Agastheesvarar Temple, Kuzhaiyur

Agastheesvarar Temple is a Shiva temple at Kuzhaiyur, a village near Kuthalam, roughly 13 km from Mayiladuthurai. It is a Vaippu Sthalam, one of the shrines named in the hymns of the Saivite saint Appar. The lingam is worshipped as Agastheesvarar and the goddess as Abirami.

Legend says that when the gods gathered at Kailash for Shiva's wedding, the earth tilted, and Shiva sent Agastya south to restore the balance; the sage stopped here to worship on his way, which gives the village its name. The temple has no gopuram, only an entrance in a compound wall and a single prakaram. The goddess faces south from the front mandapa, while the main shrine faces east with Nandi before it. Images of Agastya, two Vinayakas, Subramania with his consorts, Kasi Visvanatha and Bhairava stand around the precinct, along with a Varadharaja Perumal shrine. A consecration ceremony was held in July 2009.