Pazhavoor Thirumeni Azhagar Temple, Thirunelveli

Address

Pazhavoor Thirumeni Azhagar Temple, Thirunelveli

Pazhavoor, Thirunelveli

Tamil Nadu – 627010

Moolavar

Thirumeni Azhagar

Amman

Poorna and Pushkala

Introduction

The Thirumeni Azhagar Temple, dedicated to Lord Sastha, is located in Pazhavoor Village in Thirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. The temple, known for its ancient heritage and spiritual significance, is a revered place of worship for Lord Sastha with his consorts Poorna and Pushkala.

• Presiding Deity: Thirumeni Azhagar (Lord Sastha)
• Consorts: Poorna and Pushkala
• Location:
  • 15 km from Veeravanallur
  • 30 km west of Thirunelveli
• Accessibility:
  • Nearest Railway Station: Veeravanallur
  • Nearest Airports: Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram

Puranic Significance

This temple, over 1200 years old, has a fascinating legend tied to the British era.

When plans were made to demolish the temple to construct a dam, local devotees pleaded with the British Collector to spare the sacred site. Skeptical, the Collector demanded that the temple’s deity, Sastha, present himself to make the plea. Astonishingly, Lord Sastha is believed to have directly spoken to the Collector, leading to the dam being relocated to another site.

This miraculous event reinforced the temple’s significance and the deity’s divine power among devotees.

Beliefs

Devotees strongly believe that worshipping at this temple:

• Cures diseases
• Brings peace and prosperity

The temple serves as a Kula Deivam (family deity) for nearly 1000 families.

Special Features

1. Presiding Deity:
   Lord Thirumeni Azhagar is uniquely depicted seated with his consorts, Poorna and Pushkala.
   • The Lord’s idol has a slanted tuft of hair (Kona Kondai), a rare and distinct feature.
2. Idols and Shrines:
   • Lord Ganesh: Accompanied by three parivara ganangals (followers).
   • Vana Pechi Amman (Sakthi Swaroopini): A fierce Bhairavi deity holding a trident and skull. Despite her nature, she is perceived in a pleasant and benevolent form here.
   • Maadan and Karuppan: Ferocious Ugramoorthys (fierce deities) who exhibit a calm and pleasant disposition in this temple.
3. Cultural Significance:
   • Lord Thirumeni Azhagar is believed to have selected Palai Sri Bhaskara Iyer as his representative at Sabarimala, establishing a unique connection between this temple and the famed Sabarimala shrine.
4. Annual Celebrations:
   The temple celebrates Varushabishegam on Panguni Uthiram day with grandeur.

Temple Size and Spiritual Fame

Although the temple is relatively small in size, the divine presence (Murthy) and its spiritual fame (Keerthy) are immeasurable. It remains a sacred center of devotion and faith, attracting visitors seeking the blessings of Lord Sastha and his consorts.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/03/thirumeni-azhagar-temple-pazhavoor.html

Century/Period

1200 Years Old

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE)

Nearest Bus Station

Pazhavoor

Nearest Railway Station

Veeravanallur

Nearest Airport

Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.

Location on Map

lightuptemple