Dharisanam ENதமிழ்
A low entrance building with a gated doorway and pink figures of deities on its upper parapet; a woman sits in front.
Swayambu

Kiliyannavur Sri Agastheeswarar Temple

Darshan today8:00 am – 12:00 noon, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Moolavar
Agastheewarar
Ambal
Akilandeswari
Theertham
Agni Theertham
Sthala vriksham
Vanni
Pathigam by
Thirugnanasambanthar

Temple

Visited on: 17th September, 2016

Location

Kiliyanur is at a distance of about 25 km from Pondicherry on the Pondicherry to Tindivanam route. After crossing Morattandi, there is a small road on the right going to Kiliyanur village. Travel along that road for about 3 km to reach the temple. The temple is near the village Brammadesam and at a distance of about one km from Kiliyanur bus stand.

Two more Paadal Petra Sthalams, Arisili and Irumbai Maakaalam are located very near to this place.

General information

Moolavar
Sri Agastheewarar
Ambal
Sri Akilandeswari
Theertham (Holy water)
Agni Theertham
Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)
Vanni
Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar
  • This is one of the 276 Devara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 33rd Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu.
  • It is said that this is the last (276th) Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam that has been identified so far.
  • Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
  • The procession idols (Urchavars) are kept somewhere else for safety reasons as they have been stolen once and later recovered.
  • This is a Rahu-Kedu parikara Sthalam.
  • There is no flag post (Kodimaram) or main tower (Rajagopuram) in this temple.

History of the temple

This temple is around 1500 years old and was built in the Chola period. “Killi” is the surname of Chola kings and there are historical references to kings from the Chola period like King Nedungkilli and King Killivalavan. It is possible that this place’s name “Kiliyanur” might have been derived from its connection to the Chola dynasty.

As per the stone inscriptions in the temple, it can be deduced that this temple was first built using bricks and later reconstructed using granite during King Paranthaka Chola-I’s period.

A small shrine with a carved stone dome and a golden finial, seen above a yellow wall, with trees behind.
A tiered stone tower decorated with sculpted figures, above a small shrine behind a red iron grille.

Legend

It is said that the lingam (Moolavar) was installed and worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar, so the lord is named Sri Agastheeswarar.

It is also said that Nandi Devar (the bull which serves as the mount of Lord Shiva), who is in front of Goddess Akilandeswari is performing poojas and worshiping her on Maha Shivratri days. Some inscriptions about this are also available in this temple.

Deities in the temple

Apart from Lord Agastheewarar’s shrine, there is a separate shrine for Goddess Akilandeswari. The idols of Vinayagar, Agasthiyar, Gajalakshmi, Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena, Kaala Bairavar, Pitchandavar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Durgai, Navagraham, Suryan and Chandran can be seen in the corridors.

Salient features

It is said that Sage Kalava Maharishi came to this place and stayed here for a long time with his two daughters who were suffering from some critical illness. They prayed to Lord Shiva here. Impressed by their devotion, Lord Shiva blessed the Sage’s daughters and cured them of their ailments.

It is also believed that the parrot-faced Sage Sukabrahma Maharishi visited and worshipped Lord Shiva here to seek relief from his stomach ailments.

Adisheshan (the serpent on whom Sri Mahavishnu rests) is also believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here.

Greatness of this temple

Devotees visit this temple and worship the lord here to seek remedies for obstacles in marriage proposals and to seek the lord’s blessing for good education. It is also believed that worshiping Lord Shiva here will grant the boon of childbirth to childless couples.

It is a common belief that drinking the abishekam milk (milk that has been poured on the lingam) at this temple can cure illness, especially stomach ailments.

Since Adisheshan is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here, this temple is considered as a parikara Sthalam for Rahu-Kedu Dosham.

A tall tree with a thick trunk beside a whitewashed wall and a small shrine with red-barred windows.
A painted Tamil signboard naming Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, with a few lines about it, above the words Siva Siva.
A small pillared porch with a Tamil inscription band above, two small niches with figures, and a gate to a field.

