According to
legend, Sri Surya Bhagavan had worshipped Lord Shiva at this temple. Sri Surya
Bhagavan has a separate shrine inside this temple facing the Lord towards west.
This temple is one of the Navagraha temples of Chennai devoted to Sri Surya
Bhagavan. The Sun God is given prominence in this temple, where all important
deities of the temples are facing Surya Bhagavan shrine.
The color of
Vasthram (clothing) meant for Sri Surya Bhagavan is Red. The Dhaanyam (grain)
dedicated to Him is Wheat and the auspicious day to worship Sri Surya Bhagavan
is Sunday. Worshipping Sri Surya Bhagavan on Sunday, by offering red cloth, red
flowers and wheat gives success to one in all his deeds. Also, it is said that
worshipping Sun God makes one gain the Thejas. It is said that, apart from Surya Bhagavan, Sage
Agasthiyar too had worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the name Sri
Agatheeswarar. Another Rishi called Vaakeesa Muni also had worshipped Sri
Agatheeswarar here.
Other
deities like Sri Ganesha, Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Sri Mahavishnu, Sri Durgai and
Sri Sandigeswarar are seen around the sanctum.There is a
separate shrine for Lord Ganesha called Raja Ganapathy here. Also, Sri Kaasi
Viswanathar and Sri Visaalakshi have separate shrines facing east at the south
west portion of the temple. Lord Subramanyar also has a shrine in the temple in
which a Maragatha Mayil (Peacock made of green granite) is found.
Sri Kaala
Bhairavar is very popular in this temple and is said to be more powerful.
Special Poojas and Abishegams are performed to Sri Kaala Bhairavar every Sunday
during Raahu Kaalam (4.30PM to 6PM) timings. It is said that people
worshipping Sri Bhairavar here for 6 consecutive Sundays, get their wishes
fulfilled.
Many kings
have patronized this temple during various periods. A king called Aadhithyan is
said to have done renovations to the temple during 878 AD.
Also Raja
Raja Chozha I, Raja Raja Chozha II (1152 AD), Kulothunga Chozha III (1188 AD),
Sundara Pandiyan (1200 AD), Veera Rajendra Chozha, a Telugu Chozha king calledVijayakanda Gopala are said to have contributed much to the temple, according
to the inscriptions found in the temple.
According to
another inscription, a king by name Sri Vijaya Maharaja of Sumatra Island
(Indonesia) is said to have gifted 250 Kuzhi in (Thamizh is an unit to
measure lands) of lands to Sri Agatheeswarar at Kolappaakkam, during the 8th
year of his reign. Inscriptions reveal that Sri Vijaya Maharaja was
contemporary to Raja Raja Chozha and also had very cordial relationship with
the then Chozha kingdom. The inscription also gives details about some Buddhist
activities nearby this temple and Sri Vijaya Maharaja was a Buddhist.
In the
recent past, the ASI have explored the area and found ruins of a Buddhist
shrine near the temple. A couple of Buddha statues and pillars were discovered
near this temple, which is kept in the street sides of the temple. A carving of
Lord Ganesha is also found on one of these pillars. Archeologists predict that
Sri Vijaya Maharaja, who visited the Buddhist temple at Kolappaakkam, could
have also visited Agatheeswarar temple and made donations to the temple.
Kolappaakkam
is located at about 18 kms from Chennai. Mount Poonamallee Road, to reach Kolappaakkam.
Alternatively, one can also go from Porur via
Gerugambaakkam and reach Kolapakkam. Gerugambakkam which is the
neighbouring village and site of one of the other eight navagraha temples.
The famous
Navagraha Sthalam of Suryan (Sun God) in South India is the Suryanar Temple in
Thanjavur district. In Chennai the Kolapakkam Agastheeswarar Temple is the
Suryan Sthalam.
Agastheeswarar Temple is one
of the ancient temples of India and this temple is dedicated to planet sun. Kolappaakkam
has a beautiful Shiva temple where the main deity is Sri Agatheeswarar (also
called Sri Vaakeesa Mahadhevar) and Goddess Sri Aanandhavalli.Sri
Agatheeswarar temple is one of the navgraha temple in kolapakkam and this
temple is the surya parihara sthalam.
This temple is said to be over 1300 years old. The temple
is built facing south on a vast land. Sri Agatheeswarar is seen facing east.
Ambaal Sri Aanandhavalli is facing south and is in standing posture. Nandhi is
seen facing the Lord towards east.
The Sthala
Viruksham for this temple is Arasa Maram (Peepul tree) and Theertham is
called Amirtha Pushkarani which is
found adjacent to the temple and is less maintained.
Special days like Pradhosham, Sivarathri etc., are celebrated well in this
temple. Devotees throng from different parts of the city during such days. This
wonderful temple with great significance is now coming to light gradually.
Temple
Timings: Morning 7 AM to 11 AM
Evening 4 PM to 8
PM.
Timings subject to change on
special days and important festival days.
Surya Moola Mantram: Aum
hram hrim hraum sah suryaya namah.
Arulmigu Anandavalli Sametha
Agastheeswarar Koil, Kolapakkam, Chennai 602122.
Do:
- Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
- Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
- Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
- Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
- Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
- Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
- Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
- Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
Dont's:
- Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
- Do not smoke at Temple.
- Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
- Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
- Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
- Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
- Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
- Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
- Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
- Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
- Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.