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{{Short description|Hindu temple in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Agnipureeswarar Temple
| image = Thirupugalur20.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|10|53|05|N|79|42|11|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Nagapattinam district|Nagapattinam]]
| location = [[Thirupugalur]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Agnipureeswarar([[Shiva]])
Karundar Kuzhali, Shoolikambal([[Parvathi]])
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Tamil architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Agnipureeswarar Temple''' (also called '''Thirupugalur temple''') in [[Thirupugalur]], a village in [[Nagapattinam district]] in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Shiva]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Tamil style of architecture]], the temple is believed to have been built during the [[Cholas]] period in the 10th century. Shiva is worshipped as Agnipureeswarar and his consort [[Parvathi]] as Karundar Kuzhali.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered [[Rajagopuram]]s, the gateway tower.

Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=left
|total_width=300
|width1=3264| height1=2448
|width2=3264| height2=2448
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Thirupugalur11.JPG
|image2=Thirupugalur18.JPG
|footer=Image of shrines in the temple
}}
The exact history of the temple could not determined based on the inscriptions evidence, but the temple is believed to have been built during the Chola period during the 10th-11th centuries.

As per Hindu legend and the Sthalapurana, [[Shiva]] was worshipped by [[Agni]], the fire god at this place and the presiding deity came to be known as Agnipureeswarar and the [[Pushkarni|temple tank]] is called Agni theertham.<ref name=Rao>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu|publisher=Vasan Publications|last=Rao|first=A.V. Shankara Narayana|isbn=9788184681123|year=2012|page=218}}</ref> As per another legend, [[Bhudevi]], the consort of [[Vishnu]] wanted to install a [[Linga]] and worship Shiva. [[Banasura]], her son, is believed to have dug the Linga at the place, but could not lift it. The lingam in the place is believed to appear tilted (called Konapiran) on account of it. Shiva was pleased with the devotion of Bhudevi and appeared in his dancing form in front of her. It is also believed to be the place where Shiva turned bricks into gold for the Nayanar Sundarar.<ref name=R/>

==History==
The temple has inscriptions dating from [[Uttama Chola]] (970–985 CE) from the 10th century. The inscriptions from the time of [[Rajaraja I]] (ARE 47 of 1927-28) indicates tax free gifts of land for conducting festivals and for providing offering to the temple every year by Panchanvan Mahadeviyar, one of the consorts of the ruler. Another inscription (ARE 68 of 1927-28) dated to the 27th regnal year of the king indicates gift of paddy and money by Angikumara Gramavittan. The inscriptions (ARE 44 of 1927-28) from the period of [[Rajendra I]] (1012–1044 CE) indicates exemption of taxes for certain lands belonging to the temple. The records from [[Rajadhiraja]] (ARE 49 of 1927-28) indicates offering by Pichan Sirudaikal of Saliamangalam making a gift of offering to the ''ashtamangalam'' ceremony, the eight steps of bathing of the deity (mirror, water-pot, flag, fly-wisk, elephant goad, drum, lamp and a pair of fish). Exclusion of land tax for certain lands of the temple are found from the inscriptions (ARE 79 of 1927-28) from the period of [[Rajendra Chola II]] (1054–1063 CE). From the inscriptions it is deducted that the first precinct was probably built during this time. There are also inscriptions from private donors indicating donations of festival images to the temple (ARE 57 & 63 of 1927-28).<ref name=ASI>{{cite book|title=Middle Chola temples Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I (AD. 985-1070)|last=S.R.|first=Balasubramanyam|year=1975|publisher=Thomson Press (India) Limited|url=http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/62202.pdf|pages=107–9|isbn=978-9060236079}}</ref>

==Architecture==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
|total_width=300
|width1=2448| height1=3264
|width2=3264| height2=2448
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Thirupugalur13.JPG
|image2=Thirupugalur8.JPG
|footer=Image of [[Nataraja]]
}}
The temple has a five-tiered raja[[gopuram]], the gateway tower facing east and an inner three tier gopuram. The temple is surrounded by a moat like tank and the major portion of the tank is called Agni theertham located in front of the gateway tower.<ref name=Business>{{cite news|title=Magic on the waters|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2004/08/06/stories/2004080600150300.htm|last=Sridhar|first=Lalitha|date=6 August 2004|accessdate=3 June 2018|publisher=Business Line}}</ref> The sanctum is approached through the gateway tower, flagpost, a mahamandapam and an arthamandapam. The Mahamandapam houses the images of Agni, [[Brahma]] and saint [[Appar]]. The bronze idol of Agni is one of its kind, not present anywhere in the state. The image has two heads and sported with three legs. The sanctum houses the image of Agnipureeswarar in the form of [[Lingam]], a phallic symbol of Shiva. The Linga is tilted indicating a legend that Shiva offered to bend for his devotees.

There is another shrine of Shiva called Vardhamaneeswarar, in the name of [[Tiruppugalur Vardhamaneswaram]] located adjacent to the sanctum and the image of Muruga Nayanar is located opposite to the sanctum. It is counted as another ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]'' as it is also glorified in the verses of ''[[Tevaram]]''. There is a separate shrine of Karundarkuzhi, the consort of Shiva, sported in standing posture in a South facing shrine. The inner precinct of the temple houses the image of the sixty three [[nayanmar]], Agni, Panchalinga, [[Appar]], Vatapi Ganapathy, Subramanya, Sanisvara, Annapurani, Mahalakshmi and Kalasamhara, while the outer precinct has the images of Chintamanisvara, Vinayaga and the Linga worshipped by sage Bharatvaja.<ref name=R/>

==Religious importance and festivals==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=left
|total_width=300
|width1=2448| height1=3264
|width2=3264| height2=2448
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Thirupugalur9.JPG
|image2=Thirupugalur1.JPG
|footer=Image of [[Appar]]
}}[[Appar]], a 7th-century Tamil poet, is said to have "attained liberation" at the site of the temple.<ref name=R/>

Unlike other shiva temples, anointing with oil is not performed in the temple.<ref name=R/> There are weekly rituals and monthly festivals.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|
publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=345–46}}</ref><ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Agnipureeswarar temple|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=1395|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109012433/http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=1395|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 November 2011|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|accessdate=24 November 2015}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple1.jpg|Rajagopura
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple2.jpg|Tank in front of the temple
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple3.jpg|Rajagopura and Inner gopura
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple4.jpg|Inner gopura
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple5.jpg|Vimana of presiding deity Agnipureeswarar
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple6.jpg|Vimana of Goddess
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple7.jpg|Shrine of Somanayakar
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple9.jpg|Vimanas of Agnipureeswarar and Vardhamaneswarar
File:Tirupugaluragnisvarartemple11.jpg|Kosta sculpture
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}

[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Nagapattinam district]]

Agnipureeswarar Temple, Thirupugalur - Revision history

NickiStpierre68: Started Place