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 Saivism as a cult, has been popular in South India for years. It was propagated by the Nayanmars during the Bhakti movement. A typical Saivite temple is the Thirupugalur Agnisvarar temple. This temple is located near Nannilam in Thanavur district. One can reach this place by train as there is a railway station at Nannilam. A branch of the river Cauvery also flows here, known by the name
Mudikondan.
The temple is also known by the following names - 'Komesam', which symbolizes that the lingam here has a slight slant, 'Punnaga vanam', which signifies the holy tree of the temple. The temple is usually entered through its southern entrance. There is an idol of Vinayaka, also called Gnana Vinayaka, which guards the entrance. The specialty of this temple is that there are two separate shrines for Siva. Both theses shrines symbolize two different aspects of the Lord. Agnisvarar and Varthamaniswarar are the two deities, and Manonmani and Varthamaniswari are their respective Consorts. It is a popular belief that blessed are those who worship the Lord here.
The temple has a five-tiered gopuram. There is also a separate shrine for Chandrasekhara. In the inner 'prakaram' of the temple, there is a shrine for Agni, which has two faces, three legs, seven flames and seven hands. This is a very rare idol of Agni. Among the other idols in the temple are Dakshinamoorthi, Nataraja, Annapoorani, Saraswati and the sage
Agastyar.
While going around the shrine of Vardhamaniswarar, one can spot the statues of Appar and Apudhi Adigal. There are also statues of Sani and Nala. The navagrahas in this temple are not in the usual square format but in the form of the letter L. The temple has many rare idols, one such being that of Thirunavukkarasar. He is gifted with the faces of a man, bird and a pig. He is said to have worshipped Siva here.
 The Nandi in this temple is another treat to the eye. He is taken out in procession during festivals along with the deity, with the head of a bull but with the body of a man. He is also called 'Adikara Nandi', and an interesting aspect is that his wife Jvalakesari is also seen here.
As the place is a staunch Saivite abode, a festival is conducted in the Tamil month of Chithirai in the star of Sadayam, which signifies the fusion of Appar into eternal bliss with Siva. There is also a 'Siddhar' shrine here. There are numereous inscriptions on the wall, some describing the life of Appar also. One of the inscriptions also say that he had a dip in a pool at Kailas and appeared out of another pool at
Thiruvaiyaru.
Published on
21st June, 2003
S.Sowmya
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