People's whose Birth star sign is Punarvasu Nakshatra have to visit Arulmigu Abathsagayeswarar temple - Alangudi in Tamil Nadu twice in an year or atleast once in an year. Should stay in the temple or premises for two and half hours. Visit the Temple in your Birth star or Nakshatra i.e visit the temple on Punarvasu Nakshatra
Arulmigu Abathsagayeswarar Temple - Alangudi
Punarvasu Nakshatra : Arulmigu Abathsagayeswarar temple - Alangudi Lord Guru Bhagavan or Lord Dakshinamurthy is one of the "Navagrahas" and is referred to the planet Jupiter, and Alangudi is the "Guru Stalam" dedicated to the planet Jupiter. Thursday is an auspisious day for Lord Guru Bhagavan. The temple here is known as the "Arulmigu Abathsagayeswarar temple" where the main deity is Lord Shiva. The presiding diety's are, Lord Ganesha/Vinayagar known here as "Sri Kalangamar Katha Vinayagar". Lord Shiva (Shiva is in the form of a lingam and known as "Sri Abathsagayeshwarar"). The lingam is the 'Suyambu' Lingam. Lord DakshinaMurthy also known as "Sri Guru Bhagavan" or "Brahaspati". Goddess "Sri Elavarkuzhali Ammai" (Umayammai). There are also diety's of Lord Murugan (Subramanyam) with his consorts; and Goddess Lakshmi.
History of the Temple:
Legend has it that Alangudi is the place where Lord Shiva consumed the deadly poison as emitted during the churning of the 'paarkadal' (Sea of milk). Hence the place is known as Alangudi, which literally mean ‘the place where Lord Shiva consumed the deadly poison’. The Devas, when churning the paarkadal for nectar, were hindered by the poisonous fumes from the snake Vasuki and prayed to Lord Siva for deliverance. Lord Siva consumed the deadly poison (Ala Visham) , thus giving rise to the name Alangudi to this sthalam and the Lord was known as "Aabathsagayeshwarar" (One who defends from the danger). Devas also had a horrid time by Gajamuha suran and Lord Ganesha subdued Gajamuhasuran, and hence Lord Ganesha is worshipped in this sthalam as 'Kalangaamal kaatha Vinayagar'.
Goddess Parvati undertook severe penance to marry Lord Siva and then married Lord Siva and hence this place is also hailed as Thirumana Mangalam. Lord Siva as a ferryman (boatman) helped Sundaramurthy Swamigal to cross the river Vettaru, a branch of river cauvery, 3 km away from Alangudi, which was in spate, to reach this place.
The boat capsized hitting a rock, on the way. Lord Siva seated on his Rishaba Vahana helped him reach the sthala safely. Sundarar received his Gnana upadesam after his darshanam of Dakshinamurthy at this sthalam. This sthalam is the Parivara sthalam for Madhyarjuna Mahalinga Peruman. This is the fourth amongst the Panchavarunya Sthalas. Vishwamithrar, Thirumal, Brahma, Lakshmi, Garuda, Ashta Thikku Balagas, Ayyanar, Veera Badrar, Mukunda Chakravarthy, Suvasanan, Sundarar have worshipped at this sthala.
Thiru Gnanasambandar has sung in praise of the Lord here and is the 98th temple among the 127 temples located on the southern bank of Cauvery. It is one among the 274 "Padal Petra Sthalams" in Chola Dynasty.
Poojas and Worship for Lord Guru
Legend has it that Lord Dakshinamurthy is said to have preached the Devas who were swooned under the impact of the poison that came out of the churning of the milky ocean. He is called as Brahaspathi or Brihaspati for his excellence in education and fine arts.
Thursday is auspicious to him. Yellow color garment and chick pea (konda kadalai) are offered to bring happiness to a Guru devotee. It is believed that students, in order to excel in education, can offer kondakadalai garland (chick pea is soaked in water and made as a garland) to Lord Guru. Large numbers of devotees throng here during Guru Peyarchi, that is when Jupiter transits between zodiac signs.
New Moon Day (Ammavasai), Full Moon Day (pournami), Guruhorai, Days falling on stars like punarpoosam, Visagam and Pooratathi are very auspicious for Sri Guru Bhagavan. Offering prayers on these days are more special.
Four worship services are offered daily. The temple opens daily from 5:30 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8 pm.
Temple Festivals
Annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Chittirai. Also Hindu festival including Navaratri, Skanda Sashti, Aadi Puram, Arudra Darisanam, Kartikai Deepam, Thai Poosam and Pankuni Uththiram are celebrated here with much religious fervor. Guru Peyarchi, the transit of Guru (Planet Jupiter) from one zodiac sign to another, is another major festival celebrated in the temple.
How to reach there:
Alangudi is a small town in the Cauvery delta region, situated in the Tiruvarur district of TN, around 17 km south of Kumbakonam, enroute to Mannargudi, and 7 km north of Needamangalam. Kumbakonam is nearest major town to reach Alangudi.
By Road
There are many buses plying from Kumbakonam to Mannargudi which stops at Alangudi. There are also plenty of taxi's available from Kumbakonam which can be hired for half a day.
By Rail
Needamangalam Railway Station, on the Thanjavur - Thiruvarur rail route, is the nearest railhead, which is 7 km from Alangudi. Other than that Kumbakonam is another major railway station. One has to however reach Alangudi by road from either Needamangalam or Kumbakonam.
Reaching Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam is well connected by rail and road from Chennai and Bangalore, and all the major cities in TN.
