Sri Agnipureeswarar Temple /அக்னிபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், அன்னியூர், Anniyur / Vanniyur, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 179^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of the river Cauvery and the 62^nd Sthalam of Chozha Nadu. The temple is on the banks of the river Arasalaru.  

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruveezhimizhalai. Even though he didn’t mention this temple in particular, but mentioned other temples on the way.

வீழி மிழலை தனைப்பணிந்து வேத முதல்வர் தாம் இருப்ப

ஆழிவலம் ஏந்திய அரியால் ஆகாசத்தின் நின்று இழிந்த

வாழி மலர்ந்த கோயில் தனில் மன்னும் பொருளைப் போற்றி இசைத்துத்

தாமும் நாளிற் பிறபதியும் பணியும் காதல் தலைநிற்பார்

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

காடு கொண்டு அரங் காக்கங்குல் வாய்க்கணம்

பாட மாநட மாடும் பரமனார்

வாட மானிறம் கொள்வார் மனங்கமழ்

மாட மதில் சூழ்வன்னி யூரே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                          -“ஊழிதொறும்

மன்னியூர் மால்விடையாய் வானவர் என்று தொழ

வன்னியூர் வாழு மணிகண்டா

.... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Agnipureeswarar, Sri Agneeswarar

Consort    : Sri Gowriparvathy

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

The temple faces east with a two-tier Rajagopuram. A balipeedam and a Rishabam are after the entrance of Rajagopuram. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. 

In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Nalvar, Shiva Lingas, Bhairavar, Suriyan, Chandran, Saneeswarar, and Two Chandikeswarar. Sthala puranam bas-relief is on the outside mandapam wall. In the praharam, Somaskandar and Natarajar.

Ambal is in a separate Sannadhi. Ambal is small, and Dwarapalakas are in stone. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. A Vesara vimana is on the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. Later, the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended/maintained during the Vijayanagara/Maratha period and Nattukottai Nagarathars.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 21^st August 2002. 

LEGENDS

It is believed that Brahma, Agni, Sage Agasthiyar, Sanathkumarar, and Sanathanar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

In another legend, Dkashan conducted a Yagna for which Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Ashtadikpalakas, and Pancha Bhutas, including Agni and Devas, attended. Lord Shiva was not invited for the same. When asked by Ma Parvati as Dakshayani, Dakshan didn’t give a proper response. Angered Lord Shiva sent Veerabhadra and Ma Kali to destroy the Yagna. Veerabhadra killed Daksha by cutting his head later replaced with a goat's head. The participants of Yagna were cursed and punished. In that, Agni was also cursed and lost his hands and tongue. He came to this place to worship Lord Shiva with Vanni's leaves and was relieved from the curse, restoring his hands and tongue. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Agneeswarar. Agni also requested Lord Shiva to bless the devotees who are suffering from diseases related to “ushnam – Heat”. The place was called Vanniyur (Vanni + oor) and was corrupted to the present name of Anniyur.

Parihara sthalam for Vastu, and it is believed that blood pressure and heat (ushnam) related ailments will be cured if one takes a bath in Agni theertham and worships Lord Shiva.

The 8 temples around this place are considered as Ashtadikpalakas, in which Anniyur is also one. It is auspicious to worship all these eight temples.

Indra                Angambadi

Agni                 Vanniyur

Yama               Karuvili

Niruthi             Vayalur

Varunan          Sivanagaram

Vayu                Akalangan

Kubera             S Pudur

Esanan            Nallavur  

Sthala Purana

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month of Avani (Aug – Sept), Annabhishekam in the month of Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai in the month of Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thiruvathirai in the month of Margazhi (Dec – Jan), Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi (Feb – March), and every month pradosam days.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

Mr.  Ganesa Gurukkal’s landline  +91 9159409175 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

Town buses are available from Kumbakonam to Anniyur.

This place, Anniyur, is 4 km from Thiruveezhimizhalai, 16 km from Aduthurai, 24.7 km from Kumbakonam,  26 km from Mayiladuthurai, 27 km from Thiruvarur, and 316 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Aduthurai, and the Junction is Mayiladuthurai. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---