Agastheeswarar Temple,
Kozhaiyur, Nagapattinam
Agastheeswarar Temple is a
Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Kozhaiyur Village in Kuthalam
Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu.
Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeswarar and Mother is called as Abhirami.
The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a
mention about this Temple. The place was called as Koozhaiyur in ancient times.
Legends
Agastheeshwarar:
As per the legend, as all the
celestial beings went to Himalayas to attend the divine marriage of Lord Shiva
and Parvati, the earth lost its balance. To balance the earth, Shiva asked the
sage Agastya to travel towards the southern direction to Podhigai Hills. Due to
greatness of this sage, he was equivalent to all the celestial beings and as
soon as he moved to the southern direction, the earth was balanced back.
Agastya did not want to miss the wedding. With the help of Lord Shiva, he got
the divine sight and watched the divine marriage in many sites in South India. Kozhaiyur
is one such site where he got the darshan of divine marriage. Since, Lord Shiva
was worshipped by Agastya, he came to be called as Agastheeshwarar.
Relief from the sin killing demons Vilvalan and Vatapi:
It is also believed that Sage
Agasthya worshipped Lord Shiva of this Temple while he was one the way to
worship Therazhundur Vedapureeswarar to get relief from his sin of killing
demons Vilvalan and Vatapi.
The Temple
This is an east facing Temple
with one prakaram. The Temple is surrounded by compound walls with an entrance
arch at the eastern side. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam and
Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeswarar and is facing east. He is
housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy. Nandi
and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum.
Mother is called as Abhirami.
She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in the
Maha Mandapam. There are shrines for Rettai Vinayagar, Agasthya, Lord Murugan
with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Chandikeswarar, Kasi Viswanathar,
Visalakshi and Bhairavar in the Temple premises. There is a separate Temple for
Varadaraja Perumal along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi within the
premises of this Temple.
Temple
Opening Time
The Temple remains open from
10.00 AM to 11.00 AM and 05.30 PM to 06.30 PM.
Literary
Mention
The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this
Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6th Thirumurai in 70th
Patikam in 9th Song.
திண்டீச்சரம் சேய்ஞலூர் செம்பொன்பள்ளி
தேவூர் சிரபுரம் சிற்றேமம் சேறை
கொண்டீச்சரம் கூந்தலூர் கூழையூர் கூடல்
குருகாவூர் வெள்ளடை குமரி கொங்கு
அண்டர் தொழும் அதிகைவீரட்டானம்
ஐயாறு அசோகந்தி ஆமாத்தூரும்
கண்டியூர்வீரட்டம் கருகாவூரும்
கயிலாயநாதனையே காணலாமே
Contact
Agastheeswarar Temple,
Kozhaiyur, Via Komal,
Kuthalam Taluk,
Nagapattinam District – 609
805
Mobile: +91 99431
85352
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
2 Kms from Komal Bus Stop, 5 Kms from Therazhundur, 9 Kms from Manganallur
Railway Station, 10 Kms from Kuttalam Railway Station, 11 Kms from Kuttalam, 13
Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 58 Kms from Nagapattinam and 122 Kms from Trichy
Airport. The Temple is situated on Mayiladuthurai to Komal Route.
Location