Agasteeswarar Nungambakkam

Saivite Temples, Chennai District

God

Agasteeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Akilandeswari, facing south

Other Gods

Vinayaka, Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Durga, Nataraja, Annamalaiyar. In the outer Prakara – Nandikeswara with consort, Ganesha, Muruga with consorts, Lakshmi, Durga, Saraswathi, Kasi Vishwanathar, Visalakshi, Annapurani, Bhairava, Navagraha, Surya, Chandran

Agasteeswarar Nungambakkam was once a large temple which is now reduced to a small area fortunately with the large temple tank still present and maintained well. The temple is spacious and well maintained. Nearby is the Asalathamman Temple which was originally a Grama Devata. Agasteeswarar Nungambakkam is a pioneer in the now popular Annadhana (free food distribution) Scheme when it was started here officially during the food shortage of 1965 by Kanchi Seer (Maha Periyavar) who stayed here for 60 days and provided one handful of rice and ten paisa each to the needy people.

Holy water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

This place was once called Bommarajapuram. Agasteeswarar Nungambakkam was developed by a King called Bommaraja at least several centuries back. The temple existed even before this period.

Legend

Bommarajan a small king who ruled these areas was struggling with stomach ailment and Lord Vishnu appeared in his dreams telling him to sanctify himself with a dip in the tank here and pray to Lord Agasteeswara for recovery. After this he is said to have constructed the nearby Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple.

Directions

Agasteeswarar Nungambakkam is located almost in the Valluvar Kottam High Road and opposite the Nungambakkam police station. Enter the street diagonally opposite to reach Agasteeswarar Nungambakkam.

Stay and Food

Chennai has many excellent restaurants and hotels to stay. In the sterling road junction is Raj Bhavan restaurant which is quite good. You have several high end restaurants in the Nungambakkam area.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples