| Description:
The town of Tirumaraikkadu (Vedaranyam in sanskrit)
is known primarily for its temple to Tyagarajar (one of the 7 Saptavitanka Stalams).
Agastyampalli (Agathiyaanpalli) is a Shivastalam located adjacent to the salt pans
of Vedaranyam. This shrine is regarded as the 126th in the series
of Tevara Stalams in the Chola Region south of the river Kaveri. Legend has it that Agastyar witnessed the divine
marriage of Shiva and Parvati here. Interestingly, the same legend is associated with the
Tyagarajar temple at Vedaranyam where a panel depicting the divine marriage is seen behind
the Shivalingam in the sanctum. It is believed that Agasthyar built his hermitage here,
and trekked up to Vedaranyam each day. Shiva here, is also known as Agnipureeswarar.
Shiva's shrine faces the East while the Ambalshrine faces west.
History: There are inscriptions here relating to Kulasekhara Pandyan
(13th Cent AD) and to the period of the Imperial Cholas. The image shown above is
that of Tyagaraja at Tiruvarur, which is one of
the Saptavitanka Stalams, where Tyagaraja is enshrined. |
