Anniyur Sri Agnipureeswarar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Anniyur Sri Agnipureeswarar Temple, Anniyoor, Thiruvarur district PIN – 612201 PH:0435-2449578, +91 9786766995

Diety

Agnipureeswarar , Amman: Gowri Parvathi.

Introduction

Anniyur Agnipureeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Vanniyur in Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Agnipureeswarar. His consort is known as Gowri Parvathi. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirunavukkarasar. Thala Virutcham : Vanni Theertham : Agni Theertham

Puranic Significance

Daksha while performing a yajna, intentionally avoided Lord Shiva and invited others to participate in the yajna. Agni is one among those attended the yajna. For attending a yajna to humiliate Lord Shiva, Agni was punished by Badrakali and Veerabadra and had to bear their curse. Agni could not attend any yajna then with his curse. This resulted in the failure of monsoon creating drought. Agni came to this place, worshipped Lord Shiva and got relieved of his curse. As Agni worshipped here, Lord is praised as Agnipureeswarar and the sacred spring Agni Theertham

Beliefs

Those facing problems in the wedding proposals perform archanas to Lord Agnipureeswarar here and go to Tiruveezhi Mazhalai temple to continue the worship for best results. Those finding defects in the trade places and in their homes pray to Lord for reliefs. This is considered as a Vasthu remedy temple. Those suffering from heat-related diseases use to bathe in the sacred spring and offer preparations made of wheat as nivedhana to Lord.

Special Features

Mother Parvathi performed penance here to be born as daughter of sage Katyayana and to have the hand of the hand of Lord in wedding. Lord appeared before Mother Parvathi and married Her in Tiruvezhi Mizhalai. Hence, this place is considered as an ideal place of worship for removal of obstacles in marriage matters. Those suffering from blood pressure and heat related ailments bathe in the theertha in the temple and offer a preparation made of wheat as nivedhana. Those facing delays in their building works, bring seven bricks to the temple so that the construction goes without delay. Of the Panchamurthis in the temple, the Somaskanda Murthi looks very beautiful.

Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in the temple are – Vaikasi Visakam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June), Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), and Maha Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar). Pradosham is also observed regularly.