Shri Agneeshwarar Temple at Kanjanur

This Shiva temple is at about 19 kms from Kumbhakonam on Mayiladuthurai-Kumbhakonam route. This is the main Saptasthana Shiva temple around Kanjanur. 

This is also one of the 276 Padal Pethra sthalam on the northern bank of Kaveri. This is the Navagraha parihar sthala for the planet Shukra. This is an east facing temple with a five tiered rajagopuram at the entrance. It has three parikramas. Shaiva saint Appar has revered this temple in his hymns. This is the birthplace for one of the Nayanmar Manakkaanchara Nayanar. He worshiped Shri Shiva at this place and attained salvation. This is also the birthplace of a staunch Shaiva devotee Shri Haradatta Shivacharyar. At this place the wedding of Kalikkama Nayanar took place. 

Mulavar: Shri Agneeshwarar

Devi: Shri Karpagambika

Sacred Teertha: Agni teertha, Brahma Teertha, Manikarnika Teertha, Chandra Teertha, Anjaneya Teertha, Parashar Teertha

Sthala Vruksha: Palash (Purasu in Tamil)

Historical name: Palash vanam, Parashar Puram, Brahma puri, Agnipuran, Kamsa puram, Mukti kshetra

Stone inscriptions in the temple indicate that the present structure is about 1500 years old. 

The present structure was originally built by the chola king and was later on renovated by Vijayanagar kings and the Chola kings. 

About the temple:

Rajagopuram faces the south towards river kaveri. We come across Shri Vinayaka under the Dhwajasthambha, Shri Nandi and Balipeeth all facing the sanctum. At the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum, there is a two tiered Gopuram.

About the idols and shrines in the temple:

The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. During abhishek with oil it absorbs the entire oil poured over it. The koshta murthis are Shri Nardana Vinayaka, Shri Brahma, Shri Dakshinamurthy, Shri Lingodbhavar, Shri Durga Devi and Shri Chandikeshwarar.

An idol of the Shri Haradatta Shivacharya is in seating position. There is no separate shrine for Shri Shukra as Shri Shiva is believed to have incarnated as Shri Shukra. Shri Ambika Devi is in a separate shrine to the right of sanctum. This shrine is facing the east. There is an idol of Shri Adi Karpambigai.

In the mukti mandap (known as Nataraja sabha) we come across Shri Nataraja and Shri Shivakami Devi. The tandav performed by Shri Shiva at this place is known as Mukti Tandav. In the corridor we come across the shrines and idols of Shri Karpaga Vinayaka. And Shri Subramanya seated on a peacock. Shri Vishwanath, Shri Mahalakshmi Devi, Shri Anjaneya, Navagrahas, Shri Chandra, Shri Shanishwar, Shri Brahma.

The legend associated with Shri Haradatta Shivacharya is found in the corridor as the sculptures. Shri Nandi in this place is addressed as Shri Pullunda Nandi (Nandi who ate grass). 

It is believed that uncle of Shrikrishna (Kamsa) worshiped Shri Shiva at this place. In this place a bilva tree has five leaves in its branches instead of the usual tree. 

Salient features:

The idol of Shri Nataraja and Shri Shivakami Devi are beautifully sculptured. 

Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi granted darshan to Shri Brahma in their wedding posture at this place.

The stone idol of Shri Nandi is believed to have eaten grass from the hands of Shri  Haradatta Shivacharya. 

Kshetra Puran:

There are number of incidents mentioned about this place in puran

Shukra parihar sthala

This incident is associated with the Shri Vaman avatar of Shri Vishnu. When Shri Vamana had requested 3 steps of land from the asura King Mahabali, his guru Shri Shukracharya advised King Mahabali not to heed to the request. He had doubts about the intention of Shri Vamana. Shri Shukracharya took the form of a bee, blocked the hole of the Kamandalu when three drops of water were being poured during the daan. Shri Vishnu (Vamana) immediately picked up the sacred grass and pierced the hole of the Kamandalu. Due to this Shukracharya’s one eye was damaged but the daan was completed. Shri Vishnu placed his third step on the head of King Mahabali and destroyed him. Shri Shukracharya in anger cursed Shri Vishnu. Shri Vishnu prayed to Shri Shiva for relief from the curse. Shri Shiva not only relieved Shri Vishnu from the curse but also promised to help all those who came here with prayers to Shukra for favor. Hence there is no idol of Shukra at this place as Shri Shiva himself took the place of Shukra.

Shri Haradatta Shivacharya

He was born as Sudarshan in a Vaishnava family. But he became a staunch devotee of Shri Shiva. He used to pray daily at this temple. His fellow Vaishnavaites in Kanjanur did not approve of it. He did not obey even his father’s command to pray to Shri Vishnu. He was driven out of the house. He started staying at Shri Agneeshwarar temple and was praying at the temple. One day Shri Shiva appeared in front of him as Shri Dakshnimurthy. He initiated him into Shaivism and named him Shri Haradatta Shivacharya. The fellow Vaishanavaites decided to kill him and they asked him to stand on a hot iron tripod to prove his devotion to Shri Shiva. He accepted the challenge and stood on the hot iron tripod. He got the divine vision of Shri Agneeshwarar and Shri Parambika Devi who blessed him. He attained mukti on the pancham in the month of Thai. 

Shri Pullunda Nandi:

Once a bundle of grass fell from the hands of a brahmin on a cow calf. The calf died on the spot. The brahmin was castigated from the brahmin community. The brahmin went to Shri Haradatta Shivacharya reciting Shiva panchakshari. Shri Haradatta told him that he was relieved of the sin because of the reciting shiva panchakshari. But the brahmin community was not ready to accept it and they wanted a proof. Shri Haradatta directed the Brahmin boy to take bath in the river Kaveri and offer grass to the stone Nandi. He told the brahmins that if the stone Nandi ate the grass they have to accept that the Brahmin was relieved of the curse. Brahmin took bath in the Kaveri and offered the grass which the stone Nandi ate. 

It is believed that Shri Shiva had visited Shri Haradatta in the guise of a devotee and partook the food that was offered to him. 

Shri Chandra was relieved of a curse at this place. 

Shri Brahma got the divine darshan of Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi in wedding attire.

On the advice of Sage Vyasa, Shri Agni worshiped Shri Shiva at this place and got rid of his ailments. Hence Shri Shiva is prayed here as Shri Agneeshwarar.  

Shri Shiva performed mukti tandav for Sage Parashar. Sage Parashar was relieved of his mental illness at this place.

Heeding to the advice of Sage Shukracharya, Kamsa worshiped Shri Shiva and got rid of his ailment. Hence the place is also known as Kamsapuram. 

Festivals:

Thai (jan-feb): Shri Haradatta Shivacharya festival

Maasi (feb-March): Maasimagham and Shivaratri

Aadi (July-Aug): Aadipuram

Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri

Margazhi (Dev-Jan): Thiruvathirai

Besides these pradosha puja and Shri Agneeshwarar festivals are held regularly.

Timings: Morning 7.30 to 12 and evening 4.30 to 8.30

Address: Sri Agneeshwarar Temple, Kanjanur Post, Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluka, TamilNadu 609804

Phone: 91-04352473737

Courtesy: Various websites and blogs