Apathsahayeshwarar temple at Alangudi

This place is more famous as a Navagraha sthala for Lord Jupiter. This temple also belongs to the 275 Shiva temples revered by Nayanmars. This is located at Alangudi in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu. The Shiva Linga is again a swayambhu linga. 

Moolavar (Main Deity): Apathsahayeshwarar, Kashi Aranyeshwarar

Amman (Goddess): Elavarkuzhali

Sthala Vruksha: Silk cotton tree

Special Deity: Dakshinamurti

Time of darshan: Evening

The temple is about 2000 years old and this is the 4th in the Panchaaranya sthalam. People worship here in the evening when they perform the yatra of 5 aaranya sthala in a day. In this temple Lord Shiva is perceived as the Universal Guru Dakshinamurti. According to the sthala purana, at this place Lord Shiva as Dakshinamurti explained in detail Vedas to the four Sanakadee munis. This temple is personified as a place where we come across the order or worship as stated in Shastras i.e. Mata- Pita- Guru.

Mata (Parvati), Pita (Lord Shiva), Guru (Dakshinamurti)

Structure of the temple reminds us of the above rules stated in the shastras. 

Other Shrines: 

Lord Vinayaka (revered as the one who saved the boat of a sage from drowning)

Lord Muruga and Goddess Lakshmi

The sapta lingas represented here are – Suryesha, Someshwar, Gurushwarar, Somanadar, Sabathnishatar, Vishanadar, Bramheshwarar.

Kashivishwanath, Vishalakshi, Sage Agastya and Nandi

It is stated that sage Vishawamitra, Muchukunda and Veerabhadra worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. In Skanda purana we come across the reference of Parvati doing penance at this place to have Lord Shiva as Her husband. According to the Kshetra purana after Samudra manthan Lord Shiva drank the poison (Alam) that was obtained at this place. Hence the place got the name Alangudi. Lord Shiva is known as Apathsahayar as he saved the world from deadly poison. Another legend states that, Lord Shiva came to the rescue of Sundarar (one of the Nayanmars) in a boat and Lord Vinayaka protected the boat from capsizing. 

Festivals:

On the day when Jupiter transits from one rashi to another, special pujas are performed here. On Chaitra Purnima and in Tamil Month of Thai (Jan-Feb) special worships are held. In the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar), every Thursday special pujas are held. 

Panguni Uthiram – In the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-April) on Uttara Nakshatra the ratha yatra of Dakshinamurti is held. 

Teertha – The Kshetra is surrounded by 3 rivers – Kaveri, Kollidam and Vennaru. 15 teerthas are located around this temple. Amrut Pushkarini is very close to the temple. Chakra teertha is in front of the temple. This is supposed to have been created by Lord Vishnu with his Sudarshan.