When Lord Vinayaga offered worship to his father Lord Shiva in Mount Kailash, Vasuki (Nagaraj), the king of serpents, around Lord Shiva’s neck, in his arrogance, considered that the worship was for him, He was cursed by Lord Shiva resulting in the serpent community losing their strength and powers.
When the eight great serpents Ananthan, Vasuki, Thatchakan, Karkodakan, Sankapalan, Kulikan, Padman and Mahapadman begged Lord Shiva for forgiveness they were advised to worship him on the night of Maha Shivratri. The serpents headed by Adhisheshan offered worship on the four parts of the Mahasivarathri night in four different temples in each of the 4 kaalams to Lord Shiva and were blessed with his grace.
These four temples are as follows:
Sri Nageswarar at Kumbakonam,
Sri Naganathar at Thirunageswarm,
Sri Sheshapureeswarar at Thiruppampuram and
Sri Naganathar at Nagore.
Sri Nageswarar temple, Kumbakonam
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 4.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Phone : 0435-243 0386
Location : 293 kms from chennai 1 km from Kumbakonam
Nearest town : kumbakonam
Important days : Rahu Kalam on the evening on Sundays.
Important for : Reunion with spouses, Child boon. Adverse effects Planet Rahu
The temple initially was surrounded by bushes. Padagacherry Ramalingaswamy, a shiva devotee collected funds by begging with a tied brass bowl around his neck and renovated the temple with the funds so collected and also did the consecration of the temple. This was followed by the next consecration took place in 1959 and last one happened in 1988.
Lord Nageswara, small in size, is seated on a big Avudayar. Surya Bhagawan prays to him with his rays on 11,12 & 13th Of Panguni. Praying to Lord Nageswara on Mondays and Thursdays provide relief from the adverse aspect of serpent planet Rahu which delays marriage and child boon. Mother Periyanayaki graces the devotees with Her Abhaya Karam. The Pralayakala Rudra Shrine-Sannidhi here is famous.
Divine serpent Adisesha who was bearing the whole weight of earth, was feeling exhausted as the weight increased due to the increasingly committed sins, begged Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash to bestow upon him adequate energy to carry out his responsibilities. Lord promised him the energy to hold the earth with a single head (Adiseaha has 1000 heads) and with his blessings Adishesha came to this part of Kumbakonam where one leaf of Vilwa fell from the nectar pot. He installed a Linga here and worshipped the Lord he came to be known as Nageswarar as he was worshipped by Nagaraja.
The place where the Vilwa fell from the nectar pot floating through floods, was called Vilwa Vanam. Lord is also praised as Vilwa Vanesar, Padala Beeja Nathar, Madanthai Bagar and Selva Piran.
Naganathaswamy temple, Tirunageshwaram
Temple Timings : 6.30 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m
Phone :+91- 44 - 2478 0436, 93828 89430
Location : Thirupampuram 23 kms
Nearest town : Nagappatinam 48 kms
Important days : Shivrathri in February-March; Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November and Brahmotsavam Panguni Utsav in March
Important for : Salvation of Property, Sight, Gold, Land, Vehicle
The presiding deity of the temple is Arulmigu Giri Gujambika Sametha Naganathaswamy. It is believed to have been built by Aditya Chola I in the 9th century AD. The inner mantapa was built by Seikkizhar, and the outer mantapa was built by Govinda Dikshitar (17th century AD) a minister to Acchuthappa
Here Rahu Bhagawan can be seen with his two consorts Nagavalli and Nagakanni together. Sri Naganathaswamy Temple is one where Lord Shiva was worshipped by Rahu and got relieved of a curse. A unique feature of the temple is that Rahu Bhagawan is seen with human face. Usually in other places, Rahu is seen with a serpent face.
Those afflicted by this dosha, participate in this ritual, also perform abishek during Raghu Kala time, by offering Ulundhu dal and the preparation is available in the temple itself.
Mother Kamakshi graces on Her Lion Vahan and Rose water abishek is performed to on Thai Fridays in January-February. A 10 day Brahmmotsavam is celebrated with Chitra Poornima (Full Moon day) in April-May. The wedding festival of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi is celebrated on Chitra Poornima day. During the festival, Lord comes in procession on snake vahan.