Important festivals

Amongst others, Maha Shivratri, Annabishekam, Thiruvathirai are some of the main festivals celebrated here.

Temple timings

From 08:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 05:30 PM to 07:30 PM.

Temple address

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple,
Thiru Kiliyanur, Thindivanam Taluk,
Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu – 604001.
Tele: Sri P.Harihara Gurukkal : 09976440754.

*
NavigateGet directions in Google Maps
Today8:00 am – 12:00 noon, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Phone09976440754

Highlights

What makes this temple special

* Cards drawn from the temple write-up and photographs. “Read more” takes you to the full passage.

Greatness

What makes this temple great

Devotees come with prayers for marriage, learning and children, and the abishekam milk is believed to cure illness.

  1. Marriage and educationDevotees worship here to seek remedies for obstacles in marriage proposals and the lord’s blessing for good education.
  2. Abishekam milkIt is a common belief that drinking the abishekam milk here can cure illness, especially stomach ailments.
  3. Rahu-Kedu DoshamThe temple is considered a parikara Sthalam for Rahu-Kedu Dosham.
Significance

Its place in the tradition

A Paadal Petra Sthalam, where Saint Thirugnanasambanthar sang the Pathigam, built in the Chola period.

  1. Sung by ThirugnanasambantharSaint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this temple and sang the Pathigam.
  2. The last Sthalam identifiedIt is said to be the last Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam identified so far.
  3. Stone inscriptionsThe stone inscriptions suggest it was first built with bricks and later rebuilt with granite in the period of King Paranthaka Chola-I.
Why devotees come

Why devotees come here

People come with specific hopes, and for the festivals celebrated here.

  1. For marriage: obstacles removedDevotees seek remedies for obstacles in marriage proposals.
  2. For children: the boon of childbirthIt is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva here grants the boon of childbirth to childless couples.
  3. For health: stomach ailmentsDrinking the abishekam milk is believed to cure illness, especially stomach ailments.
  4. For the festivalsMaha Shivratri, Annabishekam and Thiruvathirai are among the main festivals celebrated here.
The temple entrance with a gateway and a gated door
276Paadal Petra Sthalams

A Paadal Petra Sthalam

Legends of the temple

The lingam is said to have been installed and worshipped by Sage Agasthiyar, so the lord is named Sri Agastheeswarar.

Nandi Devar, in front of Goddess Akilandeswari, is said to perform poojas and worship her on Maha Shivratri days.

The Sage stayed here with his two daughters, who were ill; Lord Shiva blessed them and cured them.

The parrot-faced Sage is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here to seek relief from stomach ailments.

Adisheshan is also believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here.

What devotees pray for

  • MarriageRemedies for obstacles in marriage proposals.
  • EducationThe lord’s blessing for good education.
  • ChildrenThe boon of childbirth for childless couples.
  • HealthRelief from illness, especially stomach ailments.

Festivals here

    Maha Shivratri, Annabishekam and Thiruvathirai are among the main festivals celebrated here.

    Deities

    The deities of this temple

    * Drawn from the temple write-up and photographs. Where there is no photograph, the card shows the name.

    From the sanctum to the corridors
    Moolavarஅ
    Moolavar

    Sri Agastheewarar

    The lingam (Moolavar) was installed and worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar, so the lord is named Sri Agastheeswarar.

    Ambalஅ
    Ambal

    Sri Akilandeswari

    There is a separate shrine for Goddess Akilandeswari, apart from Lord Agastheewarar’s shrine.

    Shrine in the corridorவி
    Shrine in the corridor

    Vinayagar

    The idol of Vinayagar can be seen in the corridors.

    Shrine in the corridorஅ
    Shrine in the corridor

    Agasthiyar

    The idol of Agasthiyar can be seen in the corridors.

    Shrine in the corridorக
    Shrine in the corridor

    Gajalakshmi

    The idol of Gajalakshmi can be seen in the corridors.

    Shrine in the corridorமு
    Shrine in the corridor

    Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena

    The idols of Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena can be seen in the corridors.

