Agastheeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில்/ கொளப்பாக்கம் / சூரியன் ஸ்தலம், Kolapakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

This is one of the Navagraha Sthalam of Thondai Nadu, in and around Chennai, and a Suriyan Parihara Sthalam.  This temple is about 1.5 KM from Sri Ramanaadheswarar Temple, a Guru Sthalam at Porur, and Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple, a Kethu Sthalam at Gerugambakkam. This place was called "Kulapakkam" during the Chozha period and is now called Kolapakkam.

It is believed that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed by  Sage Agathiyar in Thondai Nadu and a Thevara Vaippu Sthalam. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of Agatheechuram along with Nandhikechuram, Mahalaechuram, Nagechuram, Kodeechuram, Kondeechuram, Kukkudechuram, Akkeechuram, Adakechuram, Ayaneechuram Aththeechuram, Siddheechuram and Ramechuram.  

நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்
    சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுராநன் கான
கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்
    குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூ றுங்கால்
ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர
    மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்கர மந்தண் கானல்
ஈடுதிரை யிராமேச்சுர மென்றென் றேத்தி
    யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே

…. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar / Sri Vageeswarar

Consort    : Sri Anandavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple….

The temple faces with an entrance arch on the south side. The temple tank is on the left side. A Stucco image of Lord Shiva with Parvati as Rishabaroodar is on the top of the entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam/ Idabam are in the praharam. Moolavar in the sanctum is on a square avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai ( are in grilled cages). Ambal is in a separate sannidhi in the mukha mandapam facing south.

In Praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar ( Believed that Murugan and his vahana Peacock are made of green stone ), Kasi Viswanathar with his consort Visalakshi, Bhairavar, Navagrahas ( all the other Grahas are facing Suriyan ), Vaheeswarar, Nagars, Rhnuhareswarar, Chandikeswarar and Suriyan ( in a separate sannidhi. A Stucco image of Suriyan riding on a Chariot pulled by 7 horses are on the top of the sannidhi ).

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and a Mukha mandapam /shobana mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is with 6 angas Adhistanam, Padam / Bhitti, prastaram, greevam, sigaram and stupi.  The sanctum sanctorum is square in shape on a simple Padabandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. From adhistanam to prastaram, constructed with stone and completely painted. A Two-tier stucco vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Vimana and greeva koshtam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The fragment inscription stones are placed in many places during renovations. The original temple belongs to the Chozha period. Chozha period 4 Inscription stones are installed in the praharam. The earliest inscription recorded in this temple belongs to Aditya Chozha’s 8^th reign year (878 CE). The other inscriptions on the stone slabs belong to Rajaraja Chola-I (985 to 1014 CE), Rajaraja Chola-II (1152 CE –the inscription is on the adhistanam  Kumudam), Kulothunga Chola-III (1188 CE), Veera Rajendran, Telugu Chozha Vijayakanda Gopala, and Pandya King Sundara Pandyan. The following inscriptions are recorded in Kanchipuram Mavatta Kalvettukkal. -காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டக் கல்வெட்டுக்கள்

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu, Puliyur Kottathu, Perur Nattu Kulapakkam, and Shivapada sekara nallur. Lord Shiva was called as Sri Vageeswara Mahadevar.  

Vijaya Maharayar‘s (Parthivendran) 6^th reign year inscription records the endowment of  Naivedyam on mid-day pooja, for the same 250 Kuli land was gifted.  

விஜயமகாராஜரின் ஆறாவது ஆட்சியாண்டில் குளப்பாக்கத்து ஊரினன் ஒருவன் (பெயர் சிதைந்துள்ளது) குளப்பாக்கம் அகத்தீசுவரமுடையார் கோயிலில் நண்பகல் ஒரு திருவமிர்து படைக்க இருநூற்று ஐம்பது குழி நிலம் கொடை யளித்ததைத் தெரிவிக்கிறது.

