Thirupugalur is about 32 kms from Mayiladuthurai and 20 kms from Thiruvarur. It is at about 7 kms Sannanallur which is on Thiruvarur-Peralam route. This is a Padal Pethra Sthalam on southern bank of Kaveri revered by Shaiva Saints Appar, Sundarar and Sambandhar. There are 2 Padal Pethra Sthalam in the same temple complex namely Thirupugalur and Thirupugalur Vardhamaneecharam. The temple must have existed before the 7th century as it was revered by the 3 Shaiva Saints. Later during the period between 10th and 11th century, the Chola kings rebuilt the temple. There are about 67 stone inscriptions in the temple.
At this place Shaiva Saint Appar attained salvation. This temple is for the worship of those who are born on Shatabhisha nakshatra.
Moolavar: Shri Agnishwarar, Shri Konalpiran, Shri Sharanyapureeshwarar, Shri Punnagavananathar
Devi: Shri Kuruntharkuzhali, Shri Choodambika
Utsav Moorti: Agni, Chandikeshwarar, Thiru Puran Karar and Lord Brahma
Kshetra Vruksha: Punnag tree
Puranik Name: Punnag Vanam, Sharanyapuram, Rakt-aranyam
Sacred Theertha: Agni Theertha, Baan Theertha
Kshetra Puran:
1. Once there was a debate between Agni, Varun and Vaayu. Due to this Lord Agni disappeared. Hence no Yagnya and other worship could be done on the earth. In order to get relief, Rishis, Munis and Devas started Shiva Linga worship. By the command of Lord Shiva, Lord Agni appeared again. Lord Shiva created a form for Agni with 2 faces, 3 legs, 4 horns, 7 hands and 7 flames. As Lord Shiva gave anugraha to Lord Agni, Lord Shiva is praised as Lord Agnishwarar. Lord Shiva gave darshan as Chandikeshwarar.
2. Saranya Raja worshiped Lord Shiva. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Sharanya Pureeshwarar.
3. There was an Asura named Banasur. His mother used to worship Lord Shiva with a new Shiva Linga everyday. When she worshiped the 108th Shiva linga she felt that there was no one like her who had worshiped Lord Shiva. Hence Lord Shiva did not pay heed to her prayers. She realized her mistake and begged Lord Shiva for pardon. Lord Shiva directed her to Kaashi and asked her to make a Shiva linga of sand and worship it. At that time, Banasura requested Lord Shiva to allow his aged mother to perform the atonement at this place itself. With Lord’s consent they made a Shiva Linga of sand. While worshiping the Shiva Linga, it tilted to one side (North). Even to this date, we observe the tilt of Shiva Linga. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Lord Konalpiran (In Tamil, Konal means tilt, piran means Lord Shiva).
4. According to Sthala puran, once the asuras were terrorizing the Devas. So they sought asylum at this place. Hence the place got the name Pugalur (Pugal in Tamil means Asylum and Oor means Village)
5. King Nala was afflicted with Shani Dosha for 7.5 years. During this period he lost everything and was going from one Shiva sthala to another one for relief. When he was worshiping at this place, a celestial voice informed him that he would be relieved from the clutches of Lord Shani very soon. Hence Lord Shaneeshwar is considered as Anugraha murti at this place.
6. According to Sthala puran, Shaiva Saint Appar used to serve Lord Shiva at various temples by cleaning the ground and the pathway for the devotees. He spent a considerable time of his life serving the Lord at this temple. He used a tool named Uzhavaram. In order to test his devotion, Lord Shiva put some gems at this place where Appar was cleaning. But Appar did not show any interest in them but threw them away along with debris. Then Lord sent some celestial dancers to disturb Appar. But Appar also sent them away. From this Lord found, Appar had no regard for land, woman or gold. Appar used to pray to the Lord for salvation. He sang the last Pathigam (hymn) at this place at the age of 81 on Shatabhisha nakshatra in the Tamil month of Chitrai. He merged into Lord Shiva on that day. This day is celebrated as Appar festival. This incident is depicted in the painting on the wall of the temple.