    Shrine in the corridorத
    Shrine in the corridor

    Dhakshinamoorthy

    The idol of Dhakshinamoorthy can be seen in the corridors.

    Shrine in the corridorந
    Shrine in the corridor

    Navagraham

    The idols of Navagraham, Suryan and Chandran can be seen in the corridors.

    Visit & map

    12a6a12p6p
    Darshan today8:00 am – 12:00 noon, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
    8:00 – 12:005:30 – 7:30 pm

    Hours as recorded on the visit. Festival days can differ.

    Address and phone

    Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, Thiru Kiliyanur, Thindivanam Taluk, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu – 604001.

    Temple plan

    A low entrance building with a gated doorway and pink figures of deities on its upper parapet; a woman sits in front.
    01

    The entrance

    The temple is near the village Brammadesam and at a distance of about one km from Kiliyanur bus stand.

    1 / 5

    Summary written with AI help from the temple write-up.

    Pathigam

    Saint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam.

    Devotees visiting this temple should make it a practice to recite this Pathigam.

    V. Muthukumaraswamy

    Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam. Verse 1 of 11.

    Thārsi ṟakkum saṭaikkaṇi vaḷḷaliṉ
    sīrsi ṟakkum thuṇaippatam uṉṉuvōr
    pērsi ṟakkum perumozhi uyvakai
    ērsi ṟakkum kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    The verse praises the generous Lord whose matted locks are adorned, and speaks of those who meditate on his pair of glorious feet. It tells of a great word of fame and a way of deliverance. It addresses him as the lord of Kiliyannavur, a town of great beauty.

    Tap any Tamil word for its meaning

    Verse text and transliteration as given in the write-up. Word meanings and the English meaning are AI-assisted drafts.

    All eleven verses

    1. 01

      தார்சி றக்கும் சடைக்கணி வள்ளலின்சீர்சி றக்கும் துணைப்பதம் உன்னுவோர்பேர்சி றக்கும் பெருமொழி உய்வகைஏர்சி றக்கும் கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Thārsi ṟakkum saṭaikkaṇi vaḷḷaliṉ / sīrsi ṟakkum thuṇaippatam uṉṉuvōr / pērsi ṟakkum perumozhi uyvakai / ērsi ṟakkum kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    2. 02

      வன்மை செய்யும் வறுமைவந் தாலுமேதன்மை யில்லவர் சார்பிருந் தாலுமேபுன்மைக் கன்னியர் பூசலுற் றாலுமேநன்மை யுற்ற கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Vaṉmai seyyum vaṟumaivan thālumē / thaṉmai yillavar sārpirun thālumē / puṉmaik kaṉṉiyar pūsaluṟ tṟālumē / naṉmai yutṟa kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    3. 03

      பன்னி நின்ற பனுவல் அகத்தியன்உன்னி நின்று உறுத்தும் சுகத்தவன்மன்னி நாகம் முகத்தவர் ஓதலும்முன்னில் நின்ற கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Paṉṉi niṉtṟa paṉuval akathiyaṉ / uṉṉi niṉtṟu uṟuthum sukathavaṉ / maṉṉi nākam mukathavar ōthalum / muṉṉil niṉtṟa kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    4. 04

      அன்பர் வேண்டும் அவையளி சோதியான்வன்பர் நெஞ்சில் மருவல்இல் லாமுதற்துன்பந் தீர்த்துச் சுகங்கொடு கண்ணுதல்இன்பந் தேக்குங் கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Aṉpar vēṇdum avaiyaḷi sōthiyāṉ / vaṉpar neñchil maruvalil lāmuthaṟ / thuṉpan thīrthuch sukaṅkodu kaṇṇuthal / iṉpan thēkkuṅg kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    5. 05

      செய்யும் வண்ணஞ் சிரித்துப் புரம்மிசைபெய்யும் வண்ணப் பெருந்தகை யானதோர்உய்யும் வண்ணமிங் குன்னருள் நோக்கிடமெய்யும் வண்ணக் கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Seyyum vaṇṇañ chirithup puram'misai / peyyum vaṇṇap perunthakai yāṉathōr / uyyum vaṇṇamiṅ kuṉṉaruḷ nōkkida / meyyum vaṇṇak kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    6. 06

