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Abodes of Shiva

138. Arulmigu Choolikambal sameda Agneeswarar Temple, Thiru Pugalur

 

Mulavar   Agneeswarar, Konappiraan, Saranyapureeswarar, Punnagavana Nathar
Ambal   Karuntharkuzhali, Choolikambal
Kshethram    
Direction   Facing East
Theertham   Agni Theertham, Bana Theertham
Sthala Vruksham   Punnai vruksham
Paadiyavar   Gyanasambandar,Appar,Sundarar
Travel Base   Thiruvarur
Nearest Railway Station   Nannilam
Continent   Chola - South Cauvery
Circle   Thirumarugal
District   Nagapattinam
State   Tamil Nadu

Location

Thiru Pugalur is situated at a distance of about 7 kms to the west of Sannanallur. Sannanallur is on the Thiruvarur to Peralm route. It is about 33 kms away from Mayiladuthurai, 20 kms away from Karaikkal, 20 kms away from Thiruvarur and 10 kms away from Nannilam.

History

It is believed that Lord Agni, the fire god, worshiped Lord Shiva here. Lord Shiva blessed Agni by giving him a darshan in the form of Chandrasekarar. Agni was relieved of his sins. Hence the lord is praised as Sri Agneeswarar. It is believed that when the demons were terrorising the devas and the sages, they sought asylum in this place. Hence, this place gets the name Pukalur (pukal means asylum and oor means village in Tamil). As per legend, demon Banasuran, a great Shiva devotee, dug a huge tank (Akazhi) around this temple. He tried to carry away the main Shivalingam from here to his mother Mathiniyar’s place for her worship, but he failed in his efforts to do so. During this process, the lord’s lingam got slightly tilted to one side. Hence, this lord is also called Sri Kona Piraan (Konal means tilted in Tamil). Another legend associated with this temple is that of king Nalan. King Nalan was under the clutches of Lord Saneeswarar. But after worshiping Lord Shiva here, he heard a divine voice that told him that he would be relieved from the clutches of Lord Saneeswarar soon. Hence Lord Saneeswarar here is considered as Anugraha Moorthy. As per legend, Saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) spent a considerable time of his life here and served (Uzhavaarappani) the lord of this temple. He used to serve the lord in various Shiva temples by cleaning the grounds and paths to enable devotees to walk comfortably. He did so using a tool called Uzhavaram. The lord wanted to test Appar’s devotion. The lord put some gems at the place where Appar was cleaning. But Appar did not show any regard for these gems and threw them out along with the other wastes. The lord then sent some dancers (Arambayar) from the celestial world in order to entice him. However, Appar promptly sent them away. This proved to the lord that Appar was completely devoted to him and had no regard for any of the three wishes – land, woman and gold. Appar repeatedly prayed to the lord asking for salvation. He sang his last pathigam, Ennuken, en solli ennukeno….. and by grace of the lord, he attained salvation (Mukthi) at the age of 81 on a Chithirai Sadhayam star day. He was assimilated into the lord’s idol. This place is praised as salvation place. To commemorate this event, a grand festival is celebrated every year on this day called Appar festival. According to legend, Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar visited this place to worship the lord and wanted to get some money from him. The Nayanar wanted this money for his wife, Paravai Nachiyar in Thiruvarur. At this time, this temple was undergoing some renovations. After worship, he wanted to take rest for some time. He kept few bricks to support his head and took a nap. On waking up, he found that the bricks were converted into golden blocks by Lord Agneeswara’s grace. The saint was overwhelmed with joy and rendered his Padhigam. Another legend associated with this temple involves a nearby temple (and also a Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam) called Ramanadeecharam. The legend is that a local king prayed to Lord Shiva for child boon and performed a yagna. Through his divine voice, the lord informed the king that he would be blessed with a girl child soon and this child would be an incarnation of Goddess Parvathy herself. At a later date, when the king went to the forest for hunting, he found four young girls under a tree. He brought them to his palace and raised them as his own daughters. When they attained the marriageable age, the king prayed to Lord Shiva and requested the lord to marry them. It is believed that the lord married them. Hence, there are four temples nearby each housing one of the goddesses – Sri Karundhar Kuzhali (in this temple), Sri Vanduvaar Kuzhali in Thirumarugal, Sri Sarivar Kuzhali in Ramanadeecharam and Sri Vaaitha Thirukuzhal Nayaki in Thiruchengattangudi. It is believed that these four Goddesses once helped a pregnant woman deliver her child. Hence, these goddesses are referred by the common name Sri Choolikambal (Chool or Karu means pregnancy in Tamil). It is believed that when the goddesses returned to the temple after this incident, they stayed at a little distance away from the lord’s shrine. This is symbolically represented in all the four temples as the goddess’s shrine is located separate from the lord’s shrine. In this temple, Goddess Parvathy is also praised as Sri Karu Katha Ambigai. Lord Shiva is believed to have blessed Goddess Boomi Devi and Sage Satyashada with his Cosmic dance here. It is believed that Agni, Sage Bharadwaj, all the 18 Siddhars, Saints Thirugnanasambanthar, Appar and Sundarar have worshiped Lord Shiva here.

