Visit Agni Theertham

The largest of all the tanks is the Agni Theertham and is a sea located on the eastern side of the town. Legend has it that it is at this place that Goddess Sita asked Lord Lakshman to light a fire and sat inside it to prove her purity. Naturally, she was not hurt and Lord Agni (fire God) appeared to prove the same. However, Lord Angi had to wash away his sin of touching Sita so he bathed in the sea and offered prayers to Lord Shiva and hence the place is called Agni Theertham. A bath in this sea is considered to absolve one of sins and devotees make a beeline for a dip. Apart from prayers offered in the form of rituals, this is also a place where reverence is paid to departed souls and where childless couples pray for a child. It is also said that if a pilgrim wants to bathe here, must first bathe in the Agni Theertham and then bathe in the temple tanks. This sea shore is situated right opposite the Ramanathaswamy temple but a profusion of stores all along the temple has blocked the view of the same from the main temple.