Sri Ayavantheeswarar Temple

Overview

Seeyathamangai Ayavandeeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Seeyathamangai in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India.The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Ayavantheeswarar. His consort,Goddess Parvati, is known as Malarkkannammai. One of the altars of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams celebrated in the early medieval Tevaram ballads by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. Sri Ayavantheeswarar temple is about 1000-2000 years old.

About the Temple

South-bound temple with five Tiered Rajagopuram , Ayavantheeswarar confronting south and his consort Eru malar kannamai in a different altar inside of the same premises. Big temple with a high divider, in first prahar Chandran, Sanibhagavan (setting his foot over Crow), Sapthamatharkal, Bhairavar, Navagraham, Mahalingam, Viswanathar with Visalakshi and Vinayagar holy places are there. Inside the premises Subramaniyar, Mahalakshmi, Nalvar, Thiru Neelanakka Nayanar with his consort Mangaiyarkarasi, Somaskandhar, Mahaganapathi and a separate idol of Navaneetha Krishnan are seen in this temple.Koshta moortham Dakshinamoorthy, Narthanaganapathi, Lingothpavar, Brahma, Pichadanar, Durgai and Arhtanariswarar are there.

Legend and Stories

Lord Brahma worshiped Lord Siva here, hence the name Ayavanthy. This is birth place of Thiru Neelanakka Nayanar, Every day Thiru Neelanakka Nayanar and his wife used to visit this temple. One day he went to take bath in the nearby theertham and asked his wife to prepare the sanctum for pooja. When she was cleaning the premises she noticed a spider fell on Siva Lingam. She tried to remove the spider on the Lingam by blowing air with her mouth because her hand was full of dirt. Meanwhile Nayanar arrived and got annoyed her act and thought she was doing some stupid act. He left her and stayed back in the temple that night. In his dream that night, Lord Siva showed him that all other place, except the place spider fell was wounded. Nayanar realised his mistake and rejoined with his wife.

Festivals

In this temple the main festivals are Aadi Pooram is celebrated for days with flag hosting , wedding Festival and Ambica procession ,10 days Bhrammotsavam with car festivals, Shivarathri , deepavali, Panguni uthiram, all the Ekadashi days, Chitra Purnima, Amavasyas , Pongal, Tamil New Year , and Sankranti and on the 9th day in Masi (February - March) drawing a huge crowd of devotees. Special abishek is performed on selected days as per the Hindu traditional calender . On all the Auspicious days and festive days temple's Specialty is Girivalam - cicumambulating the hill takes place.

Nearby Places to Visit

1. Kayaroganeswarar Temple
2. Thanthondreeswarar Temple
3. Neelakandeswarar Temple
4. Pallavaneswarar Temple
5. Aranyeswarar Temple
6. Naganathar Temple

Accessibility

Airport

The nearest airport is at Tiruchirapalli.

Railways

Karaikal Rail Way Station are the very nearby railway stations to Seeyathamangai. How ever Thanjavar Rail Way Station is major railway station 78 KM near to Seeyathamangai.

Road

The nearest major bus terminal is at Nagapattinam.

Temple Address

Sri Ayavandeeswarar Temple,
Seeyathamangai,
Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India.