Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Ponnur
– The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with an entrance arch. The entrance arch has stucco images of Rishabaroodar flanked by Vinayaga and Murugan. The Temple has single prakaram. Balipeedam and Nandi can be found in the newly built Mukha Mandapam immediately after the entrance facing the sanctum. There is no Dhwaja Sthambam (flag staff) in the temple.
The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Sanctum. The Maha Mandapam is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (Vovval Nethi Mandapam). Stucco images of Agni, Suryan and Varuna can be seen at the top of the entrance of Maha Mandapam. Idols of Vinayaga, Nataraja, Shivagami, Adipoora Amman, Durga and Asthra Deva can be seen in Artha Mandapam.
Presiding deity is called as Abathsahayeswarar / Lighusaranyeswarar / Agneeswarar / Pandathaveswarar / Ratheeswarar / Vighusaranyeswarar and is east facing. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Murthy (self-manifested). It is said that Sun rays fall directly on the Lingam every year for five days from 24th to 28th in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr).
Nardana Ganapthy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. There are two idols of Dakshinamurthy placed side by side in this temple. Lord Medha Dakshinamurthy has his shrine. Nandhi is at his feet. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location.
Mother is called as Brihan Nayaki / Periya Nayaki. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated to the left side of the sanctum and is located in Maha Mandapam. There is a Shiva Lingam called as Aadhi Moola Lingam in the prakaram. It is said that Agni got darshan of Lord Shiva in the form Aadhi Moola Lingam.
There is a Shrine for Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena in the temple premises. He is depicted in a different form wearing Kuzhal a circle shape design ear rings. Lord Surya (Sun), Saneeswarar and Lord Bhairava are side by side in a shrine. Though Saneeswarar, son of Sun is generally considered a malefic planet, he is all good to devotees in the temple. Those facing adverse Sani aspects pray here for relief.
There are shrines for Siddhi Vinayagar, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas, Punugeeswarar, Visalakshi, Chandrasekarar and Nagas in the temple premises. Theertham associated with this Temple is called as Varuna Theertham / Agni Theertham / Kamasaras / Surya Pushkarini. It is situated just opposite to the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Lemon tree.