It is believed that by doing milk abhishekam here for Rahu during Rahu kalam the delay in getting married, childlessness, troublesome married life, ill-effects of Kalasarpa Dhosha and Sarpa Dhosha are all cured. An important aspect of Rahu Temple at Thirunageswaram is that during milk abhishekam, the milk when poured over the idol turns blue which is clearly visible.
The annual Brahmotsavam is observed in the month of Kartika while the Sekkizhaar festival is celebrated in the month of Vaikasi. Large number of pilgrims visits the temple during these occasions.
Arulmigu Seshapureeswarar Temple - Sri Rahu Kethu Temple,Thiruppampuram,
Temple Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : 04364 - 2469 555
Location : 22 kms from Thirunageswaram
Nearest town : Srivanjiyam 15 kms
Important days : Rahu Kalam on the evening on Sundays.
Important for : Reunion with spouses, Child boon. Adverse effects Planet Rahu
It is believed that Rahu and Kethu worshipped the Lord and received his blessings in one body! Devotees Pray to the Lord, Ambal and in the Rahu Kaalam to Rahu – Kethu with Abhishekam and Archana in this temple to get rid of all their sins and realise their wishes.
Lord Shiva has Goddess Parvathi on this left and they are depicted in a wedding posture. It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva here grants the devotee the benefit of worshipping in 5 Punya Sthalams namely Kumbakonam, Nagore, Thirunageswaram, Kalahasthi and Kezhapperumpallam. The divine powers of this place is such that worshipping here is equivalent to worhsipping in the five temples.
Once serpent king Adisheshan was tired and was unable to hold the earth. When he pleaded to Lord Shiva for strength, he was advised to worship him at Thiruppampuram. Adisheshan worshipped the Lord on a Mahashivratri day and due to nonavailability of flowers that time, Adhisheshan made a garland of “akathi” flowers in “alamvizhudhu” (banyan tree twigs) and finished his pooja. Hence in this village akathi plants don’t flower and the stems of the banyan trees don’t touch the ground.
Among the many snake idols in this temple, the one where Raghu and Kethu are intertwined is prominent.
During a competition between Adhisesha and Lord Vaayu to prove who was more powerful, when Vaayu tried to unearth all the mountains with his force, Adhiseshan tried to prevent. When Vaayu stopped the breathing air (oxygen) needed for all beings, the Devas requested them to stop the show of strength. While Adhiseshan withdrew, Vaayu continued his show of might and destruction which angered Lord Shiva, who cursed both of them to life of ghosts. Upon seeking pardon, Lord Shiva directed Vaayu to do tapas at the north of the river Vaigai in the east of Madurai, while Adhisesha to Pamburam who then created a theertham here observed his 12 year penance and got relieved of the curse.
Thilothama created by Brahma considered him as her father and when went round him in worship, he started admiring her beauty by creating four heads for himself to look at her as she went round him. To avoid him, Thilothama fled skyward but Brahma’s gaze followed her with a face on top. Upon her prayers, Lord Shiva removed the top head of brahma and cursed him to lose power of creation. On wiser counsel, Brahma with his consort reached Thiruppampuram, created a theertham, worshipped the lord for a year and was relieved from the curse.
Indra who was cursed with a thousand eyes all over his body for his wrong advances towards Ahalya ,wife of Gauthama Maharishi, worshipped the Lord here for 12 years who gave him darshan and relief in the first segment on Mahashivarathiri.
When Goddess Uma playfully closed the eyes of the Lord, darkness prevailed and every being stopped function. Angered, the Lord cursed the Mother and for repentance, she was directed to worship him at Pamburam for 12 years and accordingly got relieved from her curse in the fourth segment of Mahashivarathri.
Once when Agasthya was countering the argument of Devas and other Rishis stating that Tamil was a great as Sanskrit. Lords Shiva and Vishnu silently agreed but the Devas and rishis, cursed Agasthya to become dumb. Lord Shiva, then directed Agasthya to Thiruppamburam who worshipped there for one year for restoration of his speech. Lord Shiva appeared in the first segment of Mahashivarathri and cured him, besides directing him to leave for Podhigai hill for the growth of Tamil.
Agni got relief from the curse for attending the yagna by Dakshan by praying to the Lord at Thiruppamburam. Dakshan also got rid of his sins by praying here and was relieved in the fourth segment of Mahashivarathri.
