Thirumeni Azhagar Temple, Pazhavoor, Thirunelveli

Thirumeni Azhagar Temple, Pazhavoor, Thirunelveli

Thirumeni Azhagar Temple is located at Pazhavoor Village in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is Thirumeni Azhagar (Sastha) with his consorts Poorna and Pushkala. It is located very near to Veeravanallur. It is an ancient temple of Sastha where he is sitting in a wonderful style.

Legends

This temple is more than 1200 years old. During the British regime orders came from higher ups to demolish the temple to build a dam at that site. All the people approached the Collector with a plea not to demolish the temple of their deity. “Who are “you” to plead not to demolish the temple? Whomsoever you say as the owner of the temple let that Saastha come and tell me. I shall then take a final decision.” “The owner of the temple (Sastha) himself spoke directly to the Collector and got the dam shifted to another site”.

The Temple

Presiding Deity is Thirumeni Azhagar (Sastha) with his consorts Poorna and Pushkala. The idol of Lord Ganesh and along with him three parivara ganangals (followers and bodyguards) are also there. As Sakthi Swaroopini Vana Pechi Amman (speaking deity of forest) idol was there. With Trishul (trident) and the skull in the hands she is seen as Bhairavi.  On one side Maadan and the other Karuppan are located. Both are Swaabhaaviga Ugramoorthys (by nature ferocious). But here they were in Prasanna Saannidhyam (pleasant disposition) could be felt very clearly.

It is a small temple only. But the Murthy (Lord) and its Keerthy (Fame) are immeasurable. Only Balakrishnan (Lord Krishna as a Child) in some idols dressed in a peculiar hairstyle, with a bunch of hairs as a Kona Kondai, (slanted tuft) in front side of the head. With such a slanted “tuft” Lord Thirumeni Azhagar is seen seated with his consorts Poorna and Pushkala. He is the Kula Deivam (family deity) for about 1000 families.  He is the family deity of “Palai” Sri Bhaskara Iyer who was nominated as his representative at Sabarimalai by the Lord Himself. In this temple every year Varushabishegam is celebrated on Panguni Uthiram day.

Connectivity

It is located at about 15 Kms from Veeravanallur, 30 Kms West of Thirunelveli, 170 Kms from Madurai & 157 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Veeravanallur and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.