Monday, 6 October 2025

Sri Aagneechurar Temple /ஸ்ரீ ஆக்னீசுரர் கோயில் , Gudalur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

This post was written as a combined post along with the Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Uthiramerur. For easy access to this temple's details, this was deleted from the Uthiramerur post and written as a separate post.

After Pooja at Sri Kailasanathar Temple, we continued our journey to GUDALUR on 17th February 2013. We have lost around an hour due to a burst of the van’s back tire. After replacing the tire reached Sri AAGNEECURAR, Shiva temple (The name appeared from the Tamil inscriptions found under the base), which was in a dilapidated condition. The meaning of Aagneechurar is the son of AGNI AAGNI, who worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Since the temple is facing west, Lord Shiva’s name must be Abhimukeswarar, as assumed by the persons in charge of the reconstructions, which was wrong.

Inscriptions are found on base and pillar stones. The temple is about three feet below the ground level. Moolavar is visible only up to the top of avudayar. Moolavar is in a slanting posture. From the image of Chandikeswarar, the temple was constructed during the 10th century during the Pallava period. The name of the village is the same as the one in the inscriptions. The temple was constructed first with bricks, and later it was reconstructed with stone. To prove this, the excavated bricks are square and rectangular with thin shapes. One of the inscriptions says there exists a Rajendra Chozha’s Cheppu Thirumeni in the temple. 

We have excavated outside the base and found Gomukha and a collection pot for the abhisheka tirtha made of stone, without any damage / intact. There is a chance of getting Ambal’s image and other parivara images if we excavate further. It was around 15.30 hrs, and team members got exhausted and very hungry. Returned to Chennai after having a late lunch at Hotel Highway Inn with sweet memories.

Chandikeswarar with Mazhu in hand
Rishabam
 Temple site with mandapam pillars
 Inscriptions on one of the slabs
 Mr. Ramachandran Sir is taking a copy of the inscription on the pillar
 Excavated bricks
  Gomukha and collection pot for Abhisheka tirtha
The idols recovered so far
Please visit the following site to get more about these temples and the activities of REACH FOUNDATION.

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