Thirupugalur Sri Agneeswarar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Thirupugalur Sri Agneeswarar Temple, Thirupugalur, Thirukkannapuram, Nagapattinam District – 609 704

Diety

Agnipureeswarar Amman: Karundar kuzhali

Introduction

Agnipureeswarar Temple (also called Thirupugalur temple) in Thirupugalur, a village in Nagapattinam district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Shiva. Constructed in the Tamil style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the Cholas period in the 10th century. Shiva is worshipped as Agnipureeswarar and his consort Parvathi as Karundar Kuzhali. The temple is believed to be the place where Saiva saint Appar is believed to have attained salvation. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered Rajagopurams, the gateway tower. Thala Virutcham : Punnai Theertham : Agni theertham

Puranic Significance

The exact history of the temple could not determined based on the inscriptions evidence, but the temple is believed to have been built during the Chola period during the 10th-11th centuries. As per Hindu legend and the Sthalapurana, Shiva was worshipped by Agni, the fire god at this place and the presiding deity came to be known as Agnipureeswarar and the temple tank is called Agni theertham.As per another legend, Bhudevi, the consort of Vishnu wanted to install a Linga and worship Shiva. Banasura, her son, is believed to have dug the Linga at the place, but could not lift it. The lingam in the place is believed to appear tilted (called Konapiran) on account of it. Shiva was pleased with the devotion of Bhudevi and appeared in his dancing form in front of her. It is also believed to be the place where Shiva turned bricks into gold for the Nayanar Sundarar. At this temple Sooriyan or Agni (Sun god) had worshipped the Supreme – Shiva. Hence the god is called as Agneeswarar. Agni Bagawan made one water body surrounded by him while he was worshipping. That water body became Agni Theertham. Lord Shiva is facing here towards east direction and the Goddess Devi is facing South direction. This temple is quite big in size. Agni Bagawan and the sage Paraduvasar worshipped here. Muruga Nayanar was born at this place. Muruga Nayanar sung several songs for Lord Shiva along with Thirugnana Sampanthar, Thirunavukarasar, Siruthondar and Thiruneelakandar. There are many small Sannidhis at this temple and few of them are for Ganesha, Murugan, Linga worshipped by Paraduvasar, Agni, 63 Nayanmars, Pancha Lingas, Thirunavukarasar, Maha Laxmi, Saneeswaran, King Nala, Navagrahas, Saraswathi Devi, Annapurani, Kala-Samharamurthy, Natarajar, Dakshinamoorthy, Agathiar, Brahma, Durga Devi, Pichadanar and Kalyana Sundarar. Some of the famous Sannidhis at this temple are for the Agni who has 2 faces, 7 hands, 3 legs and 4 horns, Soora-samharamurthy, Somaskandar and Natarajar. The mother of Asua ‘Panasura’ is great Shiva devotee. For her mother the Asura was bringing all the Suyambu Lingas he had seen. But at Thirupugalur Agneeswarar temple’s linga he couldn’t move. So he decided to offer himself to move the Linga out of here. When he was trying to sacrifice himself Shiva appeared and accepted him. The big canal he dug to life the Shiva linga turned as Moat and Theertham for the temple. Shiva has accepted his mother’s pooja from the direction she was there so he tilted his head towards her. So he is also called as Konapiran.

Beliefs

Vasthu purity is an important basis for constructing buildings. This is a science that deals with the designing of the apartments in a particular direction – Kitchen, bathrooms, main hall, bedrooms etc. – at appropriate sides. This would avoid any invisible troubles entering then. This is a temple noted for Vasthu prayer. Before beginning the construction, people use to bring the bricks to the temple, perform archanas and take them back for the building work. Pregnant women worship Ambica for safe delivery. According to the Sthala Purana, Ambica Herself as a midwife took care of a woman in labour pain and ensured safety to both mother and child. A prasad oil is offered in the temple for the purpose. Devotees worship Lord Agneeswarar for mental peace. They are blessed with boons of wedding, child, job opportunity, progress in trade, promotions and welfare. Devotees offer Kalyana Malai-wedding garland and vastras to Lord and Ambica for the wedding boon. They also perform abishek with milk, cosmetic powders, turmeric, sacred ash, oil, milk etc. and dress Ambica with sandal paste. Devotees distribute the nivedhana to other devotees and contribute for temple renovation fund.

Special Features

This is the sacred land where Saint Tirunavukkarasar respectfully known as Appar Adigal attained salvation after serving the Lord by cleaning Shiva temple grounds and paths to enable devotees to walk comfortably with an instrument in his hands called Uzhavaram. This land is praised as Salvation Centre. Appar festival begins 10 days before Chithirai Sadayam Star dayin April-May. The events includes his home coming from the Jains, the greatness of his Uzhavaram, dance of Deva women and his merging with Lord at the midnight of the fourth day festival. Every devotee would be moved to see this episode only with tears in his/her eyes. There are two shrines in the same temple for Saint Appar Adigal and Saint Sundarar. Lord Agnipureeswar (Swayambumurthi), also praised as Sharanyapureeswarar, Pratyaksha Varadar and Konapiran is gracing devotees from a shrine. Mother Karundhar Kuzhali, also praised as Sulikambal blesses devotees from other shrine. Lord Vardamaneswarar and Mother Manonmani are in a separate shrine. Muruga Nayanar served Lord Vardamaneswara by preparing garlands for Him. This is also the place where Agni Bhagwan worshipped Lord Shiva and got relieved from a curse. Though he has no form as such, he appears here with two faces, 7 hands, 7 jwala sparks, four horns and 3 feet. This is a rare Agni Bhagwan idol. Lord changed the bricks into gold bars for Saint Sundarar in this holy place. Those building new houses bring bricks to the temples for vasthu and bhoomi puja to make the new building all prosperous. Also, Mother Karundhar Kuzhali was gifted wit a piece of land for her services to a woman in labour pain and is praised as Sulikambal. There is no and will not be any infant or maternal mortality in this place, a belief people strongly hold. The temple has a single shrine for Emperor Nala and Sani Bhagwan in the temple. After Nala came out of a bath from the Bana Theertha, a voice from Sani Bhagwan said that He would leave the king from his adverse aspects at Tirunallar 7 km far from this place. Saturn-Sani Bhagwan is this temple is praised as Anugraha Sani – merciful Sani. The grace of Mother Karundhar Kuzhali towards Her devotees is boundless. . As She took care of a woman during her labour time and ensured safe delivery of the child, She is praised as Sulikambal. Women strongly believe that nothing untoward would happen to them or the child as they under the direct grace of Mother Sulikambal. People pray to Her offering vastras for child boon. Three Murthis in the temple, Bhoodeshwarar, Varthamaneswarar and Bhavishyeswarar are the symbols of past, present and future. This is the birth place of Muruga Nayanar who worshipped Varthamaneswarar offering garlands made by him. He has three faces – human, bird and a swine. As devas sought asylum here for protection from the threats of demons, the place is also praised as Pugazhoor.

Festivals

There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham, and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May – June) is the most important festivals of the temple.