Ardhanareeswarar at Thiruchengode

The temple features:

This temple is inThiruchengode 16 kms from Salem in Tamil Nadu.
Temple's carpet area is about 2,16,800 sqft with the sanctum facing west. It has a 5-stage Raja gopuram (king size entrance tower) and five corridors.( pragarams) The deity is Ardhanareeswarar and it is said to be self-incarnated. The consort of the lord Devi Bagavathi is on the lords left side (Vama-Bagam) The temple tank is called "Sangu Theertham "

The saints who sang hymns on the Lord:
Thiru-gnana-sambandhar,

There are many stone inscriptions here praising the kshetram.

Significance:This is an ancient Siva temple on a hill station. Because the hill is red in colour it is called Chengode (meaning: red hill). There are fine roads to reach the temple. The view of the surroundings from the top of the hill is marvellous..

Legend:Once Devi Parvathi was very sad and invited Adi Kesavar to ask him the way to unite with her consort Siva. Adi Kesava advised  Gowri to perform the ' Kedara Gowri Vratam'. Then her wish would be fulfilled. According to Vishnu's advice she performed the virtham to unite with Siva.The lord gladly appeared before Parvathi on the last day of the virutham and he placed her on his 'Vama-Bagam' (meaning left side) as she wished. The Lord incarnated as Ardhanareeswarar. This is one of the 64 manifestations of Siva - the man-woman form with Parvati constituting the left half of Siva.

Connected legends : Once there was a fight between Adi Sesha and Vayu. Adi Sesha tightly caught hold of Mount Meru. Vayu used all his strength to pull it away. At last Vayu succeeded and Adisesha was bleeding. Because of the blood spilled the hill became red and this place got its name Thiruchengode.

Once upon a time Kamadhenu obtained 5 hills from Siva, of which this was one. This hill is 2 storied from the bottom with rocks coloured both red and yellow symbolizing the masculine and feminine aspects of Ardhanareeswara. The hill is named Nagagiri as there is a 60 ft long snake carved on the hill.

Lord Ardanareeswarar is in the west facing pose, though the entrance is from the South. There is a water spring under the feet of the Idol. 

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