Agastheeswarar Vannivedu

Saivite Temples – Vellore District

God

Agastheeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Bhuvaneswari, facing south

Other Deities

Dhwara Vinayagar, Kubera, Bairava, Kalabairava, Ganesha, Saneeswara, Navagraha, 63 Nayanmar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Sarabeswara, Hayagriva, Anjaneya, Naagar, Surya, Naalvar

Agastheeswarar Vannivedu is one of the Shadaranya Temples in the region. Agastheeswarar Vannivedu represents the Lingam installed by Sage Agastya. The others are Athreeswarar Kudimallur, Gowthameswarar Kaarai, Bharadwajeswarar Pudupadi, Vasishteswarar Veppur, Valmikeeswarar Melvisharam and Kashyapeswarar Avaraikadu. Agastheeswarar Vannivedu is an east facing temple with a spacious single Prakaram. A new Rajagopuram is being constructed at present at the west facing entrance. There is a temple tank adjacent in the north west side of the temple. The lingam here at Agastheeswarar Vannivedu is short and has finger prints on it. The Goddess is seen standing on an Aavudayar (base of Shiva Lingam).

Holy Water – Temple Tank

Holy Tree – Vanni (Proposis cineraria)

History

Agastheeswarar Vannivedu is said to have been built by the Pandyas. But historical information is not available as of now.

Legend

Agastheeswarar Vannivedu is one of the 7 temples in the area where the Lingams have been installed by the 7 Rishis: Vasishta, Valmiki, Gowthama, Agasthya, Aththiri, Baradwaja and Kashyapa. This lingam is believed to have been installed by Sage Agasthya and hence called Agastheeswarar. The background to this is the Sages were all here for the wedding of Lord Shiva and chose one spot each to perform their prayers and rituals.

In recent times a light was witnessed leading towards the Goddess Shrine by the temple trustee and footsteps were seen in the floor. These footsteps have been preserved before the shrine. This event is said to have happened on 19.08.2015 at 7.00 PM as published in a pamphlet by the temple administration.

Directions

Agastheeswarar Vannivedu temple is on the Walajah bye-pass right on the National Highway – on the left as you go from Chennai. Access is through a diversion much before or cross the temple and drive further for a U turn, come back and pass under the highway near the Vishnu temple on the road.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Arcot. Restaurants are available on the Highway.

Saivite Temples

Agastheeswarar, Vannivedu