Sri Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu

We had a good darshan at Arulmigu Ardhanareeswarar Temple at Tiruchengode Hills (திருச்செங்கோடு அர்த்தநாரீசுவரர் கோயில்). The sacred hill is about 650 feet high, the drive by car is short, about ten minutes and by foot it will be a climb of 1156 steps.  From Namakkal where we had offered our prayers earlier, Tiruchengode was a 45-minutes’ drive by Salem-Trichy (Tamil Nadu State Highway 94), from Salem city it will be about an hour. Since we went early on a weekday (Wednesday) there was no crowd in the temple, only a dozen other devotees.

Gateway to the Tiruchengode Hill

Drive up the Tiruchengode Hills was easy, takes about ten minutes by car

Venkatarangan Thirumalai and Ravi Ethirajulu with the backdrop of Tiruchengode town

Tamil Wikipedia says the foot path to the hills is considered sacred, and a promise made in the sixtieth step was admissible at a court of justice during earlier times.

The presiding deity is Arthanāreeswarā, the unique half-male half-female of Goddess Parvathi and God Shiva. Wikipedia says the shrine to be one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams praised in the Thevaram hymns of the Saivite saints.

Sri Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode at the hilltop

Seen above are the Temple Tree of Bassia longifolia [ஸ்தல விருட்சம், இலுப்பை மரம்]; Dhwaja Stambham [கொடிமரம்], a South Indian Hindu Temples’ flagstaff; and the Golden Temple car bay [தங்கத் தேர்]

Various gopurams [Hindu Temple Towers] of Sri Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode

Shops facing the entrance to Sri Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode

There is also a sanctorum dedicated to Lord Murugan, called Chenkottu Velavar sanithi.  Wikipedia says Saint Arunagirinathar (அருணகிரிநாதர்) has composed Thirupugazh (திருப்புகழ்) on Lord Subramanya here & Sri Muthuswamy Deekshitar has sung of this shrine in Ardhanareeswaram.

Chenkottu Velavar sanithi for Lord Muruga [செங்கோட்டு வேலவர் என முருகனுக்கு தனி சந்நிதி அமைந்துள்ளது]

The mythical creature yali (yazhi) depicted in the stone sculptures

Stone chain sculptures

Intricate Stone sculptures in the ceiling

More Stone sculptures depicting mythological figures and stories

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