Apatsahayeswarar Temple (Alangudi Guru Sthalam)

Temple information

Darshan timings

06:00 – 08:30

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Shiva Lingam (Primary), Granite south-facing idol of Dakshinamurthy (Guru)

Religious tradition

Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta & Vedic Astrology

Sanskrit name

श्री आपत्सहायेश्वरर मंदिर (आलंगुडी गुरु स्थलम)

Also known as

Alangudi Navagraha Sthalam, Guru Kovil, Tiruvalangudi

Darshan hours

Monday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Tuesday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Wednesday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Thursday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 09:30 PM

Friday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Saturday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Sunday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Break timings

Closed daily between 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM

Special days

Continuous schedules during dynamic Guru Peyarchi (transit) festival cycles and Pradoshams

Festival timings

Temple operating shifts extend continuously throughout the entire day during major transits

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

06:30 AM

Midday aarti

12:30 PM

Evening aarti

06:00 PM

Night aarti

08:45 PM

Special aarti days

Thursdays feature extensive decorative alankaram rituals and special yellow vestment aartis

Ritual schedule

Four formal operational pooja sessions daily following regional Shaiva Agama standards

Pooja timings

Archana services and regular public lines active throughout the open morning and evening blocks

Abhishek timings

Special Guru Abhishekam on Thursdays at 06:30 AM and 10:30 AM

Special poojas

Guru Parihara Pooja, Laksharchana during transit shifts, and dynamic career advancement rituals

Online pooja booking

Via portal

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Initially established by ancient Pallava rulers and fully rebuilt by Imperial Cholas

Architect / builder

Medieval Chola Monarchs and regional royal temple builders

Construction materials

Traditional dense grey granite blocks, solid stone walls, and lime plaster mortars

Historical events

Praised in the holy Tevaram verses by Saint Tirugnana Sambandar during his delta travels

Renovations

Structurally preserved by Chola kings, Nayak administrators, and local public endowments

Archaeological importance

Features standard stone epigraphs tracking historical dynastic property grants

Legends

Lord Shiva consumed the deadly halahala poison here to protect the celestial universe

Inscriptions

Wall records describing structural endowments and offerings dating back to Rajaraja Chola era

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

Imperial Chola Dynastic and Later Nayak Periods

Structure

Traditional walled single-prakaram configuration surrounding central dynamic shrines

Floors

1

Gopuram

Features a distinctive, colorful five-tiered Rajagopuram facing the eastern main entranceway

Mandapa

Features standard pillared assembly halls leading directly toward the central inner sanctum

Sculptural features

Ornate granite wall reliefs showcasing icons of Shiva, Vinayagar, and the holy saints

Artistic elements

Beautifully stylized representations of Dakshinamurthy and the holy matching Navagraha deities

Construction technique

Interlocking dry-granite precision masonry architecture traditional to Thanjavur delta region

Unique features

Worshipped famously as the primary "Guru Sthalam" where Lord Shiva acts as the supreme universal teacher

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Adheres precisely to the ancient solar-lunar traditional Tamil almanac cycles

Special celebration days

Every single Thursday (Gururam), monthly Pradoshams, and special planetary shifts

Cultural events

Devotional music assemblies and traditional dance programs active during transit weeks

Annual events

The annual floating festival (Teppotsavam) and grand chariot pull along the inner streets

Peak crowd season

Massive pilgrim traffic during the winter travel cycles and specific annual Jupiter transits

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter
• ✓ Annadanam

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

30-40 vehicles

Parking fees

Approx. 20-50 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Boiled chickpeas (Kondaikadalai/Mookkadala) garlanded and offered as the prime token for Jupiter