Sri
Agneeswarar – Karuthaar-kuzhali Ammai Temple, Thirupugalur, Nagappattinam
District, Tamil Nadu
Compiled by
Elango Kadirvel
Location
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Thiru-pugalur
is a village panchayat located in the Nagappattinam district of
Tamil-Nadu
Ø
The temple is
located on Nagappatinam to Nannilam bus route, towards 25 kilometers west to
Nagappatinam
Ø
It is about
255 kilometers from the State Capital city Chennai and about 120 kilometers from
Pondicherry
Presiding
Deities
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Sri Gnana
Vinayaka
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Sri
Agneeswarar (Lord Shiva), also known as a Sri Kona-Piran
Ø
Goddess
Karuthaar-kuzhali (Goddess Parvathi)
History
Ø
The temple is
believed to have been built about 1,500 years ago
Ø
The temple
deity has been revered and sung by The Moovar (the three most revered Saint
Shaivite Tamil Poets, GnanaSambandar, Appar (Thirunaavukarasar) and
Sundarar)
Specialties
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Saint Poet
Thirunaavukarasar attains Salvation
o
In this
sacred temple, Saint Poet Thirunaavukarasar also known as Appar attained
salvation after serving the Lord by cleaning the temple ground and path to
enable devotees to walk comfortably
o
He sang his
last hymn (99th) of the Sixth TalaMurai here at this
temple
Ø
Muruga
Nayanar, one among the 63 celebrated Shaivite Nayanmaars was born
here
Ø
Lord Agni
graces in the temple with 7 Jyothi lines, five hands and three legs, as a rare
idol
Ø
Presiding
Deity as Sri Kona-Piran
o
The Shiva
Linga is slightly titled, so the name, Kona-Piran (Kona in Tamil means,
slant/tilt)
Ø
Anugraha
Shani
o
The temple
has a single shrine for Emperor Nala and Lord Shani
(Saturn)
o
After King
Nala came out of a bath from the Bana Theertha (in this Temple), a voice from
Lord Shani (Saturn) said that He would leave the king from his adverse aspects
at ThiruNallaru 7 kilometeres far from this temple
o
Lord Shani
(Saturn) is this temple is praised as “Anugraha Shani”– merciful
Shani
Ø
This is a
temple noted for Vasthu prayers
o
Before
beginning the construction, devotees from nearby places bring the bricks to the
temple, perform pooja and take them back for the building
work
Legend
Ø
Banasura
belonging to the demon community, wanted to facilitate his mother’s Shiva puja
(His mother was a staunch Shiva Devotee), Banasura was bringing many
Swayambu-Linga (Swayambu meaning appearing on Its own)
Ø
He once came
to Thiru-Pugalur
Ø
He found a
Swayambu-Linga but could not move it
Ø
He dug a deep
and vast Agazhi (pit) around the temple and tried to move the Linga again but in
vain, except that the Agazhi was full of water springing from the
ground
o
This Agazhi
is known as the Agni Theertha or Bana Theertha
Ø
He decided to
end himself in frustration
Ø
A voice from
the sky told Banasura, “I will make Myself present for your mother’s Shiva
puja”
o
Lord in the
name of Kona-Piran with Punnai flowers on HIS head, appeared before Banasura's
mother
Ø
After the
puja was over, Lord returned to Thiru-Pugalur
Name Reason for
the Lord Sri Agneeswarar
Ø
This is the
place where Lord Agni worshipped Lord Shiva and got relieved from a curse – So
the Presiding Deity is called Agneeswarar
o
Though Agni
has no form as such, He appears here with two faces, 7 hands, 7 jwala sparks,
four horns and 3 feet
o
This is a
very rare Lord Agni idol, which cannot be found
elsewhere
Legacy
Ø
According to
the Sthala Purana, Goddess Karuthaar-kuzhali Herself as a midwife took care of a
woman in labour pain and ensured safety to both mother and
child
Ø
The grace of
Mother Goddess Karuthaar-kuzhali towards Her devotees is
boundless
o
"Sool" in
Tamil means pregnancy
o
As SHE took
care of a woman during her labour time and ensured safe delivery of the child,
She is praised as "Soolikaambaal"
Quotes/Hymns - Tamil Hymn by Sri Thirunaavukarasar, also known as Appar
(Stanza from the Final Hymn composed by the Saint before His
Salvation)
தெருளாதார்
மூஎயிலும்
தீயில்
வேவ,சிலை
வளைத்து,
செங்
கணையால்
செற்ற
தேவே!மருளாதார்தம்
மனத்தில்
வாட்டம்
தீர்ப்பாய்!மருந்துஆய்ப்
பிணி
தீர்ப்பாய்,
வானோர்க்கு
என்றும்!அருள்ஆகி,
ஆதிஆய்,
வேதம்ஆகி,அலர்மேலான்
நீர்மேலான்
ஆய்ந்தும்
காணாப்
பொருள்ஆவாய்! உன் அடிக்கே போதுகின்றேன் - பூம் புகலூர் மேவிய புண்ணியனே!
பொருள்ஆவாய்! உன் அடிக்கே போதுகின்றேன் - பூம் புகலூர் மேவிய புண்ணியனே!
Transliterated
Text
TheruLaathaar
moo-yeilum theeyil Veva,
Silai vaLaithu,
Seng-kaNNaiyaal setra TheVe!
MaruLaathaar-tham manathil vaatham
theerpaai!
Marunthu-Aaip
piNi theerpaai, vaanorkku endrum!
Arul-aagi,
Aathi-aai, Vetham-aagi,
alarMelaan
neerMelaan aainthum aaNaap
porul-aavaai!
Un adike podukinren –
Poon Pugalur
Meviya puNNiyaNe!
Translation
The Merciful
Sublime Lord at ThiruPugalur
YOU Destroyed
the three forts of Tirupurasura with YOUR Arrow
YOU Remove the
troubles from the minds of the devotees who focus on You with
clarity
YOU are the
Medicine for all ills
YOU are the FORM
of GRACE for all beings
YOU are the
BEGINNING of all
YOU are the
Revered Vedas
YOU are the
Beyond the search of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu
We
surrender!
Reference
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