| Abathsagayeswarar Temple | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Tiruvarur |
| Deity | Abathsagewarar (Shiva),Dakshinamoorthy (Guru orJupiter) |
| Location | |
| Location | Alangudi |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country |  India |
  Location inTamil Nadu | |
| Coordinates | 10°49′48″N79°24′37″E / 10.83000°N 79.41028°E /10.83000; 79.41028 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian architecture |
Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi orGuru Sthalam orTiru Irum Poolai[1] is aHindu temple dedicated toShiva located in the valagaiman Town near Alangudi sub in theValangaiman taluk[2] ofTiruvarur district,Tamil Nadu,India. Shiva is worshipped as Apathsahyesvarar, and is represented by thelingam. His consortParvati is depicted as Elavarkuzhali. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, theTevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as theNayanmars and classified asPaadal Petra Sthalam.
The temple complex covers two acres and it houses a five tier gateway tower known asgopurams, one facing the Apathsaheswarar shrine and other towards North. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Apathsaheswarar and his consort Elavarkuzhali being the most prominent.
The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Brahmotsavam festival celebrated during Chittirai (April–May) is the most prominent festival.
The original complex is believed to have been built byCholas, while the present masonry structure was built during theNayak during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by theHindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of theGovernment of Tamil Nadu.
The temple has a 5-tierrajagopuram surrounded by twoprakarams (closed precincts of a temple). The temple is located in Alangudi, a village located 16 km (9.9 mi) fromKumbakonam and 56 km (35 mi) fromThanjavur on the Thanjavur - Thiruvarur road.[3]
Legend is thatSiva consumed deadly poison, giving rise to the name Alangudi and deity being termed Apatsahayesvarar, indicating saviour during hard times. The other names of the presiding deity are Aranyeswarar. There are sixteen waterbodies associated with the temple.[4]
Pancha Aranya Sthalams: Aranyam means forest and the following five temples at different forests Thanjavur / Kumbakonam / Thiruvarur region are revered as "Pancha Aranya Sthalams".
The temple is one of the nine Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu and is a part of the popular Navagraha pilgrimage in the state - it houses the image of Guru (Jupiter).[5][6] The planets are believed to influence the horoscope computed based on time of one's birth and subsequently influence the course of life. Each of the planets are believed to move from a star to another during a predefined period and thus sway over an individual's fortunes. The Navagrahas, as per Hindu customs, are believed to provide both good and bad effects for any individual and the bad effects are mitigated by prayers. As in other Navagraha temples, the common worship practises of the devotees include offering of cloth, grains, flowers and jewels specific to the planet deity. Lighting a set of lamps is also commonly followed in the temple.[7] As per contemporary Saivite belief, the energies distributed cyclically by Navagrahas can be channeled based on remedial measures. As per local legends, Shiva, the overlord of the nine planetary deities, allowed them to freely grant wishes based on devotion of the devotees.[8]
The temple priests perform thepuja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed six times a day;Kalasanthi at 6:00 a.m.,Irandam Kalm at 9:00 a.m.,Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m.,Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m,Irandam Kalm at 7:30 p.m., andArthajamam at 9:00 p.m.. Each ritual comprises four steps:abhisheka (sacred bath),alangaram (decoration),naivethanam (food offering) anddeepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for Apatsahayesvarar and Elavarkuzhali. There are weekly rituals likesomavaram (Monday) andsukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals likepradosham, and monthly festivals likeamavasai (new moon day),kiruthigai,pournami (full moon day) andsathurthi. Other festivals includeVinayaka Chaturthi, Aadi Pooram,Navaratri, Aippasi Pournami, Skanda Sashti,Kartikai Deepam, Arudra Darisanam,Thaipusam, Maasi Magam, Panguni Uththiram and Vaikasi Visakam. The major festival of the temple is the Brahmotsavam celebrated during theTamil month ofChittirai (April–June), when special worship practises are followed and the festival image of the deity is taken around the streets of Alangudi.[9]
| Sapthavigraha Moorthis | ||
|---|---|---|
| Saptha Vigraha moorthis are the seven prime consorts in allShiva temples located at seven cardinal points around the temple | ||
| Deity | Temple | Location |
| Shiva | Mahalingaswamy temple | Tiruvidaimarudur |
| Vinayaga | Vellai Vinayagar Temple | Thiruvalanchuzhi |
| Murugan | Swamimalai Murugan temple | Swamimalai |
| Nataraja | Natarajar temple | Chidambaram |
| Durga | Thenupuriswarar Temple | Patteswaram |
| Guru | Apatsahayesvarar Temple | Alangudi |
| Navagraha | Suryanar Kovil | Suryanar Kovil |
The temple is counted as one of theNavagraha Temples for planetGuru (Jupiter).[10]Tirugnana Sambandar, a 7th-century TamilSaivite poet, venerated Apathsaheswarar in ten verses inTevaram, compiled as theFirst Tirumurai.Appar, a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Annamalaiyar in 10 verses inTevaram, compiled as theFifth Tirumurai. As the temple is revered inTevaram, it is classified asPaadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. The temple is one of the most visited temples in the district.[6]
According to a Hindu legend,Mahalingaswamy at Thiruvidaimarudur is the centre of all Shiva temples in the region and theSaptha Vigraha moorthis (seven prime consorts in allShiva temples) are located at seven cardinal points around the temple, located in various parts of the state.[11][12] The seven deities areNataraja inChidambaram Nataraja Temple atChidambaram,Chandikeswarar temple at Tirucheingalur,Vinayagar inVellai Vinayagar Temple atThiruvalanchuzhi,Muruga inSwamimalai Murugan Temple atSwamimalai,Bhairava inSattainathar Temple atSirkali,Navagraha inSooriyanar Temple atSuryanar Kovil and Dakshinamoorthy in Apatsahayesvarar Temple atAlangudi, Tiruvarur.[12]
