Samalapuram Choleeswarar Temple, Tirupur

Address

Samalapuram Choleeswarar Temple, Tirupur

Samalapuram, Palladam Circle, Tirupur District – 641668       

Moolavar

Choleeeswarar

Amman

Thillainayaki Ambal

Introduction

• Location: Samalapuram, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu
• Deities:
  • Lord Shiva as Choleeswarar
  • Goddess Thillainayaki Ambal
• Other Shrines: Panchalingam, Suryan, Chandra, Thandapani, Bhairavar, Dakshinamurthy, 63 Nayanmars, Valli-Devasena Sametha Subramaniyar, and Vinayagar.
• Temple Status: Primary temple as per the Hindu Religious Department.

Puranic Significance

• Historical Context:
  • Established during King Karikalan’s reign.
  • The kings cleared forests, dug ponds, and built temples, including Samalapuram Choleeswarar Temple.
• Legend:
  • The temple’s history is linked to a story involving a white elephant, a royal contest, and the founding of the temple.
  • The white elephant crowned Karikalan as king at the Thiyagaraja Temple in Thiruvarur, leading to the establishment of the Samalapuram temple.

Special Features

• Temple Architecture:
  • Faces east with a grand entrance arch leading to a spacious courtyard.
  • Features a majestic hall with sixteen pillars and a five-tiered Rajagopuram.
• Main Sanctum:
  • Lord Choleeswarar and Goddess Thillainayaki enshrined together.
  • Deities such as Sivathurga, Brahma, Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy, and Vinayagar are present in the sanctum.
• Outer Hall:
  • Thillainayaki with four attendants in a grand posture.
  • Vishnu, Brahma, and Lakshmi are on the northern side.
  • Nandikeswarar is in the Mahamandapam.
• Other Shrines:
  • Surya, Chandra, Dandayudhapani, Valli-Devasena Sametha Subramaniar, Bhairava, Saneeswara, Navagrahas, Sandikeswara, Panchalingams, and 63 Nayanmars.
• Historical Age: Believed to be more than 1500 years old.

Belief

• Mondays: Abhishekam with tender coconut water and offering a lotus-shaped lamp for twelve weeks is believed to calm the mind.
• Sashti and Poornima Days: Offering milk, honey, and Abhishekam to Goddess Thillainayaki is believed to bless couples with children.
• Efficacy: Many devotees attest to the success of these rituals.

Century/Period

1500 years old.

Nearest Bus Station

Samalapuram

Nearest Railway Station

Tiruppur

Nearest Airport

Coimbatore

Location on Map

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