The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Kottur Nainarvayal was part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2nd and
3rd September 2026.
Moolavar : Sri Agastheeswarar
Consort : Sri Soundaranayaki
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The temple tank – Meenakshi Achi
Thirukulam with neerazhi mandapam - is in front of the temple. Vinayagar and
Murugan sannidhis are on either side of the entrance to the Rajagopuram. A two-tier Rajagopuram is on the south side, which is kept locked.
Kambathadi
Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and two Rishabams are in the mukha
mandapam. Moolavar is Swayambhu on a round avudaiyar. Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy with Nagars on both sides, Lingothbavar, and Brahma are in the
koshtams.
In
the praharam: Maha Kala Karuppar, Vinayagar, Gajalakshmi, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, and Chandran.
Ambal
is in a separate sannidhi in the Maha mandapam/ open maha mandapam. Ambal is
in a three-bhanga standing posture with two hands, holds a lotus flower in the
right hand, and the left hand is in dola hastam.
Maha
Kala Karuppar is in a separate Sannidhi. A highly decorated image and a square peedam on
the right side are believed to be Maha Kala Karuppar. Thiruvasi with aruva/
long sickle flag and Vel are behind the image. Aruvas / long sickles and
Thandams are kept in front of Karuppar’s image.
Bells are tied after the wishes are fulfilled
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple
consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and open mukha madapam/
maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with Jagathi three
patta kumudam and kapotam with nasi kudus. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The
pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam kudam, lotus petals mandi,
palakai, veera kandam, and pushpa pothiyal. The prastaram consists of valapi
with lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. The two tala vesara
vimanam over the bhumi desam were constructed with brick. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha
Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams. Maha nasis are on the
cardinal directions on the sigaram.
South side Rajagopuram
The
mandapam pillars around the Rishabam and Dwajasthambam have sculptures like
Oorthuva Thandavar, Mahishamardini, Veerabhadra, etc. The pillars also have the
sculptures of Nattukottai Nagarathars, who contributed to the construction/
thirupani to this temple.
Oorthuva Thandavar - Mahishamardini - Veerabhadra
Two oil lamp thiruvasi with inscriptions are in front of the ardha mandapam
entrance and Ambal Sannidhi.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is said the original temple belongs to the 12th to 13th
century Pandya period. But there is no evidence available to prove the same.
The present structure was built by Nattukottai Nagarathars in the 19th –
20th centuries.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1920, 1950, on 10th July 1987, and 15th
September 2005.
The
oil Lamp Thiruvasi in front of the main temple was gifted by the Nattukottai Nagarathars, and the Thiruvasi in front of the Ambal temple was gifted by the Nattars.
Thiruvasi gifted by Nagarathars
Thiruvasi gifted by Nattars
The
thirukulam in front of the temple excavation, Thirupani, was done by Meenakshi
Achi, hence called “Meenakshi Achi Thirukulam”. The thirukulam renovation
was done on 12th November 2010.
LEGENDS
It is believed that the Shiva Linga was installed
and worshipped by Agastheeswarar. As per the legend, during the celestial wedding of Shiva with
Parvati, all the Gods, Devas, Maharishis, and Sages gathered at Mount
Kailash. Due to this, the north side of the 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 worshipped. It is believed that this temple is also one of them.
Maha
Kala Karuppar is a powerful guardian deity (Kaaval Deivam) os Kottur
Nainarvayal. The locals worship it first before starting any auspicious
functions.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham and Maha
Shivaratri,
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
Gurukkal is residing on the south side of the Meenakshi Achi Thirukulam. The
temple will be open only during temple timings.
HOW
TO REACH
The
Agastheeswarar temple at Kottur Nainarvayal is about 19.3 km from Devakottai,
26 km from Kalayarkoil, and 42 km from Sivaganga.
The
nearest Railway Station is Devakottai.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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