Alangudi Namapuriswarar Temple, Pudukkottai

Address

Alangudi Namapuriswarar Temple, Alangudi, Pudukkottai District – 622301. Phone: +91 99767 92377

Diety

Namapuriswarar Amman: Aram Valartha Naayagi

Introduction

Namapureeswar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at Alangudi village, Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu. The Presiding deity is called as Namapuriswarar; Mother is called as Aram Valartha Naayagi. The highlight of the temple is the Nandi is placed opposite to the Moolavar. That is why the source is called Namapureeswar. Vishnu is said to have worshiped Shiva in the form of Nandi. The place is famous for Mercury Pradosa Sthalam. Another specialty of the place is the three-minute Shiva Puja performed by the Sun Lord with his rays from 6.30 am to 6.45 am from March 25 to January 10.

Puranic Significance

A story about the churning of the Cosmic Ocean in order to obtain Amrita – the nectar of immortal life. At the suggestion of Vishnu, the devas and asuras churn the primeval ocean in order to obtain Amrita which will guarantee them immortality. To churn the ocean they used the Serpent, Vasuki, for their churning-string. For a churning pole they used Mount Mandara placed on the back of a Great Tortoise – the Kurma Avatar of Vishnu. As the gods and demons churned the sea, the terrible poison Halahala issued from its depths and began to envelop the universe with its choking fumes. Gasping for breath, the devas and asuras sought the help of Shiva, who valiantly took the poison into his throat and swallowed it. Alangudi is the place where the poisoned lord drank. Alam means “poison”, Gudi means “ur” or “drinking”. To commemorate this event, King Sundarapandian (1216–1238 CE.) built a temple to Lord Shiva. He sat in front of him and said the name of Lord Shiva, Namashivaya and Shivayanama, he named it Namapureeswarar as he would get wealth during his lifetime.

Beliefs

If children have dosha, either planetary or horoscope, they pray here to get rid of it and improve their academic knowledge

Special Features

Dakshinamoorthy bestows blessings on the Rishis with two Rishis instead of four. At the foot, there is the rabbit. He is called Mehta Dakshinamoorthy. Already, there is a Navagraha Guru Sthalam in Alangudi, Thiruvarur district, hence the temple name Second Guru Sthalam. The sun and moon are common in Shiva temples, but only the sun is seen here. On the right side of the sun is Kala Bhairav and on the left side is his son Saneeswarar, in the form of a child named Balasaneeswarar. So, it can also be called the place of Saturn. Sun worship of Lord Shiva: Namapuriswarar worships Lord Shiva with his rays for three minutes from 6.30 am to 6.45 am from March 25 to January 10. Adi Manikkavasagar: On the way from Thiruvadavoor to Audaiyar Temple, Manikkavasagar has set up a Dakshinamoorthy Sannidhi to mark the worship of Alangudi Namapuriswara. Adi Manikkavasagar Sannidhi is here in the temple.

Festivals

Chitra Poornima in April-May; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Vinayaka Chathurthi in August-September; Navarathri in September-October; and Maha Shivrathri in February-March are the festivals celebrated in the temple.