Tirunageswaram Naganathar Temple / Sri Nageswaraswamy Temple / Sri Naga Natha Swamy / Raghu Temple /நாகேஸ்வரசுவாமி கோயில், திருநாகேஸ்வரம், Thirunageswaram, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 146^th Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 29^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri. Now this place is called as NAGESWARAM. This is one of the 44 Moovar paadal petra Shiva sthalam. This is also one of the Navagraha temples, Rahu Sthalam, around Kumbakonam.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records  that Thirugnanasambandan came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Kudanthai Karonam and thirunavukkarasu swamigal after Thiruvidaimaruthur.

திருநாகேச்சரத்து அமர்ந்த செங்கனகத் தனிக்குன்றைக்

கருநாகத்துஉரி புனைந்த கண்ணுதலைச் சென்று இறைஞ்சி

அருஞானச் செந்தமிழின் திருப்பதிகம் அருள்செய்து

பெருஞான சம்பந்தர் பெருகு ஆர்வத்து இன்புற்றார்

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

எறிபுனல் பொன்மணி சிதறும் திரைநீர்ப் பொன்னி

        இடைமருதைச் சென்று எய்தி அன்பினோடு

மறிவிரவு கரத்தாரை வணங்கி வைகி

        வண்தமிழ்ப் பாமாலை மகிழச் சாத்திப்

பொறி அரவம் புனைந்தாரைத் திருநாகேச்சரத்துப்

        போற்றி அருந்தமிழ்மாலை புனைந்து போந்து

செறிவிரைநன் மலர்ச்சோலைப் பழையாறு எய்தித்

        திருச்சத்தி முற்றத்தில் சென்று சேர்ந்தார்

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Sundarar has sung Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

பொன்னேர் தரு மேனியனே புரியும்

மின்னேர் சடையாய் விரை காவிரியின்

நன்னீர் வயல் நாகேச்சர நகரின்

மன்னே என வல்வினை மாய்ந்து அறுமே

......... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

நல்லர் நல்லதோர் நாகங் கொண்டாடுவார்

வல்லர் வல்வினை தீர்க்கு மருந்துகள்

பல்லிலோடு கையேந்திப் பலிதிரி

செல்வர் போற்றிரு நாகேச்சரவரே

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

பாலனது ஆருயிர் பரியாது பகைத்தெழுந்த

காலனை வீடுவித்துக் கருத்தாக்கியது என்னை கொலாம்

கோலமலர்க் குவளை கழுநீர் வயல்சூழ் கிடங்கில்

சேலொடு வாளைகள் பாய் திருநாகேச் சரத்தரனே

........ சுந்தரர்

                                                    -“சீரோங்கும்

யோகீச்சுரர் நின்று வந்து வணங்குதிரு

நாகீச்சுர மோங்கு நங்கனிவே

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Nageswarar, Sri Naganathar,

                  Sri Shenbagaranyeswarar

Consort    : Sri Girigujaambigai, Sri Kundramamulaiyammai

Some of important features of this temple are.....

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. The temple is with entrances on all the 4 sides with Rajagopuram. Nirutha Ganapathy, balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, Rishabam and Surya Theertham are before sanctum entrance arch. Mazhuporutha Vinayagar is on the banks of Surya theertham. A 100 pillar mandapa is in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In Koshtam Narthana Ganapathy, Agasthiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar with Brahma & Maha Vishnu on both sides, Brahma, Durgai and Arthanareeswarar.

In 2^nd prakaram Nagaraja, Sekkizhar Thirupani mandapa, stone images of Sekkizhar, his brother and his mother, Nataraja Sabha and Nalvar. There are two Ambal sannadhis. Sri Piraiyani Nuthalal sannadhi is adjacent to moolavar sannadhi and Girikujambal sannadhi is like a Separate temple with sanctum, artha mandapam and Vesara Vimanam.

In the prakaram Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Navagrahas ( All the 8 grahas are facing Suryan ), Nirutha Vinayagar, Shenbaga Vinayagar, Adi Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar, Somaskandar, Nalvar, Saptamatrikas, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati, Chandran Suryan, Maha Bhairavar, 63 Nayanmars, Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar, Murugan, Natarajar, Shiva Lingas worshiped by Markandeyar, Agasthiyar, Parasarar, Gauthamar, Vyaghrapada and Patanjali.

On the opposite side of the temple tank is the Ambal Parvati as Girigujambigai Sannadhi. Ambal is  made of stucco in a separate temple and facing east in Yogic posture. Saraswati is holding Veena and Mahalakshmi is holding Lotus, are on both sides. No abhishekam is done and only Punugu thailam is applied in the month Thai. In the sanctum Vinayagar, Balamurugan, Navasakthi, Sanganithi, Tatpurusha Sakthi, Padmanidhi, Ganga, Vaishnavi with Sanakadi rishis, Giriya Sakthi, Gnanambigai, Bhairavar, Bala Sastha ( Ayyanar ), Yoga Rahu and Durga.

Another Ambal Parvati as “Sri Artha Chandra Bimba Gujambigai” or “Piraiyanivaal Nuthal Ammai” ( Ambal who wears chandran ). Every year on Karthigai pournami / full moon day day Moon / Chandran’s light falls on ths goddess.  

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam.

The 15^th Century saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

நாசாதி ப்ராரத் ததுக்க மிக்கவர்

            மாயாவி காரத் தியக்க றுத்தருள்

            ஞானோப தேசப் ப்ரசித்த சற்குரு       வடிவான

    நாதாவெ னாமுற் றுதித்தி டப்புவி

            யாதார மாய்கைக் குமுட்ட முற்றருள்

            நாகேச நாமத் தகப்பன் மெச்சிய       பெருமாளே

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, this temple might have existed before 7^th Century. The original temple was reconstructed with stone during Kandaraditha Chozha period. Latter renovated by Sekkizhar, as a minister with Chozhas and further extended during Vijayanagara Period by Govinda Deekshithar, a minister with Vijayanagara Dynasty. 

