62. SRI AGNIPUREESWARAR TEMPLE AT VANNIYUR (ANNIYUR)

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	179th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - South
Chola Naadu - South	62nd Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)

HISTORY:

Agni participated in the yagna conducted by king Dakshan. In this yagna, Dakshan had intentionally not invited Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was angered by this slight and instructed to Veerabadrar and Badrakalai to punish the participants who had attended it without his permission. In this process, Agni lost his hands and tongues and was also inflicted with some curses. As a result of these curses, Agni was unable to participate in any yagna. This resulted in the failure of monsoon and caused severe drought. Worried by this, he came to this place, installed a Shivalingam, created a pond and worshiped the lord with the leaves of Vanni tree. It is believed that Lord Shiva pardoned him, absolved him of his sins and restored his lost body parts.

Agni prayed to Lord Shiva that he should stay back here and bless the devotees who come here to get relief from “ushnam” ailment. Hence the lord here is praised as “Sri Agreenswarar” and this place gets the name “Vanni Oor” / “Agni Ooor”.  This name has later changed to Vanniyur / Anniyur. (“Oor” means village in Tamil).

This ancient temple is situated on the northern banks of the river Arisilaru, a tributary of river Cauvery. The historical name of this place is Vanniyur but now it is known as Anniyur.

Goddess Parvathy:

Goddess Parvathy came to this place before her marriage in order to perform penance. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva blessed her with his darshan and married her in Thiruveezhimizhalai (a nearby place).

Eight Shiva temples:

There are eight Shiva temples which are believed to have been worshiped by “Ashta Dik Palakars”. Vanniyur is one among them. Worshiping these lords is considered to be very auspicious. These temples are –

Indra - Nagambadi,

Agni – Vanniyur,

Yama – Karuvili,

Niruthi – Vayalur,

Varunan – Sivanakaram,

Vayu – Akalangan,

Kubera – S.Pudur, and

Esanan – Nallavur.

People who worshipped here:

Lord Brahma, Agni, Sage Agasthiyar, Sanathkumarar and Sanathanar have worshiped the lord here.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This east facing temple has main tower (Rajagopuram) 2-tiers.

·        In the outer corridor, there are some beautiful reliefs depicting the legends from Sthala Puranam. They are – Saint Appar, Agni, Goddess Gauri Parvathy, Shivalingam, Goddess Parvathy (in the form of a cow) worshiping the lord and Rishabaruder.

·        On either side of the entrance to the sanctum, there are small idols of “Dwarapalakas”.

·        Reliefs of some sages can also be seen in the corridor next to Goddess Durgai’s shrine.

·        This temple’s Sthala Viruksham, Vanni tree is believed to be more than 1600 years old.

·        This temple is considered to be significant for its three important attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam and Theertham - glory of Lord, sacredness of the land and the auspicious temple tank.

·        Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year for three days (18, 19 and 20) in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), and three days (18,19 and 20) in Panguni (Mar-Apr).

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Agnipureeswarar, Sri Agneeswarar
Ambal	Sri Gauri Parvathy
Theertham	Agni Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Vanni tree

BELIEF:

As Goddess Parvathy worshiped Lord Shiva here and got married later, devotees pray to the goddess for removal of obstacles in their marriage proposals.

Devotees believe that taking a dip in this temple’s Agni Theertham and worshiping the lord will cure blood pressure and “ushnam” ailment.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chaturthi
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Annabishekam
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thiru Karthikai
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Thiruvadhirai
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri

HOW TO REACH:

Vanniyur (Anniyur) is situated at a distance of about 28 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvarur route. Frist travel to Poonthottam (20 kms) and then travel about 8 kms to Vanniyur (via Thiruveezhimizhalai).

From Kumbakonam also, it is about 28 kms on the Kumbakonam to Karaikkal route (Via S. Pudur-20 kms). From S.Pudur, take diversion route and travel for about 5 kms to reach this temple.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Agnipureeswarar Temple,
Vanniyur (Anniyur),
Kudavasal,
Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu – 612 201.

LOCATION: