Swetharanyeswarar Temple
| Swetharanyeswarar Temple [Bhudhan Temple] | |
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![Swetharanyeswarar Temple [Bhudhan Temple] is located in Tamil Nadu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:India_Tamil_Nadu_location_map.svg)
![Swetharanyeswarar Temple [Bhudhan Temple]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Om_symbol.svg/8px-Om_symbol.svg.png "Swetharanyeswarar Temple [Bhudhan Temple]"){kind=small} Swetharanyeswarar Temple [Bhudhan Temple]
Location in Tamil Nadu
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| Name | |
| Other names | Aadhi Chidambaram |
| Tamil | திருவெண்காடு |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 11°10′31″N 79°48′34″E / 11.17528°N 79.80944°ECoordinates: 11°10′31″N 79°48′34″E / 11.17528°N 79.80944°E |
| Country |
 India
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| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Nagai |
| Location | Sirkazhi, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Swetharanyeswarar (Shiva) |
| Consort | Brahma Vidya (Parvathi) |
| Poets | Appar, Sundarar, Sambandhar and Manikavasagar |
| Important festivals | Tamil Masi Month 10 days |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
| History and governance | |
| Date built | 1000-2000 years old |
Swetharanyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the town of Thiruvenkadu near Sirkazhi. The main deity is Shiva - Swetharanyeswarar ("lord of white forest") and the goddess is Brahma Vidya ambal. There is a separate Sannidhi for Budha (mercury). The temple is quite large and all four important Saivite saints have sung in praise of this lord.
This temple is especially known for its unique incarnate of Lord Shiva called "Agora Murthi". He is one of the main god who is being prayed in this village.
Thiruvengadu village is also famous for its unique structure of pools in temples. This temple has 3 pools, 3 Gods. It is a belief that who takes bath in all these pools, the one will be free from their problems like diseases, delay in marriage, etc.,.
Swetharanyeswarar is the main God in this temple. It is said that Agora Murthi was one of the furious incarnation of Lord Shiva. There was an Evil named "Maruthuvasuran" in Thiruvengadu. He had a deep meditation on Lord Bhrama for power. Being satisfied with his meditation, Lord Bhrama offered him many powers. But he used those powers in a wrong ways. He started to torture the saints and innocent people. Having nothing to do, all the saints and people requested Lord Shiva to put an end to this evil. As they asked, Lord Shiva took his incarnation 'Agora murthi' and killed the 'Maruthuvasuran under a tree (which is now in Thiruvengadu temple, back to the entrance of Agora murthi). All the people thanked Lord Shiva for saving them. The place is called by other names like Swetaranyam, Adi Chidambaram and Nava Ntirya Stala.
There are many festivals which are being celebrated in this village. It includes the chariot festival which is celebrated every year in the month of February. This Chariot festival is celebrated for 10 days. On 5th day a special occasion is celebrated for Lord Agora Murthi. People from many surrounding villages would come here and pray here for their better life.
This Shiva temple is one of the 6 most sacred places on the banks of river manikanigai and Cauvery which is considered as equivalent to the temple at Varanasi. The other 5 shivasthalams are Thiruvaiyaru, Chaayaavanam, Mayiladuturai, Tiruvidaimarudur and Tiruvanchiyam.
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