named after an Irula king Covan who ruled the Perur Nadu region. Another legend ties the temple to the region once being filled with Sangu pushpam (Clitoria ternatea) flowers, which were later cleared for the temple’s construction, leading to its initial name, Sangeechuramudayar Temple, and later Sangameswarar Temple.

Puranic Significance

The temple’s origin is attributed to the 10th century and is associated with several historical and mythological narratives.

Historical Reconstruction: The temple was destroyed during the Mysore War III and later rebuilt after the Mysore War IV.
Karikala Chola’s Devotion: King Karikala Chola, grieving his lack of an heir, constructed 36 Shiva temples after divine guidance in a dream. The Sangameswarar Temple is said to be the 31st temple he built.
Vanquishing a Demon: A demon, after acquiring powerful boons from Lord Shiva, began tormenting sages and devas. To seek refuge, they prayed to Lord Shiva at this place. Responding to their prayers, Lord Shiva appeared and defeated the demon, restoring peace.

A unique feature of the temple’s Shivalinga is the presence of Brahmma Sutra lines on its head, symbolizing protection from adverse destinies and restoring life to the young.

Beliefs

The temple holds immense significance for devotees:

Prayers to Lord Sangameswarar are believed to save lives and avert untimely deaths, especially for young individuals facing critical conditions.
Mother Akilandeswari is regarded as a divine force in resolving issues like marriage delays, family disputes, and health ailments.
Devotees worship with offerings like Vastras (clothes) and perform abishekam for blessings in business and family well-being.

Special Features

The temple architecture and layout showcase its historical and religious prominence:

Main Complex: The east-facing temple includes an entrance arch, open mandapam, Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Nandi.
Deity Shrines:
- In the sanctum sanctorum, Lord Sangameswarar is surrounded by koshtam deities like Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
- The prakaram houses several shrines, including 63 Nayanmars, Somaskandar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, and Vinayagar with Nagar under a peepal tree.
- Lord Subramanya appears in a rare form with 12 hands, holding various weapons, seated on His peacock vehicle.
- Mother Akilandeswari is enshrined in a separate east-facing sanctum, flanked by deities like Brahmi, Kaumari, Varahi, Vaishnavi, and Maheshwari.
Vimana Architecture: The temple features a two-tier nagara vimana over the sanctum.
Reconstruction Efforts: The temple has undergone recent renovations, including the addition of new stone structures.