The visit to this Sri Naganathaswamy Temple at Peraiyur was part
of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2nd and
3rd September 2026. This temple is popularly known as “Snake Temple – பாம்பு
கோயில்”.
Moolavar : Sri Naganathaswamy
Consort : Sri Bragathambal
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with the temple tank. A mandapam is in front of the
Rajagopuram. The Rajagopuram has a small mandapam. Dwarapalakas are in the
mandapam. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. A small shrine with
images of Nagars on the banks of the pond is in front of the temple. Shiva
and Parvati as Rishabanthigar, Nagars, and Stone Natarajar with Sivakami are at
the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Balipeedam and a Rishabam are in front of
the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round Avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Brahma.
In
the praharam, Nalvar, Saptamatrikas with Vinayagar and Yogeswarar, Suryan,
Kanni Moola Ganapati, Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Chandikeswarar, Gnana
Dandapani, Gajalakshmi, and Navagrahas.
Ambal
is in a separate temple and faces east on the north side of the main temple. A
dawjasthambam anda Rishabam are in front of the Ambal Temple. Stucco
dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the Ambal temple. Ambal stands in a three-bhanga posture, holds a lotus flower in the right hand, and holds the left hand in Dola hastam. In koshtam,
Ambals various forms and Chandikeswari.
Sri
Valli Devasena Subramaniar Sannidhi is between Shiva and Ambal Sannidhi.
This form is called the Somaskandar form.
Lingothbavar - Bairavar - Dhandayuthapani
ChandikeswaraarSaptamatrikasNalvarDakshinamurthy
ARCHITECTURE
The temple was constructed with stone from
adhistanam to prastaram. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, Maha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a
prati bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and prativari. The bhitti
starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnukantha pilasters with square
bases, kalasam, kudam, litus petals mandi, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus, and vyyalavari. A two-tala
brick Vesara vimana is over the bhumi desam. Stucco images of Shiva,
Dalshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtas. Maha
nasis are on the greevam.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that the temple belongs to the 11th to 12th
century Pandya period. Later received contributions from Chozhas,
Vijayanagaras. The oldest structure is the western side Rajagopuram, which belongs to the 10th century, built in Chola architecture. The eastern side
Rajagopuram up to Kalkaram was built during the Pandya period.
The
Chozha king Rajendra-Chozha I’s reign year (1012-44), damaged inscription on
the rock in front of the temple, shows that the temple originally belonged
to the Chozha period and the same was reconstructed during the 12th or 13th
century. There are other Chozha and Pandya inscriptions belonging to the 13th
century.
Thirubhuvana
Chakravarthikal Rajaraja’s 20th year of reign damaged inscription
below the steps of north wall records the gift of Taxes to this temple by
Ma…numasakaniMei Chatrukandan Samandan.
The
inscription of the same king and year below the above inscription records the
King, reign year, and Shiva’s name.
Kovi
Rajakesarivarmar…. Kulothunga Chozha’s 15th year of reign partially
damaged inscription (Sl. no. 218) on a boulder in front of the temple records the
gift of 50 ewes/ sheep may be for burning a lamp.
Sri
Chakravatrikal Kulothunga Chozha’s 36th year of reign inscription
(Sl. 225) on the boulder records the gift of land after paying the taxes to
this temple by Madalan Narayana Madhavan.
The
present sanctum sanctorum was built during the 12th – 13th centuries CE, during the Pandya reign.
The
Ambal Brahathambal temple was constructed during the 15th to 16th
century Vijayanagara period.
Komarabarmar
Chakravarthikal Sonadu Kondaruliya Sundara Pandyadevar’s 5+1 year reign
inscription (Sl. No. 263) on the south side wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of poojas and nimandham to Sri Kamakotta Nachiyar.
Komarabarmar
Chakravarthikal Sonadu Kondaruliya Sundara Pandyadevar’s 30-year reign
inscription (Sl. No. 288) on the south side wall of the steps records the gift
of land as thevadhanam to this temple, officials of the temple (kankani &
Kariyam Seivar).
Komarabarmar
Chakravarthikal Sonadu Kondaruliya Sundara Pandyadevar’s 5+1 year of reign
inscription (Sl. No. 264) on the west side wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the endowment, same as above.
As
per the inscription of Ramachandra Maharaja, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted.
Renovation of Swamy and Ambal temple Vimanas; new vimanas were constructed for
Gajalakshmi and Dhandapani sannidhis; Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after
99 years, on 3rd November 1977. Again, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was
conducted on 07th September 1989, through the own funds, by Suba
Ayyakannu, of Kovilpatti.
The
Pandya King Kobanmar Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal Emmandalamum kondaruliya Sri
Kulasekaradevar’s 20th year of reign inscription on the Sri Katchi kodutha
Nayanar Sannidhi wall in Naganathar temple records that a land was sold as
irayili kudininga thevadhanam to Madapaththiyam ventran Thirumazhapadi Udaiyan
alias Thiruperunduraipillai.
The
Pandya King Kobanmar Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal Emmandalamum kondaruliya Sri
Kulasekaradevar’s 33rd year of reign inscription on the south wall records that
a land was sold as irayili kudininga thevadhanam to Madapaththiyam ventran
Thirumazhapadi Udaiyan alias Thiruperunduraipillai.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Sri Sundarapandyadevar’s 2nd year of reign
inscription opposite to Swayambhu Lingam records the endowment of naivedyam
for sirukalai sandhi and Arasanarayanan sandhi to Moolavar and Vinayagar, by
Uyyavanthan Uthayanseithan alias Gangeyan.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Kusekaradevar’s
2+… year of reign inscription
(Sl. No. 585) on a stone lying in the mela / west praharam records the gift of
land as thevadhanam to Pandiya Nattu Mudaliar alias Thiruperaiyur Mudaliar.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Sri Vikrama Pandiyadevar’s 5th year of reign
inscription (Sl. No. 629) on the south wall of the steps records a gift of
land as thevadhanam to this temple by Thiruvidaimaruthurdayan.
The
Vijayanagara King Arirayar’s reign inscription (Sl. No. 699) on the east side
wall, south side of the steps, records the endowment of Shenbagararayan sandhi
naivedyam. For the same, 150 panam/ year was gifted to this temple.
The Vijayanagara King Achutha Maharayar’s reign: a
damaged inscription (Sl. No. 749) on the
east wall, south side of the steps, records the celebration of Chithirai
Thirunal.
Reference
1. Inscriptions
(Texts) of the Pudukkottai State arranged according to Dynasties.
2. Temple’s
website.
LEGENDS
The
temple is a Rahu and Ketu parihara sthalam. The devotees worship Naganathaswamy for the Child boon, and they carry out the Naga Prathista.
It
is said that a Mruthanga sound comes from the pond occasionally, which is
peculiar. It is believed that the sound is from the serpent king Adiseshan, who
came for Siva’s darshan.
As
per the legend,
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are done on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri,
etc.
Parihara
poojas like Rahu Ketu pariharam, Nagathosam, Kalasarbathosam, Mangalya thosam,
Puthirathosam, Naga prathistai homam, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 19.00
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
mobile number +91 9894730410 may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
village Peraiyu is about 2.5 km from Pudukkottai bypass road, 12 km from Pudukkottai Railway Station, and 14.7 km from Pudukkottai new bus stand.
The
nearest Railway Station is Pudukkottai.
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
