Agastheeshwarar Temple, Sembangudi, Thiruvarur
Agastheeshwarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva located at Sembangudi Village in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu.
Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeshwarar and Mother is called as Anandhdhavalli.
As per Hindu Mythology, once there was a Pralayam (“Pralayam” means “Cyclone”)
created by Lord Siva, as evil took an upper hand in the world and Agasthiyar
was in his meditation, he did not realize that his Kamandalam, containing genes
for the creation of next generation, post world destruction, is moving along
the stream.
When he woke up from his meditation, he realized his
miss, went to Lord Shiva for help. By Lord Shiva’s grace, Agasthiyar found the Kamandalam
near Kudavasal, near the Cauvery river bank. However, he could not open the
same and went back to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva with his Banasthram (one
of the various asthrams) broke open the Kamandalam and the same hit a place,
which is called as “Kudavasal” and the water from the Kamandalam started
flowing as a river, which is called as River Kudamurutti. Later, this
river is named as “Chozha Sudamani” by the Chola king.
As a mark of respect and devotion, Maharishi Agasthiyar
consecrated the Dhyanalingam in the river bank of “Chozha Sudamani”, performed
Poojas and rituals. The Lingam worshipped by Agasthya is housed in the sanctum
of this Temple. Four Kala Poojas are performed in this temple. At each kalam, neivedhyam
followed by Deeparadhana to Agastheeshwarar, Natarajar and Ananthavalli, in
three phases.
The Temple is located at about 11 Kms from Kudavasal, 6
Kms from Srivanchiyam, 16 Kms from Thiruvarur, 5 Kms from Engan and 110 Kms
from Trichy. Nearest Railway Station is located at Thiruvarur and Nearest
Airport is located at Trichy.