Arani Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar Temple

Arani Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar Temple

Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar temple is at Arani in Tamilnadu.The place Arani got its name as it lies on the banks of Arani river which was known as Brahmaranya River in ancient days.

Lord Shiva has 5 faces; Isaanam, Thathpurusham, Vamadhevam, Sathyojaatham and Agoram. There are 5 Shiva temples (Pancha Brahma Sthalams) near Chennai, representing each of the 5 faces of the Lord. Out of 5, this temple represents the Vamadheva face of Lord Shiva. This place was also called as Vamadhevapuram in ancient days.

This 2000 year old ancient temple of Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar temple’s Rajagopuram is very elegant and antique.

Legend

It is said that this village had lots of Sampangi (flower) plants all over. A man who owned many cows in this village, saw one of his cows going alone in the bushes and pouring milk by its own. Surprised by this act of his cow, the man and few villagers curiously went and cut the bushes off including a Sampangi plant to see what’s under bush. To his surprise, he saw a beautiful Shiva Lingam in the ground which was bleeding as the Axe had hit while cutting off the Sampangi plants.

Guilty of his act, the man cut his own hand off as he felt he had done an irreversible sin. The man’s wife pleaded to Lord Shiva and with his blessings the man got back his hand. Since the Lord evolved from the Sampangi bush and gave the man’s hand as biksha (alm), He came to be known as Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar.

Lord Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswar is present inside the sanctum, facing east. The inner prakaarams are too nice with pillars and carvings. Goddess Sri Sivakaamavalli is present adjacent to the sanctum.