Aghoramurti at Tiruvengadu

The temple features:

This temple is located at Thiruvengadu about seven miles in the south-east direction from Tanjavoor.The rivers Kaveri and Manikarnika flow on either side of this place. The carpet area of the temple is2,45,520 sqft and is built facing east. It has a tower in seven stages. The temple has 5 corridors.(pancha pragarams)

The deity is called Aghora-murti in the east facing pose and it is said the deity is self incarnated. The deity is also called Sweta-aranya-swami. The deity has five faces,they are Easanam, Tatpurusham, Aghoram, Vamadevam and Sadyojatam. Nandi is usually installed in the sanctum of Lord Siva. But here it is sculpted at the entrance of the devi's sanctum which the is peculiarity in this temple. The Lord's consort Devi Vidya Nayagi amman has a separate Sanctum also facing east.
There are three 'teerthams' inside the temple.They are called Agni theertham, Surya theertham and Chandra theertham. It is said that three drops of water that fell from Lord Siva's eyes when he was dancing formed into these 'threethams'. The temple tree are' Bilvam',' Vadaval', and 'Konrai'.
This place is also called Adi-Chidambaram. (Ancient Chidambaram). There are many stone inscriptions giving the details about this kshetram.

The saints who sang hymns on the Lord:
Appar, Sundarar, and Manikka-vasagar

The significance of this place: Once Swetaketu did penance in this temple to Lord Siva for many years The Lord appeared before him. Swetaketu requested the Lord that he wished to see his seven kinds of dance performances. The Lord happily accepted his devotees wish and performed the dances for Swethaketu in this place.The dances were Ananda thandavam, Sandhya thandavam, Samhara thandavam, Tripuranta thandavam, Urdhva thandavam, Bhujanga thandavam and Lalita thandavam.

Legend: Many years ago this place was surrounded by thick forests on all sides which when seen from a distance looked like a white shadow. Hence the name of this place is Tiruvengadu ( means white forest -Ven means white and Kadu means forest). In Sanskrit it is known as Swetaranyam (Swetam means white and Aranyam -means forest).

There was a farmer who lived at Pennagadam in Tanjavoor district. He had no children. As advised by his preceptor he came to Tiruvengadu to do penance to Lord Siva. which he did for many years. One day the Lord appeared before him and told him that he was not destined to have a child in his current birth. Then the farmer bowed before the Lord and said: "Lord it is not necessary that I should have a child Because I am not a king having a big kingdom to be succeeded by a prince. However after my life who will sing devotional songs to you? That was my worry If I am not destined to have a child in this birth."
On hearing this the Lord was pleased and said "you will have a child in this birth itself as you wished" and disappeared. After some for time the former got a male child.

Another legend is there was a demon called Marutwasura who was giving trouble to the sages and villagers in Tiruvengadu. All the people of village and sages prayed to lord siva and expressed their grief. Hearing his devotees' appeal Siva sent Nandi (his mount) to fight with the demon. Nandi threw the demon into the sea and happily  returned to Siva.

The demon got angry with Nandhi and performed penance for long years to lord siva. At last the Lord appeared before him and asked the purpose of the penance. The demon bowed his head and asked "Lord I wish to have a trident" . The lord granted him a trident with a warning that if he gave trouble to others like sages he would be killed by the trident which he granted to him. The demon happily agreed.

Later he forgot about his boon and again created trouble to the villagers and the sages.The Lord angrily sent Nandi to kill the demon. But Nandi could not fight as the demon was holding the trident of Lord Siva. Nandhi sustained nine wounds and returned to Lord Siva saying that he would not fight against his master's trident.

The Lord was furious that Nandi had almost been killed by that demon (Marutwasura) and angrily opened his third eye out of which a flame came flashing out. On seeing the flame the demon could not fight. He turned into another flame and merged with the flame that had come out of the third eye of Siva. Both the flames formed into a 'Jyothi'. The sages prayed to the lord that the jyothi be turned into a tangible form and accordingly the jyoti turned into the idol Aghoramurti, which is installed in this temple.

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