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Sri Agastheeswarar – About Shiva as Agastheeswarar


Shiva is worshipped as Sri Agastheeswarar in many temples in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu. Shiva is given the name Agastheeswarar and worshipped in those temples in which Sage Agastya installed the Shivling. The main Murti in some temples where Sage Agastya performed worship is also known by the name.

Legend has it that Sage Agastya had installed and worshipped 108 Shivlings in South India. In many of the 108 temples, the presiding deity Shiva is known as Sri Agastheeswarar.

Sage Agastya was an ardent devotee of Shiva and it is said that it is due to the unparalleled spiritual strength of Agastya that Shiva is worshipped in the name of the Saint.

Legend has it that once all the saints of world assembled in the Himalayas to hear Hindu God Shiva talking about the secret of the Veda and Tantra. When all the pious people were assembled in Himalayas, the earth tilted. To restore the balance of the earth, Shiva asked Sage Agastya to go south as the spiritual strength of Agastya was equal to that of all the saints in the world.

An important Sri Agastheeswarar is located at Ponneri Village which is around 38 km northwest of Chennai.