இக்கல்வெட்டில் குறிப்பிடப்படும் விஜய மகாராஜர் பார்த்திவேந்திர வர்மனாக (959 பொயு) இருக்க வேண்டும். இவன் வீரபாண்டியன் தலைகொண்ட கோமகாராஜர் (223/1915) என்றும், வீரபாண்டியன் தலை கொண்ட கோவி ராஜமாராயர் ( 3:186 ) என்றும் பல இடங்களில் அழைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளான். எழுத்தமைதியும் இக்காலத்தை உறுதி செய்கிறது.

இக்கல்வெட்டில் “Gummi”? என. வரும் இடத்தில் உள்ள றுகாரம் ஐயத்திற்கிடனாக உள்ளது. கல்வெட்டைக் காண்பார்க்கு பேரூரா, பேறூரா என ஐயம் தோன்றும். இக்கல்வெட்டில் வரும் “ற”? கரங்கள் எல்லாம் சற்று மாறுபாடாகவே எழுதப்பட்டுள்ளது. பேறூர் என வரும் பேறூர் ( போரூர் ), வள்ளிசேர்பாக்கங் கல்வெட்டுகளில் பேறூர் நாடு என்றே வந்திருப்பதால் இக்கல்வெட்டில் வரும் பேறூர் நாடும் பேறூர் என்பதேயாகும்,

Rajarajan-II’s (1152 CE) inscription on the Maha mandapam adhistanam Kumudam, records the reconstruction of this temple from bottom to top of Aludayar Koil, ardha mandapam, Thiruvidaikattu, Nruthamandapam (Natya Mandapam), (Thirupadi mandapam) Shobanam, as stone temple/Katrali, by Kulapakkam Chengol Thillaivanan Kakku Nayakan.  From this, it is to be understood that the original temple during Adhita Chozha’s period might have been a brick temple with Lord Shiva’s name as “Agastheeswarar” instead of Vageeswarar.

Another inscription Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Veera Rajendran’s (Kulothunga Chozha-III was also called Veera Rajendran), 1188 CE inscription records that Kulapakkam Vivanallooran Pandithan, Kakku Nayakan established an endowment of burning sandhi lamp in this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple. For which 3 cows were gifted to this temple.

The Telugu Chozha Vijayakanda Gopalan’s 29^th reign year inscriptions two numbers found on the sanctum wall record that this place was also called "Shivapada Sekara Nallur”. This inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Andar Thozhuvarkkiranginan, for the same, 3 cows and calf were gifted. 

Another Telugu Chozha Vijayakanda Gopalan's 4th reign year ( 1254 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a Sirukalai sandhi lamp by Andar Thozhuvarku Alanar, for the same, 24 cows and calf was gifted. This was accepted by the Devakanmis Kakkunayaka Bhattan and Alwan Bhattan.  

The Pandya King Sundara Pandyan’s inscription is incomplete and not readable. The other inscriptions mainly record the endowment of Poojas, service, and donations given to this temple. The temple is under the control of HR & CE.

Ref:

Kanchipuram Mavatta Kalvettukkal.

LEGENDS

As Per the legend, During the celestial wedding of  Lord Shiva with Parvati, all the Gods, Devas, Maharishis, and Sages gathered at Mount Kailash. Due to this, the north side of this earth lowered and the south side went up. To balance the earth, Lord Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go south. From Mount Kailash towards Podhigai Hill, Agasthiyar established many Shiva Lingas and worshiped. It is believed that this temple is also one of them. The sage Agathiyar, Sage Vagheesar, and Suriyan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. It was told that Sun rays falls on Moolavar on 3 days in a year.

Devotees worship Lord Shiva and Parvati for marriage and Child boon. They do Parihara to get relief from the adverse effects due to Suriyan.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Oru kala pooja, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, and some important functions.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.30 Hrs to 11.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Sankar Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile at +91 9444321725 for further details. 

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Kolapakkam is about 4 KM from Porur Signal, 12.3 KM from Koyambedu Bus Terminus, 19.3 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is 8 KM and the Central is 19 KM

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Most of the Photos are taken from the Website, Google Maps, and Mr. Ganesh. Thanks to the unknown photographers. 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---