Tuesday, 30 April 2019

SRI AGASTHESWAR & PRITHYANGIRA DEVI TEMPLE, PADUR, NEAR VILLUPURAM, TAMIL NADU

16th April 2019.
After Ulundandar Temple’s visit our next destination was to Parikal. On the way to Parikal, it was suggested to Visit an old Shiva and a Perumal Temple at Padur.  Since Padur is on the way to Parikal, visited the Shiva temple first and then the Perumal Temple. Local people guide us to this temple if we ask for Prithyangara Devi Temple. 

Iraivan      : Sri Agastheswar
Iraivi         : Sri Abithakusambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch on south side. The temple do not have Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala and arthamandapam. There is a 2 Pillar mandapam at the south side entrance of main sanctum. The sanctum is on a pathabanda adhistana with virutha kumudam.  A Vesara Vimana is on the sanctum. An Yazhivari is above the Kumudham.  Ambal sannadhi is facing south in the abutting arthamandapam.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Ganapathy, Valli Deivanai samedha Subramaniyar, Kalinga narthanar without kalingan ( snake) and a donar statue. The Prithyangra Devi sannadhi is near to the south side entrance. The Local people Knows more about Prathyangara Devi than Lord Shiva of this temple. On no moon day "Nikumbalaa" Homam will be conducted in which, Red Chilli, fruits and vasthram are offered. 
    
LEGEND: Agasthiyar and Sukrachariyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. As per the legend, Sukarachariyar was the Kulaguru for the Mabali Chakravarthi. When Vishnu in Vamana avathar was about to get the three feet of land, Sukrachariyar advised Mabali not to give, even after Knowing that Vishnu only came as Vamana. As per the law of Sin, obstructing the giving gift to some one is also a sin.  To get rid of the sin caused Sukrachariyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. The stucco image of this sthala purana is on the south side wall of the prakara. Agasthiyar found out this swayambu Shiva Linga, installed  and worshiped. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Agastheeswarar.

INSCRIPTIONS: Paranthaka Chozha-I’s brother and the Rashtrakuda King Kannaradhevan ( to be checked ), Kulothungan-II, Rajarajan-III, Seenatharayan,  and Krishnappa Naikar, who ruled Senji period inscriptions mentions  about the donation of Lands, Villages, differing of Taxes, burning of perpetual lamps.  The Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha donated this Village Padur to Brahmins and called as Chaturvdimangalam.  From the above details, this temple might have been existed before 11th Century. 14th to 16th Century Vijayanagara Nayak period inscriptions are also found on the kumudam, inscribed during renovations/ Thirupani.

Ashtabhandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was held in 1988 in that Kanchi mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamikal also participated.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:
Padur Village is on the  Villupuram to Kallakurichi Road.
The Temple & The village Padur is about 28 KM from Villupuram and 10 KM from Ulundurpet.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE





 Stucco Gajalakshmi

 Sthalapurana
Vijayanagara/ Nayak  period inscriptions
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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