7. Once a Shaiva Saint Sundarar visited this temple and prayed to the Lord for some money. He required this amount for his wife. At that time there was some repair work going on in the temple. After worship Sundarar kept a few bricks as a pillow and took a nap. When he woke up, the bricks had turned into gold. He was overwhelmed with joy and he sang a hymn in praise of Lord Shiva.
8. Another Sthala puran about this temple also involves the adjacent temple called Ramnandicharam. A local king prayed to Lord Shiva for child boon and performed a yagnya. A celestial voice informed him that he will be blessed with a girl soon. The child will be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. When the king went for hunting in the forest, he found 4 young girls under a tree. He brought them to the place and raised them as his own daughters. When they attained marriageable age, he prayed to Lord Shiva and asked him to marry them. It is believed that Lord Shiva married them. Hence there are 4 temples nearby this place housing each one of them.
Goddess Karundhar kuzhali – at this temple
Goddess Vandvaar kuzhali – at Thiru marugal
Goddess Sarivar kuzhali – at Ramanadicharam
Goddess Vaithakaru kuzhali – at Thiru Chengattangudi
It is believed that once these 4 Goddesses helped a pregnant woman to deliver a child. Hence they are commonly known as Chooliambal (Chool or Karu means pregnancy or fetus in Tamil). When they returned back they stayed away from Lord’s shrine. This is symbolically represented in all the temples as their shrines are located slightly away from Lord’s shrine. In this temple, Goddess Parvati is revered as Goddess Karukathaambigai (Ambika who protected the fetus/ pregnant lady).
9. It is believed that Lord Shiva blessed Goddess Bhoomadevi and Sage Satyasharda with his cosmic dance.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Banasur, Gods, Goddess Bhumadevi, Lord Agni, King Nala, King Saranya, Sage Bharadwaj, 18 Siddhas, Neelakantha Nayanar, Siruthonda Nayanar, Shaiva Saints Appar, Sundarar and Sambandhar
Special Features:
1. This is the only place where Lord Agni has a shrine and idol of stone.
2. The utsav murtis are very beautiful.
3. The presence of 3 Shiva lingas indicating past, present and future is unique.
4. This is the birth place of Muruganayanaar. He used to offer flowers to Lord Shiva daily. He attained salvation at Nallur Perumanam (Achalapuram) on the day of Shaiva Saint Sambandhar’s wedding.
5. According to Periya Puranam, the 5 great Nayanmaars - Sambandhar, Sundarar, Appar, Siruthondar, Neelakantha Nayanar - once discussed the Shaiva Siddhant at Muruganayanaar’s mutt.
6. Lord Shaneeshwarar is praised as Anugraha Shaneeshwarar.
7. This is a parihaar sthala for Shatabhisha nakshatra.
8. There is a separate shrine for Lord Kaalsamharmurti.
9. Appar sang the last hymn at this place and attained moksha.
10. This place is famous for performing Vaastu pooja.
11. The moat surrounding the temple is believed to have been dug by Banasura.
12. It is a practice to drape Goddess Ambika with a white saree at twilight in the evening and she is worshipped as Goddess Rajarajeshwari.
13. Shive Linga is slightly tilted.
14. In the Navagraha shrine, Navagrahas are arranged in L shape.
About the temple:
The temple covers about 7300 Sq. ft. This is an east facing temple with 5 tiered Rajagopuram. Entrance to the parikrama has a three tiered Rajagopuram. The temple complex is covered by a moat praised as Baan Theertha / Agni Theertha. Between 2 rajagopurams we come across Dhwajastambha, Balipeeth and Nandi. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardhamandap and Mahamandap. Lord Shiva (Agnishwarar) is Swayambhoo Linga facing the East in the sanctum which is shaped like a linga. The Linga is in a tilted position confirming to the legend of Banasura.
Kosthamoortis: Lord Vinayaka, Lord Natraja, Lord Dakshinamoorti, Sage Agastya, Lord Lingothbhavar with Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma on either side, Lord Bramha, Goddess Durga, Lord Bikshadanar, Lord Aalingan-kalyan-sundarar. Lord Chandikeshwar shrine is in its usual position.
