Apatsahayesvarar Temple

Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi is one of the Navagraha (nine planets) temples dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the village of Alangudi in the Valangaiman taluk of Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India. Also it is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where Campantar, one of the four most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints) have sung the glories of this temple.

Alangudi Lord Guru Bhagavan or Lord Dakshinamurthy is referred to the planet Jupiter, and Alangudi is the “Guru Stalam” dedicated to the planet Jupiter.

The presiding deity here is Abathsahayeswarar and his consort is Elavarkuzhali Ammai or Umayammai.    The other deities are, Lord Ganesha/Vinayagar known here as “Sri Kalangamar Katha Vinayagar”, Lord Murugan (Subramanyam) with his consorts; and Goddess Lakshmi.

Alangudi is surrounded by three holy rivers. They are Cauvery, Kolidam and Vennaru. The temple I is surrounded by 15 theerthams among which the Amrita Pushkarani encircling the temple is very famous. Chakra theertham is in front of the temple. It is said that this theertham, was created by Maha Vishnu’s Chakra (Disc).

The temple has a 5-tier rajagopuram surrounded by two prakarams (closed precincts of a temple. Poolai Shrub is the holy tree of this Sthalam and it is an object of worship here.