Bagam Priyal Temple

Introduction to the Bagam Priyal Temple

The Bagam Priyal Temple is in Tiruvettriyur village, near Thondi beach, Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram district, Tamilnadu. It is regarded as a center of worship for people with cancer. Mother Bagam Priyal is known as the healer of incurable diseases. Hence, she is also called 'Midwife Amman.

Legend of the Bagam Priyal Temple

According to legend, King Mahabali was noted for his courage and generosity. All his subjects loved him, which made him proud and arrogant. So, he began to disrespect the gods. Maharishi Narada met Shiva and asked him to punish Mahabali. However, Shiva replied that once, when a lamp in his temple was about to go out, Mahabali, as a rat, adjusted the wick properly and made the lamp burn continuously. So, he rewarded Mahabali with kingship over 56 kingdoms. Hence, Shiva refused to punish Mahabali in his present birth.

Narada then went to Vishnu and asked him to punish Mahabali for his arrogance. So, Vishnu went to Mahabali in the form of Vamana and sought land measuring 3 feet. After measuring the entire universe in two footsteps, he demanded the third.

Without hesitation, Mahabali offered his head. Vamana placed his foot on the king's head and pushed him into Patal Loka (a world below the earth). The worried Dharma Devata, Mahabali's mother, reached Shiva. As Mahabali was unjustly punished, Shiva cursed Vishnu with cancer on the foot that pressed Mahabali's head.

When Vishnu sought relief, Shiva told him to bathe in 18 holy Theerthams. Vishnu came to Tiruvettriyur for a holy bath, and his cancer disappeared.

The Architecture of the Bagam Priyal Temple

The Bagam Priyal Temple displays the Dravidian architectural style. It is believed to be 1000 years old.

Shiva is revered as Pazham Puttru Nathar (Valmika Nathar), and his consort is Bagam Priyal or the One who never parted from Shiva.

Sage Agastya is said to have worshipped at this Bagam Priyal Temple and installed the Vinayagar in the Prakaram, hence named Agastya Vinayagar.

The Bagam Priyal Temple is an east-facing temple with no Raja Gopuram. It has a large temple tank opposite the eastern Gopuram. Hence, the main entrance is in the south. An outer Mandapam is at the entrance.

There is a Dhwaja Sthambam followed by a Bali Peetam and Nandi. Following it is an Ardha Mandapam, leading to the sanctum.

The main deity, Pazham Puttru Nathar, graces the sanctum as Swayambu Lingam. Right before him, Mother Bagam Priyal has a shrine towards the south.

Vinayagar, Dakshinamurti, Lingothbhava, Brahma, and Durga are the Koshta idols around the sanctum walls. An interesting iconographical depiction of Dakshinamurti is surrounded by Agastya, Gautama, Kashyapa, Angirasa, and Bharadwaja, great Sages.

The Sthala Vriksham Vanni is in the outer Prakaram, along with Vinayagar and Nagar statues. Vinayagar, Murugan, his consorts Valli and Deivanai, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar, Sani, and Chandra, planetary deities, have separate shrines. The Navagrahas also have a separate shrine.

Several mortar-pestle stones are kept in the western part of the Prakaram. Devotees use them to churn lime and calcium into powder, used for decorations and offerings to the deities in the temple.

Festivals in the Bagam Priyal Temple

The Bagam Priyal Temple enthusiastically celebrates Thai (January-February) Fridays, Aadi (July-August) Fridays, Navratri (September-October), New Year, Pongal, Tamil New Year, and other Hindu festivals.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Bagam Priyal Temple

People who have cancer pray to Bagam Priyal for a complete cure and consume Theertham. They believe that the Bagam Priyal Temple is the final medical destination for their cure and also trust Mother Bagam Priyal can rewrite their destiny.

Devotees stay here on Thursday night, bathe in the Vasuki Theertham the following day, and worship Bagam Priyal Udanurai Pazham Puttru Nathar. They believe the deities can cure their skin diseases and poison bites.

People with marital Dosha worship Ganesha under the Vilva tree by performing milk Abishekam and offering Mangalyam to the nearby Nagar statues. Couples seeking marriage or reunion with separated partners visit the Bagam Priyal Temple.