Tirunageswaram Temple a Hindu temple belonging to the god Shiva and is found in a village on the outskirts of Kumbakonam, a town in Tamil Nadu, India, also known as Rahu Stalam.  

It is significant to the Saivism branch of Hinduism since it is one of the temples connected to Rahu, one of the Navagraha Stalas’ nine planet elements.  

The lingam is a representation of Shiva, who is revered as Naganathar. The image of his wife Parvati is Piraisoodi Amman.  

The Tevaram, a Tamil canonical work by Tamil saint poets known as nayanars and categorized as Paadal Petra Sthalam, was written in the seventh century and reveres the reigning deity. 

There are four gopurams, or gateway towers, in it. The most notable shrines in Tirunageswaram temple are those dedicated to Piraisoodi Amman, Rahu, and Naganathar.  

The Nayak period decorative entrance hall is the most prominent of the various halls in the temple complex. 

Tirunageswaram temple schedules twelve annual festivals in addition to six daily rituals that take place at various times between 5:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. 

Legend And History 

The serpents Aadi Seshan, Dakshan, and Kaarkotakan are said to have worshipped Shiva here, according to legend.  

As at Gowtama muni, Paraasarar, and Bhageerata, which are also connected to traditions regarding this Tirunageswaram temple, it is also said that Nala worshiped Shiva here.  

Raaghu is the king of snakes, and since he revered Lord Shiva, the location was given the name Thirunageshwaram.  

After a snake bit Sugarma, the son of Susheela Muni, the sage cursed the serpent for harming his son.  

Worshipping Lord Shiva here helped Raghu Bhagavan break the curse Sushila Muni had placed upon him.  

As a result of Lord Shiva’s kind release of Raaghu Bhagavan from his curse, He is also revered in this location as “Naganatha Swamy.” Offering worship at this Tirunageswaram temple in the morning, noon, and evening on a particular day is seen to be particularly significant. 

They have also all benefited from it. After taking a bath in the temple tank and offering prayers to the Lord and Ambal of this temple, King Sambumali, who had angered the sage Kaalangiri, attained moksha. Bringi Muni made a lone Shiva prayer.  

Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Girigujambikai are claimed to have preceded Bringi Muni in this sthala. Parvathy offered atonement in the form of Ardhanareeshwara.  

After giving her half of his body, Shiva entered this sthala as Ardhanareeshawara. 

Architecture 

The Tirunageswaram temple is located at Thirunageswaram, a panchayat town 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Thanjavur, on the Kumbakonam-Karaikkal route, and 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from Kumbakonam. 

The Tirunageswaram temple is a further treasure that displays Chola’s architectural design. It is believed that Aditya Chola I built it in the eleventh century A.D.  

Later rulers modified the temple in their own ways. Within the temple, there is a separate shrine for Rahu.  

The temple is located on the southern bank of the Kaveri River, 7 kilometers from Kumbakonam.  

Rahu and his pious consorts, Shiva, Naganatha Swamy (Shiva), Pirayani Amman (Parvathi), Giri-Gujambigai (Parvathi), and Giri-Gujambigai (Parvathi), each have their own shrines on the temple complex.  

Goddess Girigujambal keeps a separate shrine inside the temple grounds since it is believed that the goddess is in thava kolam (state of intense penance). 

Religious Significance 

When the image of Rahu is ablated with milk at Rahukaalam, the milk turns a deep blue color that is hailed as a miracle and attracts devotees from a great distance. 

It is said that many serpent deities, like Adiseshan, Dakshan, and Karkotaka, worshiped the ruling deity.  

In ten Tevaram lines collected as the First Tirumurai, Tirugnana Sambandar, a Tamil Saivite poet, honored Naganathar.  

In ten Tevaram verses collected as the Fifth Tirumurai, Appar, a contemporary of Sambandar, likewise praised Annamalaiyar.  

The Tirunageswaram temple is categorized as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 temples mentioned in the Saiva canon because it is honored in Tevaram.  

One of the most frequented temples in the neighborhood is this one. The Tirunageswaram temple is included among those constructed along the banks of the River Kaveri. 

Location  

Thirunageshwaram On the southern banks of the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district, Sri Naganathaswamy Temple is located 6 kilometers from Kumbakonam. 

Naganathaswamy Giri Gujambika is the presiding Deity. On the southwest side of the second prakara is the Raaghu Sannathi (Nagaraja Shrine). 

Tirunageswaram temple was restored into a granite structure by the Chola King Kandarathithya (950 AD-957 AD). Seikkizhar constructed the inner Mantapa.  

The outer mandapa was built by Acchuthappa Nayak’s minister Govinda Dikshitar in the 17th century A.D.  

The stunning Surya Pushkarani was created by Sambumali, a King. Arimalazham Annamalai Chettiar completed the renovations, including the roof.

Read More – Timing & History of Arunachalam Temple