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The shrine is praised in the Thevaram hymns of saint Tirugnanasambandar. This is 7th Shiva shrine on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.

Sun God in the Navagraha shrine is with His two consorts Usha and Pradyusha both facing each other. Lord Kailasanatha graces from a separate temple left of this temple. The temple has four theerthas Brahmma Theertham, Madhu Theertham, Kumara Theertham and Padma theertham. It is said that the hill of this place is but a piece of the Meru mount split by Vayu God of Wind when a competition arose between him and the divine serpent Adisesha to decide the power of their physical strength.

There is Lord Shanmugha Subramnaya?s shrine with His consorts Valli and Deivanai between the 2 Kasiviswanatha shrines behind the sanctum sanctorum. There is the Shatkona Chakra below His Peeta. Worshipping Lord Shanmughasubramanya along with this Chakra brings immense benefits to the devotee, it is said. Selva Vinayaka graces the devotees in the temple.

Shiva Linga in the sanctum sanctorum is in an ant-hill shape with ups and downs without a perfect shape. It is a sand Linga, hence no abishek is performed. Only oil application is followed. As there is a gap in between, it appears as if there are two Lingas. It is said that the right side is of Shiva part and the left as Shakti part, hence praised as Shivasakthi Linga. As ants (Erumbu in Tamil) are consuming the nivedhana objects in the sanctum, it is believed that Lord Shiva Himself is acknowledging the nivedhana offers during the Pujas. This darshan is considered very important by the devotees. It is also believed that Rathi, wife of Manmatha Cupid worshipped the Lord praying that her alluring beauty should not make her proud.

Swarnakala Bhairava shrine is in the prakara corridor with a furious look. Mother Gajalakshmi is opposite to Bhairava in a separate shrine. Worshipping both simultaneously relieves the devotee from fears and ensures prosperity in family. Mother Narunkuzhal Nayaki Mother with a fragrant hair graces from a shrine facing south. Different Alankaras are followed for the mother each day. Just before Mother Narunkuzhal Nayaki there is an idol of a Mother worshipped in olden days. Of the two dwarapalakas in the Lords shrine, one looks angry, the other smiling. People generally known for their temperate qualities, become softer after worshipping the Lord, it is believed. The one special feature in the temple is Lord Sankara Narayana combining the greatness of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and Lord Nataraja with anklets behind the presiding Lord Shiva goshta wall.

Devas, an elite community in the celestial world lost all their wealth and position to demon Tharakasura. They approached Lord Brahmma for remedy. He advised them to worship Lord Shiva in this place with flowers and assured them that the demon would be killed by Him. To escape the attention of the demon, Devas took the form of ants (Erumbu in Tamil) to worship Shiva. As the Linga was too soft and slippery and steep, they could not reach the top of the Linga. All merciful Lord, changed His form as an ant-hill also leaning slightly to facilitate their pujas to Him. Lord came to their rescue, destroyed the demon. He is praised as Erumbeeswarar. Lord Shiva in the temple is a swyambumurthy. There is gap in the middle of the Linga as if it is twin Linga. This is explained as Shiva-Shakti form. As ants go in line in the sanctum sanctorum during pujas, it is said that Lord, in the form of ants, accepted the pujas offered to Him.

Moolavar: Erumbeeswarar, Erumbeezar, Madhuvaneswarar, Pipplikeswarar

Urchavar: Somaskandar

Amman / Thayar:Narunkuzhal Nayaki, Soundaranayagi, Madhuvaneswari

Thala Virutcham:Vilwa

Theertham: Brahmma theertham

Agamam / Pooja:Kameekam

Old year: 1000-2000 years old

Pathigam: Thirunavukarasar

Historical Name:Erumbiyur

This temple is located 11 Kms east of Tiruchy by road. Tiruverumbur railway station is on the Tiruchy Thanjavur section of the Southern Railway.

According to the legend, when Devas suffered by the attack of demon king Taarukasuran, Lord Brahma advised them to go this Sthalam amd worship Lord Shiva here. Accordingly Devas came to this Sthalam and to escape from the demon king, they took the form of ants and started worshipping Shiva. Devas, in the disguise of ants, found it difficult to climb the Sivalingam and pray God Shiva in view of the lingams smooth surface. God Shiva, to make it easy for the ants to pray, manifested himself as a Lingam in the form of an anthill. Because ants (Erumbu in Tamil) worshipped the Lingam here, Lord Shiva is known as Erumbeeswarar.

Brahma, Indiran, fire god Agni, Murugan, Sage Agasthiyar, Sage Naimisa Munivar are said to have worshipped Lord Shiva here.

The temple is situated on a small hill and one has to climb 125stone steps to reach the top of the hill. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is built of stone. The main entrance to the temple is facing east and there are2 prakarams. On both side of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum, the mages of Vinayakar and Velavar are found. The presiding deity is facing west. There are shrines for Somaskandar, Murugan, Gajalakshmi, Kasi Viswanathar, Lakshmi and Bhairavar in the inner prakaram. The festival in the Tamil month of Vaikasi runs for 10 days and is of special importance here.

Lord Shiva in the temple is Swayambumurthy. Vaikasi Brahammotsavam in (May-June), Shivrathri in (February-March), Aipasi Annabishekam in (October-November), Tirukarthikai in (November-December) are the festivals observed in the temple.

Prayer to Lord relieves the devotee from laziness and turns him/her active. Harships in life will vanish.

Devotees offer vastra and sweet pudding sarkarai pongal as nivedhana.

The temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Sri Erumbeeswarar Temple, Tiruverumbur, Trichy ? 620 013. Contact Number +91431 6574 738, +9198429 57568.

Do:

Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
Do not smoke at Temple.
Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.