Sidhdheeswarar Kanjamalai

Sidhdheeswarar, Kanjamalai

Saivite Temples - Salem District

God

Sidhdheeswarar, facing east

Goddess

None

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Naalvar, Muruga, Navagraha

Sidhdheeswarar Kanjamalai is a small east-facing temple situated in a single Prakaram. There is a small pond among the rocks inside the temple on the southwest side of the prakaram. This is the theertham of the temple. There is a temple tank on the east side. To the north is a beautiful hill temple for Lord Muruga. South of this temple is a Kali Temple. Sidhdheeswarar Kanjamalai is situated on the northwest side of Kanjamalai Hill. The hill is considered holy and devotees come to walk around (Girivalam) it on auspicious occasions, mainly on the full moon nights. The walk is about 18 kilometers and there are several shrines on the way. Kanjamalai is considered an abode of Sidhdhars and there are many caves where sidhdhars used to live in the ancient days including Soolamunai Sidhdhar Cave, Agastyar Cave, and Kaalangi Sidhdhar Cave. The hill also has many medicinal plants.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Kaantha Theertha Kulam

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

The Lingam at Sidhdheeswarar Kanjamalai is considered to be an ancient one. Historical information is not available as of now.

Legend

Sidhdheeswarar Kanjamalai is where Kaalangi Sidhdhar, a disciple of Thirumoolar (the author of Thirumandhiram), lived. Kaalangi Sidhdhar is considered to be greatly proficient in various aspects of Siddha medicine and in the mystical craft of moving the soul from place to place and person to person. He was the guru of Bhoga Sidhdhar who created the Navapashana idol of Lord Muruga in Palani Hill. Kaalangi Sidhdhar is believed to have discovered the secret of a plant that provides youth and both he and Thirumoolar benefited from it. The place where the two of them regained their youth is nearby and the village is called Ilam Pillai (young boy). As he sat in penance the ages passed and he merged with Lord Shiva to became the Lingam here, thus giving the name Sidhdheeswarar. The Kanjamalai Hill is believed to have yielded Gold in the ancient days and it is also believed that the gold used to cover the shrine at Chidambaram Nataraja Temple came from here. This is also considered the place where King Adhiyamaan gave Gooseberry fruits to Avvaiyar.

Directions

Sidhdheeswarar Kanjamalai is about 15 kilometers west of Salem on the road to Elampillai.

Stay and Food

None locally except small eateries. The closest for food and stay would be Salem.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples