Anniyur Agnipureeswarar Temple / Sri Abathshayeswarar Temple / Tiruanniyur Aabhatsagayeswarar Temple / ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் கோவில், திருஅன்னியூர் / Anniyur – Ponnur, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 76^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 22^nd Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called Anniyur during the 6^th to 7^th Century and is now called Ponnur. As per the Sangam literature Agananooru, one of the local kings called “Anni”, ruled this place. Hence this might have obtained the name of Anniyur and later corrupted to the present name of Ponnur.

In Periya Puranam Thirugnanasambandar, came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Kurukkai. After worshiping Lord Shiva Sri Abathsahayeswarar and went to Pandanallur

திருக்குறுக்கைப்பதி மன்னித் திருவீரட்டானத்து அமர்ந்த

பொருப்பு வில்லாளரை ஏத்திப் போந்து அன்னியூர் சென்று போற்றி

பருக்கைவரை உரித்தார் தம் பந்தணை நல்லூர் பணிந்து

விருப்புடன் பாடல் இசைத்தார் வேதம் தமிழால் விரித்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

மன்னி யூரிறை சென்னி ஆர்பிறை

அன்னி யூர்அமர் மன்னு சோதியே

பழகும் தொண்டர்வம் அழகன் அன்னியூர்க்

குழகன் சேவடி தொழுது வாழ்மினே

......... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

பாற லைத்த படுவெண் தலையினன்

நீற லைத்தசெம் மேனியன் நேரிழை

கூற லைத்தமெய் கோளர வாட்டிய

ஆற லைத்த சடையன்னி யூரனே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                            --“பீடுகொண்டு

மன்னியூரெல்லாம் வணங்க வளங்கொண்ட

வன்னியூர் மேவும் அதிபதியே

......... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Aabathsahayeswarar, Sri Vrikcharanyeswarar,

                  Sri Agneeswarar, Sri Pandaveswarar, Sri Ratheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Brihannayagi, Sri Periyanayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are .......

The temple faces east with a two-tier Rajagopura originally and the same was replaced by an entrance arch during the renovations. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum. The stucco images of Shiva Parvati, Murugan, and Vinayagar are at the entrance of the sanctum. An eka tala vesara vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. In Koshtam Narthana Ganapathi, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Durgai. Ambal is in a separate Sannadhi facing east.

In ardha, mandapam Utsavars Vinayagar, Sivakami, Aadipoora Amman, Durgai, Asthira Devar, and two Dakshinamurthy and reflection of hand can be seen on the base.

In outer prakaram Sidhi Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Murugan, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas. Punugeeswarar, Chandrasekar, Natarajar, Saneeswarar, Suryan, Chandikeswarar, and Bhairavar. Adhi Moola lingam is in a separate sannadhi.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Appar had sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7th Century. Later reconstructed and renovated during Chozhas, Vijayanagara Nayaks.

LEGENDS

This place was called Ligusaranyam, Bhaskara Kshetram, Banu Kshethram. Sthala Purana is in the name of “Ligusaranya Mahathmiyam”.

It is believed that Varunan, Agni, Suryan, Rathi, and Pandavar, worshiped the lord of this temple. (Stucco images on the mandapam entrance are excellent). Since Pandavas worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple, Lord Shiva is called “Pandaveswar”.

As per the legend, Agni was punished by Veerabhadra for participating in the Daksha’s yagna. He visited many Shiva temples to get relief and this is one of them. He created a Theertham called Agnitheertham and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence Lord Shiva is called Vrikcharanyeswarar and Agneeswarar.

In another Legend, Manmatham (Kaman) was burnt (Kama dhaganam/samharam/Killing) near this place called Kurukkai, where Lord Shiva blesses us as Sri Veeratteswarar. Rathi, Kaman’s wife prayed Lord Shiva to pardon her husband. Lord Shiva restored back Kaman to his original physical form. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as “Sri Ratheeswarar”. Also, it is believed that Suryan also worshiped Lord Shiva to get relief from Rathi’s curse.

During Panguni 26th  to 30th (March – April), Sun rays fall on moolavar hence this temple is called Bhaskara Sthalam (Bhaskara- Sun).

  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in Tamil month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aadi Pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Annabhishekam in Aippasi ( Oct- Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov- Dec ), Nakarasankaranthi in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in Tamil Month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The Temple will be kept open between 07.30 Hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Ravi Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number +91 9786766995 for darshan and further details. Thakkar may also be  reached through his  mobile and landline numbers +91 9442585845 and +91 4364 235002 

HOW TO REACH : 

Bus from Mayiladuthurai to Manalmedu Passes through this temple.

The temple is 7 KM from Nidur, 8 Km from Mayiladuthurai. 26 KM from Sirkazhi, 34 KM from Kumbakonam, 50 KM from Chidambaram, and 260 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Some of the Pictures are taken from Google Maps. Thanks to the unknown photographers.