Bhavani, Tamil Nadu

Legend

According to Hindu legends, Kubera, son of Visirava (Visrava) was given 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 Kaveri 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 Kaveri, 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 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.

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.

Culture

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

Geography

Bhavani is located at 11.45°N 77.68°E / 11.45; 77.68. It has an average elevation of 193 metres (633 feet). 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 the invisible mystic Sarasvati River. Hence this place is known as the Triveni Sangam of South. The Sangameswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built at the confluence of these rivers, is a sacred place for Hindus. The temple is located on the northern bank where the rivers meet. The five hill temples of this area such as Sankari, Tiruchengode, Padmagiri, Mangalagiri and Vedagiri are surrounding this Temple.

Demographics

According to 2011 census, Bhavani had a population of 39,225 with a sex-ratio of 1,005 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 3,519 were under the age of six, constituting 1,830 males and 1,689 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 8.29% and .1% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 77.12%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The town had a total of 11147 households. There were a total of 17,664 workers, comprising 65 cultivators, 61 main agricultural labourers, 1,114 in house hold industries, 15,575 other workers, 849 marginal workers, 8 marginal cultivators, 45 marginal agricultural labourers, 146 marginal workers in household industries and 650 other marginal workers. As per the religious census of 2011, Bhavani had 93.33% Hindus, 4.24% Muslims, 2.35% Christians, 0.01% Sikhs, 0.05% following other religions and 0.02% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.

Transport

Bhavani is well connected with City buses to almost all parts of the district of Erode. 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 Kaveri river at the northern end of the town. Currently the new bus station is active. During festive seasons, when the main roads are closed connecting Old & New bus stands, the Old bus stand acts as the main bus stand for the buses coming from south i.e. from Gobichettipalayam, Salem, Erode, Coimbatore; similarly the New bus stand would cover buses from north - Anthiyur, Sathyamangalam, Mettur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Bengaluru. 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 temple.

Politics

Bhavani is part of the Tiruppur Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu. Earlier, before the rearrangement of constituencies in 2008, it was part of the Gobichettipalayam constituency.

Bhavani Jamakkalam

Bhavani Jamakkalam refers to blankets and carpets manufactured in Bhavani. It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2005-06. In the late nineteenth century, competition from British made textiles led Indian weavers to invent new types of garments. In Bhavani, a community of weavers called Jangamars weaved a type of blanket using colored coarse threads called Jamakkalam. The popularity of the product led to the production of jamakkalams by other weavers replacing the production of traditional sarees and other cloths.