Agasteeswarar Orathur

God

Agasteeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Kamakshi, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga wth consorts, Navagraha. Sanctum Niches – Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Nahavishnu, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Durga

Agasteeswarar Orathur is an ancient east facing temple with an entrance gateway in the south. A single Prakaram houses all the shrines and the Sanctum Sanctorum. The Sanctum Sanctorum is circular in the form of Gajaprastham (back of a reclining elephant). The temple tank is at the northeast of the temple and right outside. On the banks of the tank are Ponniamman and Gangai Amman Temples.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Agasteeswarar Orathur is an ancient temple going back to the Chola Era. Stone inscriptions are found around the walls of the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Legend

Agasteeswarar Orathur temple would be connected to the legend of Sage Agastya who is believed to have installed several Lingams in South India during his presence here to offset the imbalance created on earth due to the huge congregation of celestials, gods and others during the wedding of Lord Shiva in the north at Mount Kailash.

Directions

Agasteeswarar Orathur is just the Orathur village which is 4 kilometers south of Padappai. Padappai is 7.5 kilometers west of Vandalur.

Stay and Food

None locally except tea shops. Vandalaur, Tambaram and the GST Road have a few restaurants.