Hinduism
accords great importance to rivers and calls them goddesses.
They not only irrigate crops, but help humanity in several
ways. Due to their association with the highest celestials,
they are worshipped at their sources and other places like
confluence, and joining the seas. Due to their perennial
flow of sweet water, they are aptly named Jeevanadhis.
These
river goddesses purge of the sins mankind. Undoubtedly a
dip, or even sip of river water is believed to shower multifarious
blessings. People crave for bath in them, specifically in
eclipse and New moon days. Orthodox Hindus after pindas-oblation
to their manes in the holy rivers. Much more can be said
of their sacrosanct glory and hence almost all major temples
are built on the banks of rivers. Pilgrim centers situated
on their banks are called "Thirtha Kshetras".
This
famous ancient temple too claims a river and goes by name
Shanmuga river. And it is about 5.km of Adivaram foot of
temple and accessible by bus or rickshaw on the bank of
this there is situated Peru-Udayar temple dedicated to Lord
Siva. As it lies a minds sylvan setting, its multicolored
beuty serves a grand feast to the eyes. The temple is enshrined
with a big "Swayambhu Linga"and hence deemed of
having great pull and sacredness.
There are many mini shrines installed with Saiva Gods, like
Dakshnamurthi, Chandikeswarar, Vinayaka etc. Strange to
observe that no female deity greets anywhere here. It is
plus point is - that every Kavadi bearer visiting the hill
temple bathers in this for auspiciousness. It has arrangement
for easeful bath and so preferred for pindapradan and postmortem
rituals to be offered to the dead. There lie many other
temples in its vicinity dedicated to female deities too.