      எண்பெ றாவினைக் கேதுசெய் நின்னருள்நண்பு றாப்பவம் இயற்றிடில் அந்நெறிமண்பொ றாமுழுச் செல்வமும் மல்குமால்புண்பொ றாதகி ளியன்ன வூரனே

      Eṇpe ṟāviṉaik kēthusey niṉṉaruḷ / naṇpu ṟāppavam iyatṟidil anneṟi / maṇpo ṟāmuzhuch selvamum malkumāl / puṇpo ṟāthaki ḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    7. 07

      மூவ ராயினும் முக்கண்ண நின்னருள்மேவு றாதுவி லக்கிடற் பாலரோதாவு றாதுன தைந்தெழுத் துன்னிடதேவ ராக்குங் கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Mūva rāyiṉum mukkaṇṇa niṉṉaruḷ / mēvu ṟāthuvi lakkiṭaṟ pālarō / thāvu ṟāthuṉa thainthezhuth thuṉṉida / thēva rākkuṅ kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    8. 08

      திரம் மிகுத்த சடைமுடி யான்வரைஉரம் மிகுத்த இராவணன் கீண்டலும்நிரம் மிகுத்து நெரித்தவன் ஓதலால்வரம் மிகுத்த கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Thiram mikutha saṭaimudi yāṉvarai / uram mikutha irāvaṇaṉ kīṇṭalum / niram mikuthu nerithavaṉ ōthalāl / varam mikutha kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    9. 09

      நீதி யுற்றிடும் நான்முகன் நாரணன்பேத முற்றுப் பிரிந்தழ லாய்நிமிர்நாதன் உற்றன நன்மலர் பாய்இருக்கீதம் ஏற்ற கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Nīhi yuṟtiṭum nāṉmukaṉ nāraṇaṉ / pētha mutṟup pirinthazha lāynimir / nāthaṉ utṟaṉa naṉmalar pāyiruk / kīhtam ētṟa kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    10. 10

      மங்கை யர்க்கர சோடுகு லச்சிறைபொங்க ழற்சுரம் போக்கெனப் பூழியன்சங்கை மாற்றிச் சமணரைத் தாழ்த்தவும்இங்கு ரைத்த கிளியன்ன வூரனே

      Maṅkai yarkkara sōduku lachiṟai / poṅka zhaṟsuram pōkkeṉap pūzhiyaṉ / saṅkai mātṟich samaṇaraith thāzhthavum / iṅku raitha kiḷiyaṉṉa vūraṉē

    11. 11

      நிறைய வாழ்கிளி யன்னவூர் ஈசனைஉறையும் ஞானசம் பந்தன்சொல் சீரினைஅறைய நின்றன பத்தும்வல் லார்க்குமேகுறையி லாது கொடுமை தவிர்வரே

      The last verse names Gnanasambandan as the singer and says that those who can recite these ten verses will be freed from want and hardship.

      Niṟaiya vāzhkiḷi yaṉṉavūr īsaṉai / uṟaiyum gñāṉasam panthaṉsol sīriṉai / aṟaiya niṉtṟaṉa pathumval lārkkumē / kuṟaiyi lāthu kodumai thavirvarē

    Photos

    Photographs

    6 photographs, in the order they appear in the write-up. Captions are AI-assisted.

    A low entrance building with a gated doorway and pink figures of deities on its upper parapet; a woman sits in front.
    A small shrine with a carved stone dome and a golden finial, seen above a yellow wall, with trees behind.
    A tiered stone tower decorated with sculpted figures, above a small shrine behind a red iron grille.
    A tall tree with a thick trunk beside a whitewashed wall and a small shrine with red-barred windows.
    A painted Tamil signboard naming Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, with a few lines about it, above the words Siva Siva.
    A small pillared porch with a Tamil inscription band above, two small niches with figures, and a gate to a field.