Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / Sri Agasteeswara Swamy Temple, ஸ்ரீ அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், புரிசை, Purisai, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu

The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Shiva temple at Purisai in Thiruvannamalai District was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temples, Sculptures like Kotravai, Jyeshta Devi at Purisai, Kilkolathur, Salukkai and Anumanthandalam on 2^nd January 2022. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Babu Mano, Mr Manoj  L Chakravarthy, Mrs Ruth, சுகுமார் அருள் and the members of “தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்” for taking me to all these Temples and Heritage sites.

This is one of the Thevara Vaippu sthalam sung  by Sundarar. In thevaram he mentions this place as Purisai nattu Purisai along with Thennur, Thiruchuzhiyal, Thiruthevanur, Ponnoor Nattu Ponnoor, under 6^th hymn of Thirunattuthogai. Also this may be one of the Agastheeswaram Sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.

  

தென்னூர் கைம்மைத் திருச்சுழி யல்திருக் கானப்பேர்

பன்னூர் புக்குறை யும்பர மர்க்கிடம் பாய்நலம்

என்னூர் எங்கள் பிரான்உறை யுந்திருத் தேவனூர்

பொன்னூர் நாட்டுப் பொன்னூர் புரிசைநாட்டுப் புரிசையே.

........ சுந்தரர் 7-12-6.

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 is facing west with a 3 tier Rajagopuram and the temple tanks is on the South side. Balipeedam, Kodimaram and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is from South through Ardha mandapam. Moolavar is of swayambhu. In ardha mandapam, bas relief of Agasthiyar worshiping Lord Shiva and an image of Agasthiyar. In addition to  this bas reliefs of Mahishasuramardini, Bhairavar, Lord Shiva with Parvati, Kannappa Nayananar Purana, Devotees & Elephant worshiping Lord Shiva, Chandran, Suriyan, Ayyanar, Veerabhadra, etc are on the wall of the ardha mandapam along with Utsavars.

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Natarajar, Bhairavar, Suriyan, Navagrahas, Nalvar  and Chandikeswarar.  Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing Moolavar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The ardha mandapam out side walls has the bas reliefs of 63 Nayanmars Purana, with Natarajar, Dwarapalakas, Parvati as Kamakshi dabas and marriage with Lord Shiva, Kamadhakana murthy, Manickavasagar Puranam, Ashtadik Palakas, Vinayagar, Murugan, etc. The entrance to ardha mandapam has the bas relief of Gajalakshmi, Vinayagar, Murugan, Rishabam, Agasthiyar, Ayyanar, Sanganidhi, Padma nidhi etc,.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple padabandha adhisthana with Jagathy and three patta Kumuda. The Vimanam up to prastaram was constructed with stone. The prastaram consists of valapi, Kapotham and Vyalavari. The vesara Vimana above the prastaram is constructed with an additional square upa greevam. Stucco images of Lord Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the upa greevam and greevam. Vimanam thangis are in the greevam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Sundarar   has sung this place as Purisai nattu Purisai, the original temple might have been  constructed during Pallava period and latter contributions received from Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. The temple was reconstructed during Vijayanagara Nayakas period and inscriptions are of 17^th to 18^th century are found on the adhisthana.

The Chozha period Chandikeswarar idol kept in the prakara reminds Chozha’s contributions. The Nayanmar’s purana sculptures might have been existed during pallava / Chozha period, re-installed back on the wall during reconstruction.

During Chozha period This place was called as Jayankonda Chozhamandalathu Purisai nattu Purisai ( Sundarar Thevaram also records the same ). During that time this place capital for the Purisai Nadu.

The present Kalyanamandapam was constructed and dedicated to this temple on 31^st July 2011. The Stone Natarajar installed in the praharam was gifted by Kalaipuli Thanu, one of the Director of Koliwood film industry on 24^th February 2017.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the sage Agasthiyar, Sundarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

In another legend, It is believed that this is one the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshiped in Thondai mandalam by Agasthiyar on the way to Pothigai Hills to balance the earth during Shiva and Parvati’s celestial wedding.

The devotees worships Lord Shiva for removing Marriage obstacles, Child boon etc,.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri and Adi month Fridays.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 19.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal Aravind may be contacted on his mobile +91 8369840949 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place Purisai is about 700 meters off from State highway Kanchipuram to Vandavasi Via Cheyyar. 12 KM from Cheyyar, 11 KM from Vandavasi, 39 KM from Kanchipuram and 113 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Kanchipuram..

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Natarajar Gifted by Kalaipuli Thanu a Koliwood Film Director

Chozha period Chandikeswarar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---