Agnipureeswarar Temple, Thirupugalur

Agnipureeswarar Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Nagapattinam
Deity	Agnipureeswarar(Shiva) Karundar Kuzhali, Shoolikambal(Parvathi)
Location
Location	Thirupugalur
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	10°53′05″N 79°42′11″E / 10.88472°N 79.70306°E / 10.88472; 79.70306
Architecture
Type	Tamil architecture

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 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. The temple is believed to be the place where Saiva saint Appar is believed to have attained salvation.

The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered Rajagopurams, the gateway tower.

The temple is open from 6 am - 12 pm and 4-8:30 pm on all days except during new moon days when it is open the full day. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day Vaikasipournami Brahmotsavam festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June) and float festival for Agnipureeswarar during the Tamil month of Vaikasi being the most prominent festivals. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.