Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, Kozhaiyur,

Address

Agastheeswarar Temple, Kozhaiyur, Via Komal, Kuthalam Taluk, Nagapattinam District – 609 805 Mobile: +91 99431 85352

Diety

Agastheeswarar, Amman: Abhirami

Introduction

Agastheeswarar Temple edicated to Lord Shiva located at Kozhaiyur Village in Kuthalam Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeswarar and Mother is called as Abhirami. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple. The place was called as Koozhaiyur in ancient times. This is an east facing Temple with one prakaram. The Temple is surrounded by compound walls with an entrance arch at the eastern side. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum. Mother is called as Abhirami. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in the Maha Mandapam. There are shrines for Rettai Vinayagar, Agasthya, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Chandikeswarar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Bhairavar in the Temple premises. There is a separate Temple for Varadaraja Perumal along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi within the premises of this Temple.

Puranic Significance

As per the legend, as all the celestial beings went to Himalayas to attend the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the earth lost its balance. To balance the earth, Shiva asked the sage Agastya to travel towards the southern direction to Podhigai Hills. Due to greatness of this sage, he was equivalent to all the celestial beings and as soon as he moved to the southern direction, the earth was balanced back. Agastya did not want to miss the wedding. With the help of Lord Shiva, he got the divine sight and watched the divine marriage in many sites in South India. Kozhaiyur is one such site where he got the darshan of divine marriage. Since, Lord Shiva was worshipped by Agastya, he came to be called as Agastheeshwarar.