When Matha Ganga the repository of the sins of all those who bathe in her, was unable to bear the burden of the sins anymore, Lord Shiva directed her to stay for 30 days in the AIpasi month in Kaveri and reach Thiruppamburam in the month of Karthigai to worship for sixteen years. In Maasi, she got rid of all her sins in the second segment of Mahashivarathri.
When Surya asked the rishis of Naimisaranya the source of his light, sage Vyasa told him to worship the Lord at Thiruppamburam temple. Surya took a holy dip in the Ganges at Kashi, then worshipped Lord Shiva at Mayiladuthurai and then reached Thiruppamburam. When he worshipped the Lingam worshipped by Adiseshan, with a thousand flowers everyday for twelve years, The Lord appeared before him on high moon day in Chithrai and granted him to be forever bright.
Vanathara, the wife of Brahaspathi, through her illicit affair with Chandran had Budhan. Brahaspathi cursed Chandran to fall ill with tuberculosis and Indran and the Devas wanted a solution. Chandran worshipped Pamburanathar with a thousand flowers daily for twelve years and was relieved of his disease at noon on Thai Poornima Day.
When the generous, pious and just, North Indian King, Sunithan, was afflicted with a disease called Muyalagan which is accompanied by fits he was advised by sage Vasishta, to pray at Pamburam. Here on finishing his bath in theertham and getting on to the banks, his disease vanished. He stayed to build the Nrutha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam and perform the restoration of the temple of the Goddess. He added four towers, the surrounding walls, three praharas, the steps to the Brahma Theertham, while giving gifts to the local Brahmans and dancing girls to the temple.
The Kopperunchozhan, a Chola King, when afflicted with leukoderma, felt very disheartened and was advised by Vasishta to take a holy dip in the theertham and pray to Pamburanathar. The king who got cured was pleased and stayed here for three years to contribute many facilities besides installing Lord Sadashiva, creating the Sivaganga Theertham and named the place Silandhisozhapuram.
Sri Naganathar temple Nagoor
Temple Timings : 6.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon. 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m
Phone : 91 98652 69553
Location : 295 kms from chennai 13 kms from Karaikal
Nearest town : Nagappattinam 7 kms
Important days : Mahasivarathri, Pradosham, Karthikai deepam, 13th Day of full moon or new moon fortnights
Important for : Rahu – Kethu Kala sarpa dhosha Nivarana sthalam. Mangalya Dosha, Putra Dosha
Nagoor Sri Naganathar Temple is a very ancient temple of Shri Nagavalli sametha Shri Naganathar. During the visit of Adiseshan (Nagarajan) to the four Naganathar temples at Kumbakonam, Thirunageswaram, Thirupampuram and Nagapattinam, He split the Maha Shivarathri evening and night into slots of 3 hours each (jamams). This is the last temple of the visit.
This is a Rahu Ketu Parikara sthalam. When Nagarajan was spending time with his queens, he noticed a five year old Brahmin boy Sambudattan playing in the vicinity and since he felt his privacy violated, in anger bit the boy who died.
The boy’s father feeling that his boy was innocent, in a fit of anger cursed Nagarajan to lose his powers and roam alone in the forest. When sought forgiveness and prayed for a 1000 years, his father Kashyapa Maharishi guided him to have darshan of Naganathar in the four temples at Kumbakonam, Thirunageswaram, Thirupampuram and Nagapattinam, splitting the Maha Shivarathri evening and night into slots of 3 hours each (jamams). Nagarajan came here for the last segment, had Snaan in the Chandra Pushkarni and worshipped Shiva here and got relieved from the curse. Therefore the Lord and the Mother are called Naganathar and Nagavalli Ambal, respectively. Never ever a snake bite has been reported in this place.
Vishnu got darshan of the Lord on the Vaikasi Pournami ( May-June). Chandra worshipped on the Aani Pournami (June-July) and the theertham created by him is called the Chandra Theertham. Indra worshipped during Maha Shivarathri.
The sthala vruksham is Punnai. Hence earlier this place was referred to as Punnakavanam. So holy place is this place that performing the rituals for the Pithrus is equivalent to doing the same at Gaya. It is equal in importance and as holy as Chidambaram.
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