Saravanakumar Temple Visit: Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Kiliyannavur (Kiliyanur)

Sunday 25 September 2022

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Kiliyannavur (Kiliyanur)

Location

Kiliyanur is at a distance of about 18 kms from Tindivanam. In Tindivanam lot of buses are available. Get Tindivanam to Pondicherry buses via kilyanur route. At a distance of about one km from Kiliyanur bus stand.

Two more Paadal Petra Sthalam, Arisili and Irumbai Maakaalam are located very near to this place.

General Information

This is one of the 276 Devara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 33^rd Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu.
It is said that this is the last (276^th) Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam that has been identified so far.
Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
The procession idols (Urchavars) are kept somewhere else for safety reasons as they have been stolen once and later recovered.
This is a Rahu-Kedu parikara Sthalam.
There is no flag post (Kodimaram) or main tower (Rajagopuram) in this temple.

History of the Temple

This temple is around 1500 years old and was built in the Chola period. “Killi” is the surname of Chola kings and there are historical references to kings from the Chola period like King Nedungkilli and King Killivalavan. It is possible that this place’s name “Kiliyanur” might have been derived from its connection to the Chola dynasty.

As per the stone inscriptions in the temple, it can be deduced that this temple was first built using bricks and later reconstructed using granite during King Paranthaka Chola-I’s period.

Legend

It is said that the lingam (Moolavar) was installed and worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar, so the lord is named Sri Agastheeswarar.

It is also said that Nandi Devar (the bull which serves as the mount of Lord Shiva), who is in front of Goddess Akilandeswari is performing poojas and worshiping her on Maha Shivratri days. Some inscriptions about this are also available in this temple.

Deities in the Temple

Apart from Lord Agastheewarar’s shrine, there is a separate shrine for Goddess Akilandeswari. The idols of Vinayagar, Agasthiyar, Gajalakshmi, Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena, Kaala Bairavar, Pitchandavar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Durgai, Navagraham, Suryan and Chandran can be seen in the corridors.

Salient Features

It is said that Sage Kalava Maharishi came to this place and stayed here for a long time with his two daughters who were suffering from some critical illness. They prayed to Lord Shiva here. Impressed by their devotion, Lord Shiva blessed the Sage’s daughters and cured them of their ailments.

It is also believed that the parrot-faced Sage Sukabrahma Maharishi visited and worshipped Lord Shiva here to seek relief from his stomach ailments.

Adisheshan (the serpent on whom Sri Mahavishnu rests) is also believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here.

Greatness of this temple

Devotees visit this temple and worship the lord here to seek remedies for obstacles in marriage proposals and to seek the lord’s blessing for good education. It is also believed that worshiping Lord Shiva here will grant the boon of childbirth to childless couples.

It is a common belief that drinking the abishekam milk (milk that has been poured on the lingam) at this temple can cure illness, especially stomach ailments.

Since Adisheshan is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here, this temple is considered as a parikara Sthalam for Rahu-Kedu Dosham.