Bhavani, Tamil Nadu

This article is about a notable Hindu pilgrimage location in Tamil Nadu, India. For information about the famous Hindu temple situated there, see Thirunana page

Bhavani, Tamil Nadu Bhavani Mukkudal or Kooduthurai or Tiriveni Sangamam
city
Population  (2005)
• Total	54,645

Bhavani (பவானி) is a special grade Municipal area in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. It is being the Twin City of Erode, lies immediately next to the Erode City Municipal Corporation, like Palayamkottai - Tirunelveli and Srirangam - Tiruchirapalli.

It is a peninsular island area situated at the north of Erode City.

It lies at the confluence of the rivers Kaveri, the largest river in Tamil Nadu and Bhavani, the second largest river in Tamil Nadu, with Akash Ganga. Hence this place is known as the Triveni Sangamam of South.

The Sangameswarar Temple built at the confluence of these rivers, is a pilgrimage and tourism spot. This Siva Temple at Bhavani near Erode, in Kongu Naadu, is a shrine at the confluence of Bhavani, Cauveri and Amrutavahini rivers(Mukkoodal). The temple is located on the northern bank where the rivers meet. The name Thirunana that is "Themai nannaa oor”, literally means, no evil will befall in this city. Hence it is believed that no evil will befall those who visit this Temple.

The five hill temples of this area such as Sankagiri, Tiruchengode, Padmagiri, Mangalagiri and Vedagiri are surrounding this Temple.

Bhavani is also known as the Carpet city, as the leading business of the town is carpet export to European countries.

Bhavani is about 14 kms away from the Erode Junction Railway Station and nearly a 10 kms drive from the Central Bus Station at Erode.

The Stanley Reservoir or famously known as Mettur Dam, is 41 kms from Bhavani. The nearest railway junction is at Erode and the nearest airports are at Salem (56 kms) and at Coimbatore (100 kms).

Geography

bhavani is the smallest municipality in the world.worst city .no devolpment at all

River

Kaveri, Bhavani and Agaaya Gangai.

Bhavani River from Bhavanisagar Reservoir which is 65 kms west of Erode and River Cauvery from Stanley Reservoir(Mettur) at 45 kms to the north of the city, confluences with the holy imaginery river, Aakash Ganga at Bhavani.bathing many peoples

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Bhavani had a population of 58,645. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Bhavani has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 78% and female literacy of 66%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

But while considering with the Urban Agglomeration, along with Komarapalayam, which is on the eastern banks of Cauvery, the population is 1,05,986.

Sangameswarar Temple

A shot from NH-47 Bridge

History
According to Hindu legends, Kubera, son of Visirava (Visrava) was gifted with an aircraft in recognition of his devotion to Lord Shiva. While visiting all the Shiva temples at various places in the country, he saw an Ilandhai Jujube tree on the banks of the Cauvery river where the deer, tiger, cow, elephant, snake and the rat were drinking water without any sign of enmity among them. It was a place inhabited by holy men, gandharvas and such good people. Kubera heard a voice from the sky saying that the Vedas came to the earth at this place near the Ilandhai tree and that there was a Shivalinga beneath it and advised him to worship the Lord and reap the benefits. The Lord "Shiva" thereafter appeared before Kubera. At his request, the Lord also is named Alagesan.

This is the place where rivers Cauvery, Bhavani and Amirtha (invisible) meet. People perform rites here to satisfy their departed elders.

The other speciality in Bhavani is that when dead bodies are burnt, the skulls do not scatter as generally found in graveyards at other places. It is said that that this is because there are 1008 Sivalingas under the earth.

For cure from high fever, people offer rice prepared with pepper and jeeragam to the Lord and get cured. Besides these prayer offerings, people also come here for removal of obstacles to marriage etc.

There are heavy crowds here during new moon days and the 18th day of the Adi Tamil month (July–August). Devotees offer pujas to Mother Cauvery with coconut, fruits, flowers, earrings made of palm leaves, black pearls etc. It is a scene of great delight. Also, those who bathe in the confluence spot of Cauvery and Bhavani rivers during the Solar and Lunar Eclipse are said to attain salvation. They offer fine clothing to the Lord and the Goddess.

It is also believed that performing pujas and offering donation for righteous causes ensure the devotee with manifold benefits.

The Ilandhai tree in the temple yields sweet fruits offered to the Lord each day during puja times. Women seeking boon for begetting a child, consume the fruits and become fertile.

The Amirthalingeswarar in the temple is placed on a seat called Avudayar according to Saiva principles. It is a mobile one that can be removed and placed on the seat again. Men and women seeking boons for children take the Sivalinga, perform puja and walk around it for three times and place it back on the Avudayar. The Amirthalinga is in the southern entrance of the temple. The other names of the Lord here are Alagesan, Sangamanathar, Maruthulingam, Vakreswara, Nattatriwara and Thirunannavudayar.

The Goddess Vedanayaki is also known as Sangameswari, Bhavani Amman, Maruthunayaki and Vakreswari. It is said that the four Vedas came into being on this soil.

The holy waters of Bhavani are known as Cauvery theertham, Bhavani & Amirtha River, Surya theertham and Gayatri theertham. The temple is situated at the confluence spot of the Cauvery and Bhavani rivers, known as Kooduthurai. Of the seven holy Shiva centers of the Kongu Region, Bhavani is one. The scriptural name is Thirunana.

Reputation
As the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi are revered as Triveni Sangamam of the North, Bhavani is the Triveni Sangamam of the South with the confluence of rivers Cauvery, Bhavani and Amirtha. Lord Muruga is seated in between the Lord Shiva and the Goddess Vedanayaki in the temple. His posture is known as Somaskanthamurthy. Arunagiriyar in his Thirupugazh sang praises about this Lord Muruga. As the temple is in a pleasant environment on the banks of the three rivers, it is also a tourist center. Saint Thirugnanasambandar also sang praises of the Lord. The Goddess is praised in Pillaithamizh literature.

Festivals
The 13 days Car festival in the Tamil Month Chithirai (April–May) is the most famous in the temple attracting lakhs of devotees. Also on Adiperukku day, Ammavasyas, especially Thai Ammavasya, eclipse days are devotionally followed in the Bhavani temple by taking bath in the rivers and performing rites. Devotees from other states also come in large numbers during November and December months corresponding to Tamil Karthikai and Margazhi. During the Sabari mala season, lots of devotees come and do pujas in this temple, on their way to Kerala. Special pujas are performed to the Lord and Goddess on English and Tamil New Year days, Pongal and Deepavali days. The annual Bhrammotsavam here is celebrated in the month of Aadi (Cancer).

Accessibility
Bhavani is 11 kms from Erode, 101 kms from Coimbatore, 58 km from Salem and 40 km from Mettur. Transport facilities are readily available as Bhavani lies on the Erode - Mettur highway.

The nearest railway station is Erode Junction 15 kms and the nearest airport is at Coimbatore.

Description
This Shivastalam in Kongu Naadu, is a shrine at the confluence of Bhavani, Kaveri & Amrutavahini (Mukkoodal). It is believed that no evil will befall those who visit here (known as "Teemai nannaa ooru", hence "Tirunanaa"). Other Sanskrit names associated with this shrine are Dakshinaprayag, Dakshinabadri and Triveni Sangamam. This shrine is surrounded by the 5 hill shrines of the area such as Sankagiri, Tiruchengode, Padmagiri, Mangalagiri and Vedagiri. This temple is regarded as the 3rd of the 7 Thevara Stalams in the Kongu Region of Tamil Nadu.

Legends
Kuberan, Rama, Arjuna, Viswamitrar and Parasarar are said to have worshipped here. Legend goes that the remnants of the celestial nectar which came out of the milky ocean was buried here by Parasarar; who was protected from the demons by virtue of his devotion to Shiva; the remnants of the nectar turned into the Shivalingam.

The Temple
A shrine to Lord Subramanyar (Muruga) is situated between the Shiva and Ambal shrines; there is also an image of Jwarahareswarar in this temple. This temple covers a 4-acre (16,000 m²) area and it owns an ivory palanquin which was gifted by a European collector in the 19th century.

