Agasteeswarar, Neivasal, Pudukkottai

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Agasteeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Periyanayaki
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Neivasal	District:	Pudukkottai
Maps from (click):	Current location	Karaikudi (18 km)	Pudukkottai (33 km)
	Madurai (85 km)	Tiruchirappalli (87 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

The original temple for Agasteeswarar and Periyanayaki lies in complete ruins, almost entirely covered by creepers and plants, that the temple itself is barely visible from outside, except from the eastern side. Just a few meters away lies the new brick temple that has been built by the locals, with what appear to be the murtis from the old temple.

The original temple appears to be from the late Chola period – perhaps from around the 13^th century – and seems to have been a complete temple by itself. There are several inscriptions on the walls of the temple. Needless to say, there was no sthala puranam available for this temple.

The structural temple itself comprises a maha mandapam, a mukha mandapam, antarala and garbhagriham facing east, to house the moolavar. On the right, ie facing south, is a separate shrine where Amman would have been. There are koshtams for deities, but are empty now. It is not clear if there were prakarams, with shrines for parivara deities.

The new temple is largely closed, except when the priest comes. However, one can worship Siva through the grill gate.

Inside is a beautiful stone-cast Nandi – definitely from the original temple, going by its design, although it may not be the original Chola period Nandi. Interestingly, Nandi’s head is turned to the left, which is unusual.

The bali peetham of the old temple lies on the grass, outside the new one.

The local we spoke with informed us that the Amman vigraham was inside the garbhagriham of the new temple, but other than that, there was no indication of the other vigrahams of the old temple.

The good news is that the ASI has taken charge of the old temple premises recently, and are in the process of securing the premises before undertaking restoration work.