SRI NAGANATHAR TEMPLE NAGAPATTINAM

The rays of Sun fall on the feet of the Lord for 30 days commencing from Shivrathri day. The rays fall on the Lord during the mornings and on Lord Bhairava in the evenings. Generally, there is only one Goddess in temples. There are two Goddesses in this temple gracing the devotees from a single shrine.

Sri Naganathar temple,

Kilperumpallam, Nagapattinam district.

( Kilperumpallam to Chennai Distance Approx 16.1 Km)

The temple is open from 6.00 am to 12.30 am, 3.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

Shivrathri – February to March Aipasi Anna Abhishekam – October – November Panguni Vasuki Utsav in March–April

During the churning of the milk ocean, Vasuki the snake used as the line for the objective got tired and divided its poison. The Devas ran to Lord Shiva for securing themselves from the effect of the poison. The Lord swallowed and saved the world. Vasuki sensed that it had triggered Lord Shiva to take its posion and conducted penance searching for the Lord's excuse. The Master provided darshan to Vasuki as a compromise. Vasuki pleaded Lord Shiva to remain in the place. The Lord remained here known as after the serpent–Naga – Naganathar.

Of the Navagrahas - the nine planets, this temple is mentioned for Ketu worship. Lord Vinayaka graces in the temple from His individual shrine. Lord Ketu with his serpent head and human system is seated western on his Simha (lion) chair with folded arms worshipping Lord Shiva. He is the power for wiseness. He is a courageous planet doing all good for the devotees owed to his Rasi. Individuals pray to planet Ketu for quality in knowledge and household success. Those experiencing some negative factors of the earth, pray first to Lord Naganatha and then to Ketu with red blossoms, providing horsegram grain – Kollu sadham – as nivedhana and lighting seven deepas.

Those experiencing stomach problems, nerve disorders, suffering from fear and those driven by loss in trade and projects, seeking oneness and success in family and durability and health of thriving years pray to Lord Naganathaswami and planet Ketu. They perform milk abishek on their birth days with nivedhana and offer vastras in different colors.

Pujas are conducted to Lord Ketu at Rahukalas and Yemakanda Kala periods. 90 minutes each day. There will be 16 kinds of abishek and homas with a nivedhana created of gram powder, salt and pepper in rice.They lighting lamps with gingely oil. The nivedhana should be allocated in the temple to guests and should not be taken home. Ketu praise is followed on Monday and on important days. Vasuki (the snake used as line to turn the ocean) is celebrated in Panguni (March-April). On the 3rd day of the celebration, the occurrence of Lord Shiva approving Darshan to Ketu is famous. Planet Ketu comes in procession on this day and on the Rahu-Kethu move periods.

On the Rahu-Kethu move day, a unique Homa is structured by the Archakas-priests-of the temple. According to numerology, No. 7 is supposed to be to Ketu. 16 kinds (1+6=7) of pujas are conducted chanting 7 lakh mantras. Arrangements created of Kollu and sweet balls created of this feed, rice , vada, choornam, pudding-pongal – all created with kollu are provided in the Homam Flame. Devotees provide 16 kinds of Dhans to Brahmins. Food is also given to the devotees this day.

There is no Navagraha shrine in the temple as Ketu has all the popularity. However, there are two Sun idols and a Saturn idol in the forehead. Pujas are conducted to one Sun during the Utharayayana Punyakala protecting January-February to June-July and to the other Sun during the Dakshinayana Punyakala protecting July-August to December-January.