Arulmigu Sri Naganathar Temple/ நாகநாதர் திருக்கோயில் நாகூர்/ Nagoor/Nagore, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Naganathar Temple at Nagore, in Nagapattinam District, was part of “Shiva, Vishnu and Buddhist Temples Visit in Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli Districts”, from 8^th to 10^th April 2026. The temple is on the Vettar River mouth, where the river joins the Bay of Bengal. It is believed that this place, Nagore, obtained its name from Shiva of this temple.

This temple is one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam; hymns have been sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.

புன்னாவன தருக்கள் மிகுத்துதன் பொழிள்சூழ்

நன்னாகூர் மேயபிரான் அவன் கழல்

பன்னாழ் இசையேந்தி பணிவோர்க் கெல்லாம்

என்நாலும் இடரில்லை என்றேன் மினே

……. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

Moolavar  : Sri Naganathar

Consort    : Sri Nagavalli Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The temple tank is on the right side of the temple. Nandi, with his consort, is on the south side of the Rajagopuram passage. Kodimara Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is of swayambhu on a round avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Natarajar and Sivakami are in the ardha mandapam. Thiyagarajar sannidhi is on the south side of the Moolavar sannidhi.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi that faces south in the maha mandapam. Dwarapalakis are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varadha hastam.

In the praharam, Chandikeswarar, 63var, Nagars under Sthala Vruksham Pinnai Tree, Valampuri Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Jyothi Lingam, Swarna Lingam, Nalvar, Bairavar, Saniswarar, Navagrahas (all are in a straight line), Suryan, Nagarajar, Pancha Lingas, and Vahana Mandapam.

Dakshinamurthy

Ambal

Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

Brahma

Chandikeswarars

Nandi with his consort

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram, and the vimanam above the bhumi desam was built with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of plain valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyalavari. A dravida vimanam above Bhumi Desam is with one tala, greevam and dravida sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since this temple is a Thevara Vaippu Sthalam, sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, the original temple might have existed since the 7^th century. Later, the temple was reconstructed.

பாண்டியர்(?), 7 ஆம் ஆட்சி ஆண்டு பொயு 14 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு, அரசன் பெயரில் இல்லாத இக்கல்வெட்டு ராஜராஜப் பெரும்பள்ளியான ஸ்ரீமாகேஸ்வர பெரும்பள்ளியின் காரியவர், கணக்கர், பண்டாரிகள் ஆகியோருக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்ட சிறு முறி ஆகும். திருப்பணிக்காக இறையிலியாக நிலம் கொடுத்ததையும், இவ்வோலையினையே ஆணையாகக் கொண்டு (பிடிபாடு) ஊரெல்லையும், அதில் குடிகளும் வரையறுத்துக் கொண்டு, அதனைக் கல்லிலும் செம்பிலும் வெட்டி வைத்துக் கொள்ளவும் அதிகாரம் அளிக்கப்பட்டதைத் தெரிவிக்கிறது. குலசேகர நயபாலன், பராக்கிரம பாண்டிய தனபாலன் என்ற கையொப்ப மிட்டோரின் பெயர்களைக் கொண்டு, இதனைப் பாண்டியர் கல்வெட்டாகக் கருத முடிகிறது.

Ref:

தமிழ்நாட்டுக் கல்வெட்டுகள் வரிசை எண்: 29, நாகபட்டிணம் மாவட்ட கல்வெட்டுகள். 

LEGENDS

This temple is a special one due to Thalam, Murti and Theertham. Also called Maha thalam due to the presence of 6 features like Punnaka vanam, Chandra Theertham, Rudra River (Vettar), Suba Punya hill, and Viswa kanya vimanam.

To get rid of the curse due to the biting of an andhanar’s son Sambhu, on Maha Sivaratri day, first kalam, Nagaraja  worshipped Naganatha Swamy of Kumbhakonam; on second kalam, worshipped Naganatha Swamy of Thirunageswaram, on the third kalam, worshipped Thirupampuram Naganatha Swamy, and on 4^th kalam, worshipped Nagore Naganatha Swamy. Hence, this temple is one of the Rahu and Ketu parihara sthalam. Shiva appeared in the form of Swayambhu under the Punnai Tree and gave darshan to Maha Vishnu on Vaikasi pournami day.

Shiva was worshipped by Brahma, Indra, Chandran, Durvasar, Saptarishis, Rudrasanman, and Andhanar.  

Sthala Vruksham

Nagar with his consorts

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Theipirai Ashtami, Theipirai Panchami, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Thai Poosam, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 1.5 km from Nagore Railway Station, 8 km from Nagapattinam, and 32 km from Thiruvarur and Karaikal.

The nearest Railway Station is Nagore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---