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Kandarthithan, Rajarajan, Rajendra Chozha and Vijayanagaras.

As per the inscriptions this place was under  Uyyankondar Valanattu Pambur Nadu and Lord Shiva was called as Thirunageswaramudayar.

Konerimei Kondan period inscription records the endowment of lands gifted to this temple situated in different places.

Chozha king Rajaraja-I’s 14^th reign year inscription records the endowment of  lands  located in different places  was gifted 40 Kalanju after the sale as irayili for the Kulakesariyar daughter Arinjigai Piratiyar Sri Panaperumdeviyar Thiruvizha by the maha sabha. Another inscription of the same king & the same period records the endowment of lands sale as irayili  for 37 kalanju and gifted to this temple.

Rajendra Chozha-I’s 30^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Lands, gold gifted to this temple towards pooja, offering, gold ornaments, golden flower, etc.

The Chozha King Adithya-I, period inscription records the provision made by the Perunagarattar (merchant community) of Kumarama(r)ttandapuram, in Thiraimur Nadu renovation of the surrounding hall / prakara / Thiruchutralai and the Gopura in a Jaina Temple called the Miladudaiyar Palli. Kumaramarttanda seems to have been a Surname of Pallava King Nandivarman-III.

The Chozha King Kovi Rajakesari varmar (  Sundara Chozha  ) 9^th reign year inscription starts with Sanskrit records the heroic achievements in Singala / Sri Lanka, of a Bana Chief ( name lost / damaged ) “the ornament of Bali kula“.  Also refers to the daughter of Arikulakesari. It records the endowment made by the princes, called Arinjigai Pirattiyar and the wife of Bana, to conduct worship and offerings  and for burning of 2 lamps during three services every day to God Amarasundaradeva established by her –probably in memory of her husband – in the temple at Thiruneswaram, a devadana in Tiraimur nadu on the southern bank of River Kaveri. Details of the items required for each service  are also given. As the record is incomplete the nature of the endowment is not known. 

Pillaiyar Arikulakesari, the father of donatrix is non other than Arinjaya Rajakesarivarman of this inscription should therefore refer to his son and successor Sundara Chozha. The expedition to Sri Lanka mentioned in the records, wherein the Bana Prince is said to have distinguished himself ( at the cost 0f his life ), is known to have been led by the Kodumbalur Chief and general Parantakan Siriyavelar in the reign of Sundara Chozha.

From the Chozha period inscription, Chozha King’s wife Dheeran Sakthividangi of the Palace, established an endowment for the benefit of her daughter, gave a gift of 48 sheeps / Goat for burning a lamp.  The Chozha period other inscriptions records the gift of Gold, Silver ornaments, Vikramasinga Pallavaraiyan gave a gift of 100 kasu to strengthen the channels which was damaged due to flood in the Kaveri river,  through the interest, the balance interest amount has to be spent for temple service, Sivadarmam, Arthanareeswarar was established and Kandarathithar had done thirupani to this temple.      

The 1783 CE, 39 line inscription on a flat stone is installed on one of the Corner of "Kundru Mulai Ammai" Sannidhi. The inscription records the levy of Mahamai in shops between Uppiliappan Temple and Ravuthar Shop, to burn Lamps at this temple and Pallivasal. In that two shops mahamai amount of 1/2 kasu per shop was given to a Pallivasal / Mosque. This has to be monitored by a person. The attendees for the function has to be given due respect after counting. The ompadaikilavi says that if any person who obstructs this endowment will get a sin of.... if he / she a Hindu, will get a sin of killing a cow on the banks of Ganga.  If he / She is s muslim, will get a sin of doing a wrong thing at Mecca. 

Ref: 

ARE 211 to 218 of 1911

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 15^th August 2005.

LEGENDS

This place was called as Shenbagavanam, Girikinnikaivanam during ancient times. 

This is a Rahu dosha parihara Sthalam. Naga Kings Adhiseshan who came from patala loka, along with ashta maha serpents” - Ananthan, Vasuki, Thatchakan, Karkodakan, Sankapala, Kulikan, Padman, Mahapadma worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence Lord Shiva is called as “Thiru Nageswarar” and place is known as “Thirunageswaram”. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal also mentions the same in his hymns as 5 hooded serpent worshiped Lord Shiva.   

Gauthamar ( re united with his wife Akalika ), Nandi ( elevated as Adhikara Nandhi ), Nalan ( regained his lost wealth and fame ) Parasarar, Bhagirathan, Pandavas ( regained their Kingdom ), Indra, Vinayagar ( obtained the status of Ganapathi – Athipathi of ganas ), Chandra Varman ( got relieved from the curse of dog ),   also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

It is also believed that Sekkizhar has got the Lords Thiruvadi Gnanam and written the Periya Puranam, the story of 63 Nayanmars.

It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship Lord Shiva of Kudanthai Keezhl Kottam in the morning, Thirunageswaram in the afternoon and Thirupampuram in the evening on a single day.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted Peruvizha in the month Karthigai, Sekkizhar Guru pooja on the Poosam Nakshatra day in the month Vaikasi, Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Masi Maham and maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April ), Raghu transition day from one rasi to another Rasi and Monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Contact Phone numbers 0435 2463354 and 9443489839

Alternatively these numbers also may be tried : +91 94434 89839, +91 435 - 246 3354 for further details.

HOW TO REACH: 

Town buses and Autos are available from Kumbakonam town / Bus terminus / Railway station.

This temple is 6 KM from Kumbakonam Bus Terminus, 31 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 50 KM from Thanjavur 299 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---