Shiva Temples-Pancha Aranya Sthalams - Alangudi

The Five Shiva Temples which collectively make the Pancha Aranya Sthalams are:

Name	Location	Vanam
1. Sri Mullaivananathar Temple	Tirukkarugavur	Mullai
2.  Sri Satchi Nathar Temple	Avalivanallur	Paadhiri
3. Sri Paathaaleswarar Temple	Tiru Aradaipperumpazhi	Vanni
4. Sri Aapathsahayeswarar Temple	Tiru Erumpoolai[Alangudi]	Poolai
5. Sri Vilvavaneswarar Temple	Tirukkollampudur	Vilvam

Lord Shiva

These Temples signify the Five Temples of Lord Shiva,  surrounded by forest. 

Pancha - 5 , Aranyam,Vanam - Forest

It is believed that one should see all the five Pujas in these five temples in a single day and get the Blessings of Lord Shiva.   One can make a tour of these temples called PANCHA ARANYA STHALANGAL. in a single day by keeping to the following timings:  

• 6.00 am – Mullaivananathar—Thirukkarugavur.
• 8.00 am – Satchinathar swamy –Aavalivannallur
• 12.00 pm – Paathaaleswara swamy—Tiruaradai Perumpazhi [Haridwara Mangalam]
• 5.30 pm –Aapathsahayeswarar Temple, Tiru Erumpoolai [Alangudi]
• 8.30 pm – Vilvavaneswarar- thirukkollampudur

More on the temple[Alangudi] which falls fourth among the five Pancha Aranya Sthalams.

Alangudi Temple

4.  Alangudi

Alangudi is the fourth among this group of temples to be visited on the same day as the rest of the Aranya Sthalams.  

Name of the Temple: Aapathsahayeswarar Temple-Tiru Erumpoolai[Alangudi] Temple.

Location of the Temple:  Tiru Erumpoolai - now known as Alangudi. 

Period of origin:

Before 6 th Century.Appar, Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar had sung Devaram. It is believed that during the period of Kulothunga Cholan and Vikrama Cholan in 1131 AD, lot of lands and gold donation has been done.   

Name of deity: Moolavar[Lord Shiva known as] :Aapathsahayeswarar 

Ambal[Female Deity]: Elaalakaambaal, Elavaar Kuzhaliammai

Sthala Theertham: Amirth Pushkarani

Sthalavriksham: ErumPoolai

Pathigam:  Sambandar

Sthalapuranam:

Alangudi has attained fame due to its position as the Guru Sthalam among the Navagraha temples. It is also a part of the Pancha Aranya Sthalams, and is, interestingly, also among the Parivara Sthalams. While the deity who attracts the maximum crowd at Alangudi is Guru Bhagavan, or Dakshinamoorthy, the main deity in the temple is Shiva as Aapathsahayar - the one who aids his devotees in troubled times. The goddess is named Elavarkuzhali. In the temple premises is housed a smaller sanctum to Ganesha, who, it is believed killed the demon Gajamukhasuran at this holy place, and is called "Kalangaamal Kaatha Vinayakar". The forest associated with this temple is the Poolai Vanam, or forest of Silk Cotton trees, though there is not a single one left in this much-visited temple any more.

According to the legend, the temple at this Shiva Sthalam was built by Amuthohar, a minister of Musukanda Chkaravarthy who ruled Tiruvarur. The minister was asked to share with the King the Punniya he earned by being an ardent Shiva devotee. The minister refused to do so and was beheaded. The king got rid of "Brahmahathi Dosham" he got by killing his minister by worshipping Lord Shiva Aapathsahayar at this sthalam
.

The temple occupies an area of about 1.25 acres with high walls on all the 4 sides. There are shrines to Sun God Sooriyan, Somanathar, Saptarishi Nathar, Someswarar, Vishnunathar and Bhrameesar, Kaasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi. Sage Viswamitrar is said to have worshipped Shiva here.

Guru Bhagawan in "Gold Kavacham"
on Guru Peryarchi--Alangudi

The temple attracts very large crowds every year during the transit of Jupiter [known in Tamil as Gurupeyarchi] from one zodiac sign to another zodiac sign. There are separate shrines for Guru [Jupiter] at 2 other Paadal Petra Sthalams Thenkudithittai and Tiruvalidaayam.

Guru - the preceptor is the fifth of the Navagrahas. While Brihaspathi, the preceptor of the gods, is generally the one depicted as the graham, it is also Shiva himself as Dakshinamoorthy, who imparted the supreme knowledge to the sages and the gods, is regarded the "Guru" and takes his position on the south facing wall of the sanctum of every Shiva shrine in the south. It is believed that Shiva as Dakshinamoorthy preached to the Devas while they were swooning from the poison that emanated from the ocean during the churning. He also absorbed all the poison, earning the name Aapathsahayeswarar - the one who protects us from trouble. The main deity in this temple is Aapatsahayeswarar, and Dakshinamoorthy as guru has his shrine outside the main sanctum. Thursdays are special for guru, and every Thursday, the temple is extremely crowded.

Legend has it that Rishi Viswamitra, Ashtathikku Balagargal, Agasthiyar, Pulasthiyar,Kagapujandar, Sugarbramma Magarishi and Adhi Shankara have worshipped this sthalam.

Alangudi is also called as Kasi Aranyam and Thiru Erumpoolai.

One can see Five stages Rajakopuram , Kalangamar Katha Vinayagar, Ambal shrine in first prahar.

Route

1.  17 kms from Kumbakonam[aprox].
2.  39 kms from Thanjavur via Needamangalam on Tiruvarur road[approx].

How to reach the temple:

This temple is located at Alangudi, a tiny village on the Kumbakonam - Needamangalam road in Tiruvarur District. It is situated about 17 Kms South of Kumbakonam, 35 Kms East of Thanjavur and 6 Kms from Mannargudi. This sthalam is one of the 9 Navagraha Sthalams and is associated with Guru [Jupiter].

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

6 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8.30 pm

TEMPLE TELEPHONE NUMBER:

04374 269407

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Arulmigu Aapathsahayeswarar Temple,
Alangudi
Valangaiman Taluk
Thiruvarur District
Tamil Nadu
India.