The Visit to Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Ettiyathali near Aranthangi was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23rd & 24th September 2023.
Moolavar : Sri Agastheeswarar
Consort : Sri Akilandeswari
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple is facing east with an entrance Rajagopuram base. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati as Rishaba roodar is on the top of the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. In kostam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south in maha mandapam. There are two Ambal sannidhis in this temple. One Ambal is called as Akila and other Ambal is called as Akilandeswari. Nalvar and Natarajar sabha is in the ardha mandapam. Navagrahas are in the mandapam before the maha mandapam. Rahu and ketu are found interchanged.
In the outer praharam Vinayagar, Murugan, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Chandran ( wrongly written as Suriyan )
Thavvai - Jyeshta Devi
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with vrutha kumudam. Sthamba panjaras are in antarala portion. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. The pilasters are with square base & Naga bandham, Vishnu kantha body, malai thongal, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam and poo mottu pothyal. The Prastaram consist of lotus petals valapi, kapotam with plain nasi kudus and Chandra mandapam. Yazhi vari is above the kapotam. A two tier stucco vesara Vimanam is on the bhumidesam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu ( Narasimhar ), Brahma are in the Tala and greeva koshtams. Lingothbavar stucco image is on the west side of the 1st tala.
Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are partially built with laterite stones.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple may belongs to early Pandya period and latter the mandapas are added. The 14th to 16th Century inscriptions are found on the wall. One of the inscription records an endowment and Shiva as Thiruagatheechuramudayar.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, Agasthiyar, after worshipping Shiva at Kashi, on the way to Pothigai Hills stayed here to do the ritual of sandhyavandanam. He worshipped this swayambhu Shiva Lingam at Ettiyathali and stayed in the night. The Thondai mandala King Kalingarayan, who was suffering from ashtama Sani, passes through this place. When the King asked Agasthiyar, the way to get rid of Ashtama Shani dosha, Agasthiyar, in-turn asked the King to construct a temple for the Swayambhu Lingam. He further told the king, to install the Navagrahas on the Esanya direction to get more power from Shiva. Also the Navagrahas are in-front of Akilandeswari Ambal’s Sannadhi, who is also known as Navagraha Nayagi, gets more power from Ambal also.
In the Navagrahas group, the positions of both Rahu and Ketu are interchanged. Hence this is a Shani, Rahu & Ketu dosha parihara sthalam. Also this is a Kalathira dosha nivarthi sthalam.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Sani peyarchi day, and Saturdays.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile numbers of Gurukkal +91 9894930536 and +91 8939661302, may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The Temple at Ettiyathali is about 500 meters from Ettiyathali Main Road Bus Stop. Town bus No 21 From Aranthangi to Peravurani stops at Ettiyathali.
Ettiyathali is about 8 KM from Aranthangi Bus Stand, 18 KM from Peravurani Bus Stand, 22 KM from Avudaiyarkoil and 41 KM Karaikudi.
Nearest Railway Station is Aranthangi.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Bairavar
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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