Temples

Apart from the famous Sangameshwarar temple, there are some more temples scattered in the town.

Sri Chelliyandi Amman Temple
This temple is located on the banks of Cauvery. It is near to the old bus station and Swami Vivekanandha School and GGHSS. The lord is Sri Chelliyandi Amman, who is the ladygod and the safeguard of the town. Around the temple, there are small shrines of Lord Ganesha, Lord Durga, Lord Bhairava. On the western side of the lord there present are ayyanar shrines and their horse statues.

Sri Mari Amman Temple
This temple is located next to Chelliyandi Amman temple. The people of the town consider the two temples as twin-temples. The lord is Sri Mari amman.

Sri Kasi Viswanatha Temple
This temple presents in the Agrahara street of the town. The lord is Kasi Viswanathar (Lord Shiva). Along with the lord there are small shrines of Kasi Visalatchi, Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga present inside the temple compound.

Sri Mari Amman Temple (West street)
This is also a Mari amman temple located in the west street. Recently it was modernised with tile floors. Initially alongwith the lord, pujas had been performed for Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru statues, which were kept inside the temple.

Sri Kamatchi Amman Temple
This temple is located in the Mudaliar street of the town. The lord is Kamatchi Amman. There are small temples for Mari amman, Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga at the entrance of the temple. Inside the temple compound there are temples for Lord shiva, lord Durga and Navgrahas. There is a garden present inside the temple. A marriage hall named as 'Sri Kamatchi Amman marriage hall' is present near to the temple.

Sri Samayapuram Mari Amman temple
This temple is located near the southern wall of the Government Boys Higher Secondary School. The lord is Mari amman. The town police station is opposite of the temple.

Sri Ayyanar Temples
These temples are located on the banks of the river bhavani at the western end of the town.

Transport

Bhavani is well connected with City buses to almost all parts of the district of Erode.

Route No. 5, 5-A, 5-B, 5-C connects Bhavani with BP Agraharam, Ceentral Bus Station, PS Park, Junction Railway Station, Surampatti and Govt. Hospital.

Route No. 3, 3-A, 3-B connects Bhavani with IRT Tech, Chithode, Mamarathupalayam and Central Bus Station.

Route No. B19 connects Bhavani with Kanakkampalayam.
Route No. B6 connects Bhavani with Kallipatti.
Route No. B6A connects Bhavani with Athani_(Tamil_Nadu).
Route No. S2 connects Bhavani with Komarapalayam.
Route No. 21 connects Bhavani with Gobichettipalayam.

Bus Stations
Bhavani has two bus stations. They are mentioned as Old and New bus stands. The old bus station is located on the banks of Bhavani river at the southern end of the town. The new bus station is located on the banks of Cauvery river at the northern end of the town. Currently the new bus station is active.

A horse-cart stand and an auto stand are now operating in old bus stand. They are helpful for the travelers and the devotees who come to visit the sangameshwarar temple.

The new bus station has two platforms. All the long travel buses (going to Salem,Attur, Mettur, Hosur, Dharmapuri,Krishnagiri, Bangalore, Chennampatti, Chennai,coimbatore,Tirupur) are available at the first platform. All the town buses ( going to Erode, Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam, Athani, Sathyamangalam, Aappakoodal) are available at the second platform. There are fruit shops, mobile shops, snacks shops, hotels, CD shops, book shops present in the new bus station.

Other than this, Bhavani is situated on the highway connecting Erode with Mettur and Coimbatore with Salem National Highways[NH-47] So, a lot of Mofussil service buses are also available.

Educational Institutions

Bhavani is famous for it's educational facilities among the surrounding villages and towns.

Government Higher Secondary Schools for both boys (GBHSS) and girls (GGHSS) are present in the town. Both of the schools have crossed 100 years in their service. Apart from them, there are schools as Vadakku palli, Swami Vivekanandha School, CSI School, St.Mary's Matriculation School are present.

Politics

Bhavani (State Assembly Constituency) is part of Tirupur (Lok Sabha constituency).