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.