Agastheeshwarar Temple, Agathiyampalli, Nagapattinam –
History
The
recorded history of Agathiyampalli and the regions around it is found from the
inscriptions in Agastheeshwarar Temple and the Vedaranyeswarar Temple. The inscriptions date from the reign of Rajaraja
Chola I (985–1014 CE), Rajendra
Chola I (1012–1044 CE)
and Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE) indicating various grants to the
temple.
Agathiyampalli
continued to be a part of the Chola Empire and the Chola region emerged as a
centre of Saivism during the reign of Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE). After
the fall of Cholas during the reign of Rajendra
Chola II in the 13th century
CE, the erstwhile Chola region was caught under a power struggle between
Pandyas and Hoysalas. The royal patronage continued to the temple during the
rule of the Nayaks.
The
Negapatam region (modern day Nagapattinam district) was briefly captured by
French troops led by Lally (1702–66 CE) in 1759 CE. The Tanjore district was annexed by British after the French failed to
subdue the king of Tanjore. In modern times, the temple is maintained and
administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of
Tamilnadu.