Description
Natadreeswarar Temple located on a hillock island within the River Kaveri, is a faithful Hindu temple committed to Lord Shiva, at Kangayampalayam, Erode district. The temple doors remain open for visitors, from 6.00 am to 6.00pm. Erode Junction railway station, which is about 47 kilometers from Kangeyampalayam is the nearest railway station to the place and Coimbatore airport which is about 12 kilometers from the place, is the nearest airport.
History
To keep away any kind of negativity, Agasthiar made a Linga (Lord Shiva) from sand and kept it on the hill, in the middle of the river Kavery. He placed his rudra mala on the deity and began his strong devotion and meditation.It was believed that his meditation was disturbed on the New Year. On the first day of the Tamil New year, Agasthiar was disturbed from his deep meditation and when he tried to remove his mala from the ling, he suddenly heard a voice telling him not to disturb the setting and that Lord was there to bless everybody who came to seek his blessings there.This is how Lord Shiva placed himself on the hill located amidst the river Kavery, now called, Kangeyampalayam Nattadreeswarar Shiva Temple. The Chola kings built the temple around 3000 years ago and named the deity as Agastheeswarar. The Athee tree seen in the interior of the temple is also said to be as old as the temple, i.e. 3000 years old. Devotees crowd the temple in thousands and lakhs on the Tamil New Year day and extend hands with prayers to the Lord seeking his blessings and asking the Lord to get away any kind of negativities and shower his blessings on them.
Importance/Significance
The Nattadreeswarar Shiva Temple holds tremendous importance in the minds of the devotees for various reasons. The Shivalinga of the temple is made of only sand thousands of years back, by sage Agasthya, and is still as it is. The idol in the temple stands gracefully in a walking posture with the right leg ahead. This posture of the Lord depicts his welcome to Sage Agasthya when he visited the temple to seek lord Shiva's blessings. The posture symbolizes the importance of keeping your right leg first during any auspicious occasion.
Facts/Mythology
Of the five categories of Earth classification in our scriptures, this place belongs to Prithvi class (Sand). The holy Athi tree, an ancient tree with no new branches is on a rock within the temple vicinity. Lord Muruga holds a parrot in His left hand making it extremely noteworthy.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
There a number of events and gatherings that happen in Kangeyampalayam Nattadreeswarar Shiva Temple Erode, where thousands of people gather and come to take blessings from the Lord. Adi Perukku in July-August, the first day of Chithirai month also called the Tamil New Year day ,in April, Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January are a few festivals and celebrations in the temple. On the last Monday of Karthikai month during November-December, an offering called abishek is carried out to the Lord with 108 conches.
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