Agastheeshwarar Temple, Ambasamudram, Thirunelveli
Agastheeshwarar
Temple is a Saivite temple situated at Ambasamudram in Thirunelveli District of
Tamilnadu. It is believed to be 1000 years Old. It is a big temple having
Agastya as the main deity. The mount (vahanam) of Lord Shiva, Nandi - the holy
bull, is the mount for the seer in this temple. Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeshwarar
and Mother is called as Lopamudra.
Legends
For
brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
Agastheeshwarar
temple is located at the heart of Ambasamudram town. It is slightly a bigger
temple with two entrances facing east and north directions. Both the entrances
have small and simple towers. Although the eastern entrance is supposed to be
the main one, the northern entrance is largely used by people today as it is
located on the main road. Although the temple is supposed to be very old as per
the legend, the current structure cannot be dated more than half a century.
Perhaps it could have been renovated multiple times.
There
are many temples named as 'Agastheeshwarar temples' in Tamilnadu. However,
they all are dedicated to Lord Shiva Lingas installed by the sage Agastya. However,
in Ambasamudram and Kallidaikurichi, the name Agastheeshwarar denotes to the
sage Agastya himself. This temple in Ambasamudram is dedicated to
him. He is the main deity who is present in the standing posture and his
sanctum sanctorum faces the east direction.
The main
shrine is built in the "maada kovil" architecture style (the main shrines
of God and Goddess are located on a raised platform). Agasthya and his consort
are worshipped as Agastheeshwarar and Lopamudra respectively. Kurumuni (Sage Agastya)
is having a separate shrine and graces in a standing form with Rudraksha mala
in right hand showing the Chin Mudra symbolizing the Jeevatma-Paramatma union
and the palm leaves in left. There is Nandhi before his shrine.
Outside
the sanctum, the shrine of the Goddess Lopamudra is located. She
resembles the posture of any typical Uma/Parvati/Amman in Shiva temples; she is
in the standing posture and holding a flower in her right arm. The flag staff,
Bali peetha and Nandi are placed facing the Agastya shrine. It should be noted
that the mount of Shiva, Nandi, is found here as the mount of the sage. The
temple has only one prakara. The exterior wall of the sanctum sanctorum has the
sub-shrines of Dhakshinamoorthi and Chandikeswara.
There is
a big sub-shrine where the big metal idols of Nataraja and Sivakami are found. Sri
Chandikeswara graces from a shrine in the prakara. Pujas are performed as to
Lord Shiva. Four night pujas are performed on Shivaratri day. On the temple’s
front side we can see Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati sitting on Nandi the
powerful bull which belongs to Lord Shiva and Sage Agasthya is worshipping
them.
There is
a north facing sub-shrine where a big and beautiful mural painting of
Agastya, Lopamudra and the other seers is found. Another east facing
sub-shrine named as 'Anna Mandapa' is also located in this temple, where a
small attractive metal idol of Agastya is placed. Every year during the 28th
day of Panguni month of Tamil calendar, cooked rice is placed inside the shrine
through the window located at the back side wall. People could notice the
footsteps of Agastya and also the mark of Kamandalu (an oblong water pot) in
that room on the very next day morning.
There is
one more sub-shrine where two attractive metal (Utsava) idols of Agastya and
Lopamudra are found. Beautiful Utsava idols of Ganesha, Shankaralinga and Gomati
in the sitting posture, Shankara Narayana (a combination of Shiva and Vishnu)
and Gomati in the standing posture, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena and Nalvar can be
found in this Temple.
There
are separate shrines for Saivite Saint Thirunavukkarasar, Thirugnana Sambandar,
Manickavasagar, Kanni Vinayaka, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, Lord Nataraja,
Bhairava and Sani Bhagwan. There are shrines for Lord Nataraja; Nalvar-four
celebrated Saivite Saints Thirugnana Sambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and
Manickavasagar, Sani Bhagwan and Bhairava in the prakara.
Festivals
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Prayers
Devotees
pray for the removal of obstacles in wedding matters and success in their endeavors.
Abishek are performed to Lord Agastheeshwarar offering vastras.
Contact
Sri Agastheeshwarar
Temple,
Ambasamudram
– 627 401,
Thirunelveli
District
Phone: +91 – 4634 – 250 882
Connectivity
The
temple is near the Ambasamudram bus stop. Ambasamudram is 37 Kms from
Tenkasi, 12 Kms from Veeravanallur, 47 Kms from Thirunelveli, 206 Kms from Madurai
and 143 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Ambasamudram.
Nearest Airport is located Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.
