The
second visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Villipakkam, near Chunampet,
was a part of the Epigraphy field study organized by R.E.A.C.H. foundation on 2nd
November 2025. My sincere thanks to
Thiru Ramachandran Sir, Mr Ramanathan for Hospitality, and Mr. Chandrasekaran. The
first visit was also organized by R.E.A.C.H. Foundation, and written as a
combined post along with the Cheyyur and Vedal Temples visit.
The
Ayyanar temple (Shed) faces east on the banks of the Chunampet lily pond. Elephant
vahanas are in front of the temple. Ayynar is in the form of a bas-relief on a
flat stone, sitting in an uthkudi asana. He is shown with ornaments around the
neck, hands, pathra kundala in the elongated earlobes, and uthara bandham. The
knot of the dress, located below the hip, extends below the platform. A kattar is tied to
the hip. Two dogs are shown at the base of the bas-relief.
Dogs at the base
It
is believed that Ayyanar worship, also known as the Yasta cult, is one of the forms of fire worship that originated in Persia. As per Wikipedia, Yaṣṭa (यष्ट) generally
means "sacrificed" or an "instructor for priests during
sacrificial rites". Zoroastrian practices, particularly fire
reverence and sacrificial rituals (Yasna), share ancient common roots with
Vedic Hinduism, going back to Proto-Indo-Iranian traditions.
As
per the experts, this Ayyanar is the earliest and may belong to the 7th
to 8th century Pallava period.
LOCATION
OF THE AYYANAR TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Super Veludharan
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