Agastheeswarar Temple, Thiruchunai, Madurai
Agastheeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva located at Thiruchunai Village on a hillock near Melur in Madurai
District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called
as Agastheeswarar and Mother is called as Padagavalli Ambal.
Legends
On the
occasion of the wedding of Lord Shiva with Mother Parvathi, as large number of
Devas and Maharshis gathered there, due to their collective weight, north went
down and south came upward. To balance the earth level, Lord Shiva asked Muni Agasthya
to go to South. The Rishi felt sad that he could not have the luck of witnessing
the divine wedding. The Lord assured him that he would grant his darshan at any
place he wishes on his way.
On his
journey to Pothigai, Agasthya stayed on this hill for a while and wished to see
the wedding darshan. He created a spring for his bath. He spilled the water on
a rock and worshipped it as Lord Shiva. Lord appeared on a rock opposite to
this with Mother Parvathi. As the Lord granted darshan to Agasthya, He is known
as Agastheeswarar.
The
Temple
Presiding
Deity is called as Agastheeswarar and Mother is called as Padagavalli Ambal.
While Lord Agastheeswarar is facing east, Mother Padagavalli faces south. While
traditionally, Lord Muruga graces from the hill, here Lord Shiva is installed
in the hill. As Lord Shiva granted his wedding darshan here, people perform
family marriages in this temple.
Lord Sun
God generally appears alone at the entrance of the temple. Rarely he graces with
his consorts Pradyusha and Usha in the Navagraha group. In this temple, Sun God
graces at the entrance of the temple with his consort Usha. Pradyusha is
absent. This is said to be a rare form in a temple.
Lord
Dakshinamurthy with his disciples, Lingodhbava and Mother Durga grace in the
corridor-prakara. There are also shrines for the great four Saivite Saints
called Nalvar, Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai and
Chandikeswarar. Maharshi Agasthya graces from a separate shrine.
Theertham
associated with this temple is Sunai Theertham (Spring water). The spring water
is perennial and never dries. The sacred Theertham is behind the Shiva shrine.
As this spring was worshipped as Lord Shiva Himself, it is named Thiruchunai.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple remains open from 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Festivals
Sivarathiri
and Thiru karthigai are the festivals celebrated in this Temple with much
fanfare.
Prayers
Devotees
pray for removal of obstacles in marriage efforts, for child boon and progress
in education. People perform abishek and offer vastras to Lord and Mother.
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 2 Kms from Karungalakudi, 9 Kms from Kottampatty, 17
Kms from Melur, 48 Kms from Madurai, 49 Kms form Madurai Railway Junction and
57 Kms from Madurai Airport. This Temple is situated close to Kottampatty on
the Madurai – Trichy highway and the nearest bus stop is located at Karungalakudi
(2 Kms).
Location
References
