Apatsahayesvarar Temple

Annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Chittirai. Also Hindu festival including Navaratri, Skanda Sashti, Aadi Puram, Arudra Darisanam, Kartikai Deepam, Thai Poosam and Pankuni Uththiram are celebrated here with much religious fervor. Guru Peyarchi, the transit of Guru (Planet Jupiter) from one zodiac sign to another, is another major festival celebrated in the temple. Special Darshans are arranged on Thursdays and on the days of Jupiter’s transit to the next Zodiac sign.

Donating yellow colored garments and chick peas (Channadal) is believed to bring happiness to his devotees.

Info on the deity – Specific to the temple deity

The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Aabathsagayeswara or Aranyeswara, a Swayambu Lingam, and the Goddess is Umai Ammai. There is a separate sanctum for the special deity Sri Dakshinamurthi.. There are about 15 Theerthas (water bodies) in the temple. Guru, the preceptor of the devas is held in high esteem in the temple.

Legend has it that Lord Dakshinamurthy is said to have preached the Devas who were swooned under the impact of the poison that came out of the churning of the milky ocean. He is called as Brahaspathi or Brihaspati for his excellence in education and fine arts.

Being a Guru Kshetra, Thursdays attract a large number of pilgrims and special pujas are performed. Yellow color garment and chick pea (konda kadalai) are offered to bring happiness to a Guru devotee. ‘Gu’ in Sanskrit means darkness and ‘ru’ means the destroyer of that. Hence Guru means one who destroys darkness or one who enlightens. Thus Guru is one who leads you from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. It is believed that students, in order to excel in education, can offer kondakadalai garland (chick pea is soaked in water and made as a garland) to Lord Guru. Large numbers of devotees throng here during Guru Peyarchi that is when Jupiter transits between zodiac signs.

New Moon Day (Ammavasai), Full Moon Day (pournami), Guruhorai, Days falling on stars like punarpoosam, Visagam and Pooratathi are very auspicious for Sri Guru Bhagavan. Offering prayers on these days are more special.

Guru is attributed to luck, favor and fortune. The unfavourable position in the horoscope can cause skin problems, arthritis, heart related problems, worry &uneasiness. Guru blesses his devotees with progeny, good education, valour, long life and cure from diseases.

The Lord of this Sthalam is Swayumbhu (Natural origination of the idol). Hence, the period of this temple could not be fixed accurately. The temple is existing from ancient times.