ENKAN SUBRAMANIYAR TEMPLE

Moolavar : Subramaniaswami Though a Shiva temple, the importance is for Lord Muruga. Urchavar : Subramaniaswami Amman / Thayar : Periyanaki Thala Virutcham : Vanni tree Theertham : Kumara theertham Agamam / Pooja : - Old year : 500-1000 years old Historical Name : Sameevanam City : Enkan District : Tiruvarur State : Tamil Nadu

Singers: The temple is praised in the hymns of Arunagiriar’s Tirupugazh. Festival: 14 day Thai Poosam-Brahmmotsavam in January-February is grandly celebrated in the temple. A king, Simmavarman by name was cursed with a Lion’s face by Sage Brugu. For relief, the king prayed to Enkan Lord Muruga bathing in the Vruddha Cauveri River (Vottaru). On a Thain Poosam star day (January-February) combined with Full Moon, Lord Muruga appeared before the king and restored his human face. This festival day is grandly celebrated in the temple carrying Kavadi on their shoulders. Other festivals are monthly Kruthika star days, 8 day Skanda Sashti in Aipasi (October-November), Karthikai in November-December, Masi Karthikai (February-March), Deepavali, Pongal, Tamil and English New Year Days. Temple's Speciality: In the month of Panguni (March-April), the rays of Sun fall on Lord Brahmmapureeswarar for three days. It is noteworthy that the idols of Lord Muruga in Sikkal, Ettukudi and Enkan temples were sculpted by the same artist showing the Lord on His peacock vehicle. The idols are made with rare sculptural skill that the whole weight of the idol rests on a single leg of the peacock. A rare craftsmanship. Opening Time:

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Address: Sri Subramaniaswami Temple, Enkan, Tiruvarur district. Phone: 9962 119119           7305 119119 General Information: The temple was built during the rule of Kulothungan II. Though a Shiva temple, Lord Muruga enjoys greater importance here. Presiding deity graces in the name of Lord Brahmmapureeswarar and Lord Vinayaka as Nardana Vinayaka.

Prayers Devotees pray for restoration from impaired vision. They also undertake fasting on Tuesdays for good health free from any ailment and on Kruthika star days for prosperity. Those facing adverse aspects of planet Jupiter light ghee lamps on Thursdays and are blessed with wisdom, education and prosperity. Devotees also pray for happy wed lock, child boon, job opportunities, trade developments and promotion in jobs. Lord Muruga takes all care of his devotees. Thanks giving: Devotees perform abishek to Lord Muruga with milk, curd, honey, rosewater, sandal, turmeric, oil, scented powders, panchamirtham made of five ingredients etc. They carry Kavadi, offer hair by tonsuring, sheep and cocks and their farm yields. They offer vastras to Lord Brahmmapureeswara and Mother Periyanayaki. Arrange feeding, distribution of Prasad to visiting devotees and offer what they could for the maintenance and renovation projects of the temple. Greatness Of Temple: The shrine of Lord Muruga is called Sabha as He has the attributes of Lord Shiva and facing South. The Sabha is a hall where Lord Nataraja performed His dance, an importance related to Chidambaram temple. Also, Lord Muruga’s facing south has two philosophies. Lord Dakshinamurthy is a south facing God granting wisdom to devotees. Yama the God of Death belongs to the South. Lord Muruga protects His devotees from fear of death ensuring longevity. Many had experienced these effects praying to the Lord. The one wonder of the temple is that those suffering from impaired vision are blessed with bright eye sight if they perform Shanmugarchana to Lord Muruga continuously for 12 months on each Vishaka star days. Lord Muruga graces from His shrine sitting on the peacock vehicle with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. Of the six faces of the Lord, three are in front and three behind. The Lord holds Vel his special weapon, arrow, sword, discus, pasam the rope, trident, bow, armour, cock flag angusam etc. in His 12 hands. The gap between the fingers are clearly visible, a sculptural marvel. The other wonder is that the entire weight of the idol firmly stands on a single leg of the peacock. Here is the story of the idol. Chola king Mutharasan, seeing the beauty of the idol of Muruga thought there should be no such idol anywhere. So, he claimed the right thumb of the sculptor.Yet, the sculptor made a similar beautiful idol for the Ettukudi temple without the support of the right thumb. The jealous king went further and plucked off the eyes of the sculptor. He came to Sameevanam and started working on a third idol with the help of a little girl. When the idol was nearing completion, the chistle (Uli) fell on the girl’s eyes spilling blood on the sculptor’s eyes restoring his eye sight. Sameevanam is now known as Enkan. Enkan is also the place where Brahamma worshipped Lord Shiva with His eight eyes. This is the place where Lord Muruga taught Pranava Mantra to Brahmma obeying His Father’s directions. Sage Arunagiriar has sung the glory of the place in his Tirupuazh hymns.

Temple History: Lord Muruga demanded Lord Brahmma to explain the meaning of Pranava Mantra. He could not. Lord Muruga put Brahamma in prison and took up the creation job too. Though Brahmma was released later, he could not get back His assignment. Brahamma began worshipping Lord Shiva with His eight eyes. When Lord Shiva asked Muruga to leave the job to Brahamma, Muruga politely refused saying that He was not qualified for the job as He did not know the meaning of Pranava. Lord Shiva advised Muruga to teach the Mantra to Brahmma and reinstate Him in his place. Lord Muruga obeyed His Father and taught Pranava to Brahamma. As Brahmma worshipped Lord Shiva with His eight eyes (En Kan), the place also came to be known as Brahmmapuram. So goes the sthala purana – story of the land.

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