Agasteeswarar Vaduganpatru

Agasteeswarar, Vaduganpatru

Saivite Temples, Kanyakumari District

God

Agasteeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Aram Valartha Amman, facing south

Other Deities

Ganesha, Naagar, Mahaganapathi, Aadhi Pillayar, Subramanya, Agastheeswarar, Naagar, Ayyappa, Mannadi Bhagavathi, Azhagiya Manavala Perumal

Agasteeswarar Vaduganpatru is an ancient temple which has been renovated in recent times. The east facing temple is entered through an entrance gateway in the east and has a single spacious Prakaram. There is a separate east facing temple for Azhagiya Manavala Perumal also inside the same compound. The Vanni tree here does not grow tall but a new branch keeps coming from the bottom. The Nandi is large and beautiful.

Holy Water – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vanni (Prosopis cineraria)

History

Agasteeswarar Vaduganpatru is an ancient temple with several stone inscriptions on the sanctum walls. A set of inscriptions on a large rock nearby is also confirmed to belong to Agasteeswarar Vaduganpatru. Agasteeswarar Vaduganpatru temple was built during the reign of the Pandayas and is called Agasteeswaramudayar, also lending its name to the place Agasteeswaram. The inscriptions mention land endowments by Pandya Kings including one belonging to 1123 CE Jatavarman Pandian. Also mentioned are the land donations made to about 50 people serving the temple including priests. Inscriptions pertaining to Parantaka Chola I (910 CE) are also found here.

Legend

Sage Agastya is believed to have performed here under the Vanni Tree here at Agasteeswarar Vaduganpatru.

Directions

Agasteeswarar Vaduganpatru is 1.2 kilometers south of Kottaram on the road going to Agasteeswaram. Kottaram is 15 kilometers south-east of Nagercoil in the Kanyakumari Road.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest place for food and stay is Nagercoil and Kanyakumari.

Saivite Temples - Kanyakumari District

Tamilnadu Temples