Architecture

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 75th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). Saint Thirunavukkarasar attained salvation (Mukthi) and sang his last pathigam here. This is one of the 44 Paadal petra sthalams where the Moovar (the three saints - Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams. This is the birthplace of Saint Muruga Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. This east facing temple has 2 corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. Visiting this temple is considered auspicious for those born under the influence of Sadhayam nakshatram (star). This temple is famous for performing Vastu pooja.There are two Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams in the same complex - Thirupukalur and Thiru Pukalur Vardhamaneecharam. The historical names of this place are Punnagavanam, Saranyapuram and Rakthaaranyam.The idols of Navagraham are not placed in their regular form but are placed in an L shaped form. Lord Saneeswarar’s shrine also houses an idol of King Nalan. In this temple, Lord Somaskandar is considered very auspicious. This is the only place where Lord Agni has an idol made of stone and has a separate shrine. Lord Agni is seen with two heads, three legs, seven hands, four horns and seven sparks of fire on his head. The procession idol of Agni is also in the same form. The procession idols of Agni, Chandrasekarar, Thiripuranthakar and Brahma are incredibly beautiful. There are three Shivalingams in the names of Lord Bhoodeshwarar, Lord Vardamaneeswarar and Lord Bhavishyeswarar. These three lingams are believed to symbolise the past, present and the future. This is the birthplace of Muruga Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. The Nayanar offered flowers to the lord every day with full devotion. He attained salvation at Nallur Perumanam (Aachalpuram) during Saint Thirugnanasambanthar’s wedding. Behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either sides of Lord Annamalaiyar, there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma. Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three lords (Trimurthys) – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is considered to be very auspicious.As per Periya Puranam, this is the place where five Nayanmars, (Thirugnanasambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar, Siruthondar, Thiruneelanakkar and Muruga Nayanar) sat together and discussed about Saivism. They spent some time here at Muruga Nayanar’s mutt.This temple’s tank, Agni Theertham is in the form of a semicircle (Akazhi in Tamil) around the temple. Lord Saneeswarar here is praised as Anugraha Sani and worshiping him here is considered to be very auspicious.This is a parihara sthalam for those born under the influence of the Sadhayam nakshatram (star). Devotees whose birth star is Sadhayam can visit this temple for special poojas. Devotees believe that worshiping the lord here will lead to removal of the sins that they might have accrued in their previous births. This temple is famous for performing Vastu pooja.

Festival

The two most important festivals celebrated in this temple are – 10-day Vaikasi Poornima Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June) commemorating the event of Lord Shiva granting darshan to Lord Agni. 10-day Appar Baktha Utsav in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) beginning on Sadhaya Star day. This festival is held every year commemorating the event of Lord Shiva granting salvation to Appar. Some of the other festivals celebrated here are - Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July), Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai and Somavaram in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan), Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Pradosham, Pournami and Sankatahara Chaturthi are also observed regularly.

Sri Agneeswarar Temple, Thirupugalur Post, Thirukkanapuram Via, Thirumarugal Taluk, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu – 609 704. Tele: +91 – 4366 - 237176, 94435 88339.

Timings: 6.30 am to 12.00 pm, 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm