The visit to this Sri Agnipureeswarar Temple at Vazhuvathur, near Thirukalukundram, was part of the 626th week’s abhishekam by the Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group on 1st November 2026.
The visit to this Sri Agnipureeswarar temple at
Vazhuvathur near Thirukalukundram was part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples”, a visit
in Chengalpattu District on 15th March 2026.
Moolavar : Sri Agnipureeswarar
Consort : Sri Soundarya Nayaki
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east. The Rishabam and balipeedam are in the mukha mandapam.
Vinayagar and Murugan are on both sides of the entrance to the ardha mandapam.
Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round
avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and
Durgai. Utsavars, Suryan, and Chandran are in the ardha mandapam.
In the praharam, a soolakal, Nalvar, Sri Kalyana Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Maha Lakshmi, Ambal temple, Kasi Bairavar, Chandikeswarar, and
Saniswarar. A Shiva Lingam with a Rishabam is under a tree on the back side of
the temple.
The
Ambal temple is on the north side of the main temple, which faces east. Ambal is in a
standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha
mandapam. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram.
The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam on a platform. The
adhistanam consists of jagathy, three pattai kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti
starts with vedikai. Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi,
palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus
petals, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari.
The
vimanam over the bhumi desam was constructed with bricks. The vimanam is 5
tiers with greevam and a dravida sigaram. Apart from the usual images of Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma, Shiva’s various forms like Natarajar,
Sarabeswarar, Vinayagar and Murugan etc., are on the tala koshtam.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
10th
to 12th century Chozha period inscriptions are found on the walls of
the sanctum sanctorum. The temple was
reconstructed about 11 years ago, after clearing the encroachments. The Maha
Vishnu sannidhi was on the south side of the temple, and a new temple was
constructed outside the compound wall.
It
is said that the temple had many lands in the same village, which are encroached upon by many people, and some soola kals are still in the fields.
As per the inscriptions, this place was called Thiruvaivazhuthur, and Shiva was called Thiruvaivazhuthur udaiya Nayanar and Thiruvagneeswaramudaiya Nayanar.
A Chola-period soolakal is erected in the temple premises. A soolam with a Rishabam bas-relief is on the front side, and on the back side, the inscription belongs to Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Kulothunga Chozha (II or III). The inscription mentions the land gifted to the temple and a boundary line of the gifted land.
The inscription on the back wall of the sanctum sanctorum records an endowment of burning 6 sandhi lamps at this temple by 3 persons. For this, 21 panam/money was obtained from the temple. A cow was also received from the temple, and it was agreed to supply Ghee for burning the lamp.
Reference
Recorded during the abishekam and field visit.
LEGENDS
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri
days, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
HOW
TO REACH
The
temple at Vazhuvathur is on the Thirukazhukundram to Madurantakam road.
The
temple is 9 km from Thirukalukundram, 19 km from Madurantakam, 22 km from
Chengalpattu, and 25 km from Mamallapuram.
The
nearest (easy) Railway station is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Great work Sir. Very good for us to know the details before visiting the temple.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting our blog and the encouraging comments...
Delete