Agastheeswarar Temple,
Karuvalarcheri – The Temple
This
is a small east facing temple with a three-tiered Rajagopuram. Shrines of
Vinayaga and Murugan can be found at the entrance of Rajagopuram. Nandi and
Balipeedam can be found facing sanctum immediately after the Rajagopuram. Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeswarar. He is facing east. He
is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy. Brahma, Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, Durga and
Vinayaga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls.
Mother is called as Karu
Valartha Nayagi / Akhilandeshwari. She is housed in an east facing shrine to
the right side of the sanctum. Karu Valartha
Nayagi is in Putru (ant hill) form and is a Swayambhu Moorthy. Hence no
Abhishekam is performed to her and only Thaila Kappu or Oil abhishekam is
performed. There is always a screen in front of Ambal to the chest height and
so only the upper portion of mother is visible on normal days. The screen is
removed only on Shivarathri and all the nine days of Navaratri. All archanas
are done only to the Moola Sri Chakra Maha Meru and Sri chakram.
There
is a separate shrine housing Sage Agasthya with his consort Lopamudra along
with Nagaraja, Nagakanni and Bhairava in the temple prakaram. There are shrines
for Pradhana Vinayakar, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai,
Chandikeswarar and Navagrahas in the temple premises. Theertham associated with
this Temple is Chandra Theertham. It is situated just outside the Temple. There
is a well inside the temple. Lakshmi Narayana Temple is situated adjacent to
this temple.
