Aragalur - Tourism

Tourism

Temples are primary attraction and few select days in the year are special for each of the big temples. Taking the god for a tour in the evening happens on auspicious occasions around the Raja Vedi. Aragalur celebrates many festivals like Pongal where the friends and relatives of nearby villages are invited.

Shiva: Bhairavar puja is celebrated in a grand way at the Sri Kamanada Eswar temple 11°33′46″N 78°47′18″E / 11.562717°N 78.788238°E / 11.562717; 78.788238 on the 8th day after the new moon day (Ashtami) at midnight. This is probably the only temple having like this Bairavar pooja in Tamil Nadu. On the day before Panguni Uthiram, morning sun-ray directly falls on the Lingam and is worshiped at this time by small number of traditional local families. This next occurs on March 18, 2011. This temple has a Temple tank, though dry for most part of the year. Kameshwara temple stala Purana indicates that the Kamadeva woke up Siva at this place. There is a village named Kaamakkaapaliyam in this locality. Sri Kamanada Eswar temple was built prior to 1206 CE and hosts many Epigraphs of historic and Archaeological importance and it is maintained by Tamil Nadu Government Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments ministry. The epigraphs were collected by the British Raj in 1931CE and numbered it 408 - 455. Bhirava pooja here is recent phenomena - since September 17, 1993CE, and it is getting very popular and the village bustles with transient business. The vimana is of 3 levels and it has Temple tank.

Ashta Bhairavar icons installed at Aragalur are : Asitanga, Kala, Kapala, Krodha, Rudra, Ruru, Samhara & Unmatta.

Vishnu: Rajaraja Vanar Kovaraiyan built Karivaradha Perumal Kovil (Vishnu) 11°33′45″N 78°47′21″E / 11.562402°N 78.789074°E / 11.562402; 78.789074 in 12th century that is facing West. There are nice Dasavatara murals with the 9th avatar as Budha. This temple has a Temple tank having water. Its water is not used or minimally used for the ritualistic activity. This is parrikara sthalam for the people with stars Uthiradam, Thiruvonam, Avittam & Moolam. The vimana is of 3 levels and it has Temple tank.

Both the Sri Kamadada (consort's temple pillar) and Karivaradha Perumal (roof) temples have the sun, moon and the dagger Royal Insignia of the Vijayanagara Empire embossed on the granite wall/pillar.

Solesvaran Temple: 11°33′43″N 78°47′15″E / 11.562002°N 78.787401°E / 11.562002; 78.787401This temple gives the old name for the village as 'Thayinum nalla chozhiswaram'. The temple is constructed using Granite stones with no mortar. There is one inscription in the temple, Nandi in separate Mandapa. There is another small temple for the goddess adjacent to the Solesvaran temple and the construction is similar to the mail temple. Locals believe that this was constructed by/in honor of Kulothunga Chola III. In 2007, volunteers have cleared the vegetation over growth on the roof of this temple.

Ambairamman temple11°34′16″N 78°47′17″E / 11.571147°N 78.788109°E / 11.571147; 78.788109, on the Vasishta Nadi, has 2 Vinayakars that's not as common.

Temple cars: (Donated by Eramanchi Tulukanna Nayaka 1518 under Vijayanagara Empire ruler Krishnadevaraya) in ruins - not maintained. The art work is brilliant even in the current condition.

Buddha temple: The Budha 11°33′39″N 78°46′48″E / 11.56093°N 78.779955°E / 11.56093; 78.779955temple and Buddha statues are found in the neighboring village Thiyaganur is another attraction to visitors.

For the visitors who have extra time on their hand there is no shortage of temples, small and big, in this small village. There are 21 temples for the tiny population of this village.

Bronze Jain statues were present in this village. They are probably moved to Salem museum.

International tourists have visited Aragalur in 2007 as part of Agritourism due to promotion of Organic Farming by few enterprising farmers - using the Hospitality service.

There are couple of restaurants that provide basic food to the locals and tourists. For accommodation, Attur is the nearest desirable place.

There are 12 Siva temples located on villages through which Vasishta Nadi flows. These include the panchaboodhas (Five Classical Elements or Tattva): Belur Thandodreswarar (land), Ethapur Sambavamoortheswarar (water), Attur Kottai Kayanirmeshwarar (Fire), Aragalur Kamanadeshwarar (Air) & Koogayur Swarnapurieswarar (Sky).