Praised by Ganasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar in Thevaram
hymns Origin of Vedas, holds Mazhu, Taught essence of scriptures, rings Dancing
in ears, handsome, king of Kattupalli, my Lord, I sing His glory. This is the
9th temple on the southern bank of Cauvery.
Sri Yoga Dakshinamurthy graces
in the Prakara around the presiding deity. The main tower (Rajagopuram) is of a
five tier model. The flag post (Kodimaram or Dwajasthamba) is covered by
copper. Lord Vinayaka graces from the right side. Inside the temple on the
right is the Goddess Mothers shrine facing south. She graces in a standing
form with Dwarapalakas at the entrance of the shrine. There is also a Vinayaka
within the shrine. Lord Arthanareeswara is with Lingodhbava. Next is the shrine
of Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. Then follows the shrines
of Kasi Viswanatha with Mother Visalakshmi, Gajalakshmi, Durga.
On the right side of front
hall (Maha Mandapam) are Bhairava and Nalvar the four the authors of Thevaram
and Tiruvasagam Gnanasambandar, Tirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar.
Daily pujas are conducted properly as per rules. Masi Magam in (February-March)
and Panguni Uthiram are celebrated in this temple.
Brahmma the Creator, Sun,
Bagiratha and Queen of Urayur worshipped Lord in the temple. Following the
worship by Agnideva (God of Fire), the temple is named Agneeswaram.The temple
was renovated during the rule of Uthama Cholan. The epigraphy has mention of
Sundara Pandian and Konerinmaikondan. The name of Goddess is mentioned asAzhagammai.
Pujas are conducted four times
a day. Water is brought from Cauvery for Panguni Uthiram festival. Devotees
having a dip in Karthikai Sundays, Masimagam, Panguni Uthiram and Vaikasi
Visagam are blessed with immense benefits.
The consecration of the temple
(Kumbabishekam) was performed in the year 1983. As the word Palli is attributed
to Jains, it is believed that Jains would have stayed here. Also a statue of24th Theerthangara is taken from this place. Jain Acharyas are calledTheerthangaras. The temple was also renovated by Aditya Chola I.
The story goes that a servant
of King of Urayur brought some Sevvandhi flowers meant for Shiva Puja and gave
it to the king. The king in turn gave them to his two wives. The elder wife
offered it to Lord Shiva while the other wore it on her head. While
Tirukattupalli where the first wife lived grew into fame, Urayur where the
second wife lived met with destruction.
Moolavar: Agneeswarar, Theeyadiappar
Amman / Thayar: Soundaryanayaki,
Azhagammai
Thala Virutcham: Vanni,
Vilwa
Theertham: Surya
theertham, Kudamurutti river, Agnitheertham is in the form of a well
Pathigam: Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar
Old year: 1000-2000
years old
Historical Name: Melai Tirukattupalli
This temple is located at about 18 Kms to
the west from Thiruvaiyaru. Town bus facilities from Tiruvaiyaru are available
to go to Tirukkattupalli.
The temple at Melai Tirukattupalli has a 5 tier Gopuram and 5
prakarams. The sanctum of the main deity is situated below the ground level
with a narrow entrance. No one is allowed to go near the sanctum to have a
darshan of Lord Shiva. Devotees are allowed to pray and worship the Lord Shiva
only from a distance as the Lord manifests Himself in the form of Agni (Fire).
There is a separate shrine for the female deity Soundara Nayagi. The shrine for
Lord Brahma is located to the left of main sanctum. There is no separate temple
for Lord vishnu in this sivasthalam. There is a separate shrine for Lord vishnu
inside the Siva Temple and is known as Srinivasa
Perumalshrine. In the 2nd prakaram the sculpture of Dakshinamurthy can be
seen. The speciality of this sculpture is that one can see a second image of
Dakshinamurthy through a small hole at the base of the idol. This temple got
the royal patronage from Chola, Pandiya and Vijayanagara kings.
This Shivastalam is located on the Southern bank of the river
Kudamurutti; and is located 8km North of Budalur, near Thanjavur.
Tiruppoonturutti is 11 km east of here.
Melaittirukkaattuppalli is considered to be the 9th in the series
of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri.
Inscriptions from the period of Raja Raja I & other Chola
Emperors and the Pandya and Vijayanagar periods are found here. This temple was
part of an old fort captured by the British in 1771; it was recaptured by Hyder
Ali in 1781.
Legend has it that one of the queens of a Chola monarch (of
Uraiyur/Tiruchirappalli) was a devotee of Shiva, and when Uraiyur got submerged
in a sandstorm, she managed to find solace in Tirukkattuppalli (here)where
Shiva blessed her and relieved her of the scorching heat which ravaged the
region.
This temple with 3 prakarams occupies an area of about an acre.
The sanctum is located lower than the ground level.
Lord Agneeswara is a swayambu Linga. In the Navagraha shrine (9
Planets) against the general traditions, all the planets are facing Sun planet.
As Agni (God of Fire) worshipped, the temple is named Agneeswaram.
Masi Magam in (February-March), Panguni Peruvizha in (March-April),
Shivarathri in (February-March), Aipasi Annabishekam in (October-November) and
Margazhi Tiruvadhirai are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Devotees pray for removal of obstacles in marriage talks, excellence
in education and prosperity.
Devotees perform abishek to the Lord with Vastras clothing. They
bathe on Sundays in the month of Karthikai (November-December) in Agni theertha
and on Masi Magam (February-March), Panguni Uthiram (March-April) and Vaikasi
Visakam (May-June).
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 8.30
p.m.
Sri Agneeswarar Temple, Tirukattupalli Post ? 613 104, Thanjavur
district. Contact Number - +91 94423 47433
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.
Don't 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.