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
which is around 38 km northwest
of Chennai. Ponneri Village