Agathiyar at Vedharanyam

Dr V.M.Jayapalan narrates the origin of Agathiyar's temple at Vedharanyam. Photos of Agathiyar at Vedharanyam Courtesy of Varadaraj of the Bronze Creative, Swamimalai and Suren of Malaysia. Background score from Pradeep Swaminathan's VINAYAGAR AGAVAL and Sidhagiri Audios. Naration of Agathiyar's temple from Dr V.M.Jayapalan's AGATHIYAR THIRUVILAIYADAL audio CD. The Moola Mantra of Agathiyar was revealed in the NADAPPU AASI NIGANDU NADI. According to sidha Bhogar, Agathiyar was born in the Tamil month of Margazhi when Ahilya Natchathiram was in the 3rd quarter. Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal celebrates annually Agathiyar's Guru Puja and Jayanthi at this moment with devotees at his hermitage, the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil in Kallaru, Coimbatore, India. The highlight of this two day celebration is the lighting up of the sacrificial fire or Sarva Dosa Nivaarana Mahaa Yaagam. We at Agathiyar Vanam in Malaysia too, on the requests of Tavayogi, have been holding prayers simultaneously at this auspicious moment. In 2010, Tavayogi requested we conduct a yagam too. The year 2010 was also special for another reason too. We had Agathiyar in the midst of us in the form of a bronze (aimpon) statue, beautifully crafted by Thiru Varadaraj of the Bronze Creative (BC) in Swamimalai, India. The statue was ordered through the internet in February of 2009. Thiru Varadaraj of BC made a visit to Agasthiyampalli, Vedharanyam to photograph the granite statue of Agathiyar and subsequently started working on the wax mould. The statue was cast and completed in early December and was flown to Malaysia in time for the Jayanthi on 3rd January 2010. Agathiyar instructed us to prepare his statue based on certain specifications and conditions: 1. He has to be a replica of the sage's statue in Agasthiyampalli, Vedharanyam, India, 2. He has to be made of bronze (aimpon), 3. He has to be made in Swamimalai, India, 4. He is not to exceed one foot in height, 5. Work on him has to start in the Tamil month of Thai and Maasi of 2009, 6. On completion, prayers are to be conducted at Adi Kumbheshawar Temple in Kumbakonam, and only then is he to be shipped to Malaysia, 7. On arrival in Malaysia, Nava Abhisegam to be conducted and 8. His Naamam (Aum Agathisaya Nama) to be chanted 100,000 times.