Agneeswarar temple, Tiru-Pugalur
Location
Tiru-Pugalur
Deity
Agneeswarar
Female Deity
Choolikambal
Pathikam
Tirunavukarasar - 5, Sambandar - 2, Sundarar - 1
Gallery – Agneeswarar Temple, Tiruppugalur
How to Reach
This sacred Shiva temple is situated on the Nannilam–Nagapattinam Road, about 11 km from Nannilam. The temple is easily accessible by road, with regular bus services operating from Nannilam, Sannanallur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam. Another Paadal Petra Sthalam, Tiru-Pugalur Varthamaneeswarar Temple, is located within the same temple complex, near the sannidhi of Konapiran (Agneeswarar). The famous Divya Desam at Tirukkannapuram and the Paadal Petra Sthalam of Ramanatheechuram are also situated close to Tiru-Pugalur.
Temple Address
Tiru-Pugalur
Tiru-Pugalur Post
Via Tirukkannapuram
Nagapattinam Taluk
Nagapattinam District
PIN – 609704
Temple Hours
Morning : 7:00 - 12:00
Evening : 5:00 - 9:00
Nearby Paadal Petra Shiva Temples
Sthala Puranam
Agni Bhagavan’s Penance and the Glory of Agneeswarar
According to the Sthala Purana, the presiding deity Agneeswarar was worshipped by the God of fire – Agni Bhagavan. During his penance, Agni is believed to have created a water body around himself. This water body survives to this day outside the temple and is revered as the Agni Theertham.
The Legend of Konapiran
The presiding deity is also revered by the name Konapiran, a title associated with an interesting legend. The mother of the demon Banasura was a devout worshipper of God Shiva, and Banasura would bring Shiva Lingas from various places for his mother’s daily worship. When he attempted to remove the Swayambhu Linga at Tiruppugalur, he found it impossible to dislodge. In despair, he resolved to offer his own life, but God Shiva appeared before him, stopped him, and accepted him as His devotee. It is also believed that the moat surrounding the temple was excavated by Banasura during this episode. Since the Lord accepted the worship offered by Banasura’s mother from wherever He was, without requiring the Linga to be moved, He is believed to have slightly inclined His head toward her. Owing to this unique posture, the deity came to be known as Konapiran.
Temple Structure
Temple Area
Tiru-Pugalur, one of the ‘Paadal Petra Sthalams’ glorified by all the three great Saivite saints (Appar, Tirugnanasambandar, and Sundarar), is a large and magnificent temple. The temple occupies an area of approximately 73,000 square feet. The eastern and western compound walls measure about 325 feet in length, while the northern and southern walls extend about 225 feet. A moat surrounds the temple along all four sides of the outer fort wall, adding to its unique architectural grandeur.
Entrance
The entrance to the sanctum of Agneeswarar is through an imposing five-tiered Rajagopuram rising to a height of nearly 90 feet. Upon entering the temple, devotees first have darshan of Goddess Karundhaarkuzhali, who is enshrined in a separate south-facing sanctum. Adjacent to Her shrine is the sanctum of the presiding deity, Agneeswarar, a self-manifested (Swayambhu) Shiva Lingam, who is also revered by the name Konapiran.Chandrasekarar
A separate sannidhi for Chandrasekarar stands beside the main sanctum, and He is accorded special prominence in this temple. The Goshta deities adorning the sanctum include Vinayaka, Nataraja, Dakshinamurti, Sage Agastya, Lingodbhavar, Brahma, Durga, Bhikshadanar, and Aalingana Kalyanasundarar.
Varthamaneeswarar
To the north of the main sanctum are the separate sannidhis of Varthamaneeswarar and His consort Goddess Manonmani. Tirugyanasambandar composed an entire Thevaram hymn exclusively in praise of Varthamaneeswarar. In the inner prakaram surrounding the sanctum, devotees can also see beautiful bronze icons of Chandrasekarar, Tripuranthakar, Agni, and Brahma.
Navagrahas
The Navagrahas in this temple are uniquely arranged in the shape of the letter “ட”, unlike the circular arrangement seen in most Shiva temples. The temple also has a separate sannidhi housing Anugraha Saneeswarar together with King Nala.Special Significance for Vastu Pooja
Performing Vastu Pooja at this temple is considered highly auspicious. Since Shiva blessed Sundarar here by miraculously transforming ordinary bricks into bricks of gold, and as Agni Bhagavan was absolved of his sins at this sacred shrine, devotees who are about to construct a new house traditionally visit this temple. They offer a brick to the deity and perform prayers seeking His blessings before commencing the construction of their new home.
Temple Highlights
The Miracle of Bricks Turning into Gold
Every year, the grand Panguni Festival is celebrated with great splendour at Tiruvarur. On one such occasion, Sundarar came to Tiru-Pugalur seeking wealth to meet the festival expenses of his wife, Paravai Nachiyar. Standing before Agneeswarar, he poured out his heartfelt prayer through a Thevaram hymn. After offering worship, Sundarar rested inside the temple along with other devotees. Using a few ordinary bricks as a pillow, he spread his white upper cloth over them and fell asleep. When he awoke, he was astonished to find that the bricks beneath his head had miraculously transformed into solid blocks of gold. Overwhelmed by the Lord’s boundless grace, Sundarar sang the celebrated hymn beginning with the words “Thammaiye Pugazhndhu…”, offering his heartfelt gratitude to God Shiva.
The Liberation (Mukthi) of Appar
At the age of eighty-one, while engaged in the sacred service of Uzhavara Pani (cleaning and maintaining Shiva temples), Appar (Tirunavukkarasar) attained Mukthi at this holy shrine. It is believed that Lord Shiva granted him liberation on the day of the Sadayam (Shatabhisha) star during the Tamil month of Chithirai For this reason, Tiru-Pugalur is revered as a Sadaya Nakshatra Sthalam. Appar has a separate sannidhi within the temple. A ten-day annual festival is celebrated here around the Chithirai Sadayam star. As part of the festival, the event of Appar merging with the Divine Light of Lord Shiva during the fourth quarter of the night is ceremonially reenacted in accordance with temple tradition.
Birthplace of Muruga Nayanar
Tiru-Pugalur is the birthplace of Muruga Nayanar, one of the sixty-three revered Nayanmars. A separate sannidhi dedicated to him is found within the temple. The Periya Puranam records that the monastery (Mutt) established here by Muruga Nayanar became a gathering place for the great Saivite saints, including Tirugnanasambandar, Appar, Siruthondar, and Tiruneelanakkar, who assembled here and rejoiced in divine fellowship.
More Gallery – Agneeswarar Temple, Tiruppugalur
