Sukavaneswarar Temple, also called Sugavaneshwarar Temple, is an ancient shrine located at Salem in the Tamil Nadu state of India. It is one of the historic temples mainly worshipped by the people for marriage and job. The temple is famous for its exquisite architecture and surrounding beauty. It is visited by a number of people and devotees from various parts of the country.

Naming of Sukavaneswarar Temple
The name of the temple is due to the fact that a parrot got his wish from the image of God. The temple is also known by names like Babanasar, Kili Vanathar, Nahisar, Pattesurar and Mummudinathar.

History of Sukavaneswarar Temple
The temple dates back to the Sangam Period and is over 2000 years old. The temple is said to have been worshipped by the mythological sage Suka Muni - the king of parrots. It is also said that the Saint Poetess Auvaiyar performed miracles here and that the monarchs of Chola, Chera and the Pandya kingdoms visited this shrine to attend the marriage of the adopted daughter of Auvaiyar. There are several shrines in this temple but Goddess Swarnambika is more famous. The glories of this temple have been sung by the Saivite Saint poets.

Deities of Sukavaneswarar Temple
The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva in lingam form which is known as the Sukavaneshwarar and his consort is known as Sri Swarnambikai Ammam. The other deities of the temple are Vainavi, Varahi, Gowmari, Maheshwari, Mahenthiri and Samundi. These deities are placed in the south side of the temple. Some deities like Vinayagar, Valanpuri and Iyyapan are located in the west side of the temple.

Attractions of Sukavaneswarar Temple
One of the primary attractions of this temple is its architecture. The temple is sprawled over two acres in the central part of the town. The entrance of the temple is on the South side and the temple looks towards the east. The front Mandapam and the Thiru Nanthi Mandapam are located opposite the entrance of the temple. The temple features lots of beautiful mural paintings of the gods of Southern style. The temple is home to many historical statues and monuments that are the reminiscences of the past. The gardens of the temple are adorned with hundreds of tall coconut and Vilwa trees and different varieties of flowers.

Festivals of Sukavaneswarar Temple
The temple organizes several festivals and pooja that are participated by a large number of people. Some of the popular festivals are Abhisegam procession, Sangadahara Sathoorthi, Thirukalyanam etc.