Aavundeeswarar Temple, Nemam – The Temple
This
temple is facing east with five tiered Rajagopuram. But the rajagopuram is south facing. Presiding Deity is called as Aavundeeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of the Lingam. Nandi is facing the Lord through a window.
Cow leg mark can be seen over Shivalingam. Presiding Deity is a Bana Linga on a
square Avudaiyar. Lingam is 4.5 feet tall. The roof of the sanctum sanctorum is
hexagonal as prescribed by the Agama. Mother is called as Amirthambigai. Mother
Amirthambigai is seen with her head tilted to the right and left knee bent as
if to place a foot forward, waits to listen to the prayers of each one of
her devotees, and grant them instantly.
There is
a shrine for Amudha Yogeeswara Bhairavar at the temple. It is believed that he
guards the temple at night. Worshipping
this Bhairava on Saturdays rids one of problems faced due to Shani Dasa and
also due to Seivinai (Mantrikam/Sorcery). This temple is also said to be the final
resting place of Gantha Siddhar.
There
are shrines for Bala Vinayaka, Chandrasekhara, Muruga, Veerabhadra, Dhakshinamoorthy,
Brahma, Vishnu, Vishnu Durga, Chandikeswara, Navagrahas, Shani Bhagavan, Kasi
Viswanathar and Saptha Matrikas can be seen in the temple premises. A
remarkable feature of this temple is the existence of Jyeshta Devi.
The
Oushadha Theertham is located behind the temple premises. It is believed that the theertham has medicinal properties. It is believed that the Ashtadikpalakas took bath in
this tank to get rid of their sins. This is a Pitru moksha (ancestor
salvation) sacred space, worshipped by illustrious Pitru ancestral beings
during the 96 shannavadhi special Tharpanam days of each year.
