Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / அகத்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Old Perungalathur / Old Perungulattur, Chennai, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

This Sri Agastheeswarar Temple is at Old Perungalathur in Kanchipuram District.  During the Pallava and Chozha periods, this place was called PerunGulathur பெருங்குளத்தூர், ( Kulam – Eri, Tank, etc,. ) which has got corrupted to the present name of Perungalathur. It is believed that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshiped by the Sage Agathiyar in Thondai Nadu. 

It is also believed that this is one of the “Thevara Vaippu Sthalam”, sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.  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

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east without any entrance arch or Rajagopuram. Rishabam and balipeedam are in the mukha mandapam. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Vinayagar as Raja ganapathi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar as Muthukumaraswamy, Chandikeswarar, Swarna akarshana Bhairavar with his consort sitting on his lap, are in the praharam. Ambal Akilandeswari is in a separate sannidhi in ardha mandapam facing south. A stucco image of Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva is on the top of the south side entrance.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The adhistanam is a simple padabandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. The Brahmakantha pilasters are shown on the bhitti. The Pilasters are with Kalasam, Thadi kumbha/kudam, mandi (Lotus petals), Palagai, Veerakandam, and Vettu Pothyal.

The prastaram is with valabi, kapotam (with Nasi kudus), and viyyalavari in Bhoomi desam. A two tier stucco Nagara Vimanam is on the prastaram. The stucco images of Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, and Brahma are on the 1^st tier and greeva koshtam.

Bas reliefs of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Murugan, Dancing Girls, Solar and Lunar eclipse, various animals are found on the ceiling of the mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This place was called Perungulathur ( Big Tank / Eri – a big water body ) and now called Perungalathur - பெருங்களத்தூர். This temple belongs to the Chozha period. Rajarajan-III, period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam. This temple received contributions from Chozhas, Vijayanagaras and Nayakas.

As per the inscription this place was called as Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur Kottathu Nedungundra Nattu Perunkulathur.  Lord Shiva Thiruvakatheechuramudaya Nayanar (திருவகத்தீச்சுவரமுடைய நாயனார்)

Rajaraja-III’s period inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi Lamp at this temple.

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.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Karthigai Deepam, Panguni Uthiram, and on all important function days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 05.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This temple at Old Perungalathur is 4.5 KM from Tambaram and 32 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway station is Tambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Swarna Akarshana Bhairavar with his consort

Dakshinamurthy -Gurupeyarchi alangaram

Saptakannis with Lord Shiva,Maha Vishnu, Brahma & Krishna

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---