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Saturday, April 28, 2018

Agastheeshwarar Temple, Kolapakkam – The Temple

Agastheeshwarar Temple, Kolapakkam – The Temple
The temple is very small and does not have Rajagopuram. Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeshwarar / Vakeeswarar and is facing east. Nandi Mandapam is found facing towards the sanctum. There is no flag staff. Ganesha, Dakshina Murti, Lingodhbava, Brahma and Durga are found as the niche idols around the sanctum. Chandikeswara is found in his usual location. The small idols of Ganesh and Subramanya are found at the entrance of the sanctum. The sanctum is built in the Gajabrushta style.


The deity presiding in the temple is Lord Shiva but the prominence has been given to Surya Bhagavan. As, it is believed that Surya Bhagavan worshipped Lord Shiva here and is one of the Navagrahas temple of Chennai, devoted to Surya Bhagwan. Surya Bhagwan’s shrine is facing the lord to the west while Agastheeshwarar is facing east. Offerings of red cloth, red flowers and wheat are made by the devotees to Suryan.


Rajagopuram is south facing, whereas, all the other important deities are facing towards Surya Bhagwan, signifying the prominence of Surya Bhagwan in the temple. Mother is called as Ananthavalli. She is in standing posture and is facing south. A separate shrine of lord Ganesh known as Raja Ganapathy, is also present. At southwest portion of the temple are the shrines of Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, which are facing east.


There is a separate shrine for Lord Subramanyar along with his consort Valli and Deivanai. This shrine has a green peacock made of granite, known as Maragatha Mayil. There is a separate shrine for Kala Bhairavar in this Temple. Special puja is performed every Sunday to Kala Bhairavar during Rahu Kalam. Devotees believe that their wishes are fulfilled by worshiping Kala Bhairavar here for six consecutive Sundays.


There is also the Rinavimochana Lingeswarar who is supposed to free his devotees of all debts. According to scriptures, every human being is born with three types of debts. They are Deva Rina (debt to God), Rishi Rina (debt to Sages or Rishis) and Pitru Rina (debt to one’s ancestors). There are also well- defined means of repaying these debts. If a man does not repay these debts in his lifetime he will have another birth to repay. There is no escape from repaying these debts.


The unique feature is that the three main deities – The Sun God, Bairavar Idol and the Shivalingam are to be seen through Salaram (window) all at the same time. The Sthala Vriksham is Arasa Maram or Peepal tree. The holy Theertham is Amirtha Pushkarani found adjacent to the temple. The landscape and garden around this temple is maintained excellently.