Goddess Ambika is in a separate south facing shrine in standing posture. This shrine is very near the rajagopuram. Lord Agni’s idol has 2 faces, 7 hands, 7 jwalas, 4 horns and 3 feet. It is in a separate shrine. This is a rare representation of Lord Agni. There is a similar utsav idol also. Lord Shanishwarar is in a separate shrine. There is an idol of King Nala, by the side of Lord Shanishwarar in a worshipping posture as Lord Shani fulfills the wishes of devotees at this place. He is praised as Anugraha-Shani. There are 3 Shiva lingas believed to symbolize past, present and future. They are known as Bhooteshwarar (Kadantha Kala Nathar in Tamil), Vardamaneeshwarar (Nigazh-Kaal-nathar in Tamil), Bhavisheswarar (Varumkala Nathar in Tamil). Hence worshiping them the devotees believe that once past, present sins are removed and at the same time their moksha is ensured in the future. In the Navagraha shrine, the Navagraha are shaped in L shape. Shiva linga worshiped by Lord Vishnu and Lord Muruga, Neelkanthashiva Acharyai, Lord Indra, Sages Bharadwaj, Dadhichi, Vyasa, Bhrigu, Jamadagnee, Pulasthi and Jabali are found in the parikrama. In the parikrama we find the following shrines and idols – Sthala Vinayaka praised as Gyanvinayaka, 63 Nayanmars, Panchalinga, Shaiva Saints Appar and Sundarar, Vataapi, Lord Subramnya with his consorts, Lord Shaneeshwarar, Goddess Annapurna, Goddess Mahalaxmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Kaalsamharmurti, Lord Chinthmaneeshwarar, Lord Nardhanvinayaka, Lord Natraja, Lord Kashivishwanath, Lord Somaskandha, Thrimukasura, Lord Somanayakar with Somanayaki, Lord Bhairava, Vaamdevalinga and Ahgorlinga. There are paintings associated with the puran of this temple. A sculpture of Kaamdhenu pouring milk on Shiva linga. Near Agni Theertha, there is an idol of Lord Chandikeshwarar in a mandap. Lord Vishnu is believed to have manifested under the Kshetra Vruksha.
Prayers:
1. Devotees praise Lord Shiva at this place for getting a house, good lifepartner and good children.
2. Those who build new houses take three bricks from here and place them at Agneya and Eeshan corner of the pooja room. They believe that this removes the Vaastudosha. Hence Lord Shiva is revered as Vaastunathar.
3. Those who face difficulties in childbirth and marriage worship Goddess Parvati as they believe that their difficulties will be removed by her. In order to get rid of marriage obstacles they donate white colored saree to Goddess Ambika. For removal of marriage obstacles, they garland Goddess Ambika with a Kalyana garland.
4. Devotees born on Shatabhisha nakshatra worship at this place.
Poojas: Regular treekaal pooja, Pradosh pooja, Sankasti, Pournima and special pooja on Diwali and Pongal. Special poojas are performed on Tamil new year and English new year.
Festivals: Some important festivals are
Chitrai (April-May): 10 days of Appar festival on Shatabhisha nakshatra
Vaikashi (May-June): Bramhotsava for 10 days, Lord granting darshan to Lord Agni and Vaikashi pournima
Aani (June-July): Thirumanjanam
Aadi (July-August): Puram, pooja on Poorva Phalguni nakshatra
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Ganesh Chaturthi
Purattassi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aipassi (Oct-Nov): Skandha Shasthi and Annabhishek
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thirukarthigai, Special pooja on Mondays
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Thai (Jan-Feb): Makar Sankranti
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri
Panguni (Mar-Apr): Uttiram, pooja on Uttara Phalguni nakshatra
Temple timings: 6.30 am to 12.30 pm; 4 pm to 9 pm
Address:
Shri Agnishwarar Temple at Post Thirupugalur via Thirukannapuram,
Taluka Thirumarugal,
District Naagpattinam,
Tamil Nadu 609704
Phone: +91-4366237176; 9443588339
Contact of priest: Shri Ramanath Gurukkal +91-9487864858
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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