Description:
This Shivastalam is a vast temple known for its shrine to Raahu, one of the nine celestial
bodies - Navagrahas- hence a Navagrahastalam visited by thousands. (Rahu and Ketu are
associated with the legend of the churning of the
milky ocean.)
Tirunageswaram is considered
to be the 29th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola
kingdom located south of the river Kaveri.
It is located adjacent to the Vaishnava Divya
Desam Uppiliappan Kovil outside the town of Kumbhakonam. Sekkizhaar, the author of Periyapuranam, named
the temple that he built at Kunrattur in Tondai Nadu after this temple.
Offering worship at Kudandai Keezhkottam
(Nageswarar temple) in the morning, at Tirunageswaram
at noon and at Tiruppampuram in the evening on a
given day is considered to be of special significance.
Legend has it that the mythological serpents Aadi Seshan, Dakshan and
Kaarkotakan worshipped Shiva here. Legend also has it that Nala
worshipped Shiva here as in Tirunallaar.
Gowtama muni, Paraasarar and Bhageerata are also associated with legends related to this
temple.
The Temple: This temple occupies an area of 15 acres and it has Vast
prakarams, towering gopurams, and several mandapams. The fort like walls which surround
the outermost prakaram are pierced with four entry towers. There are as many as 12
Theerthams here. There is an image of Sekkizhaar and a mandapam built by
him, here as well.
This temple was built by Gandaraditya Chola son of Parantaka Chola I. The inner
mandapams and the outer mandapams were built by Sekkizhaar and Govinda Deekshitar
(minister of Achyutappa Nayakar).
There is a shrine to Raahu in one of the prakarams. The Piraiani
Nudalaal Ambaal shrine is situated in the inner mandapam near the
Naganathar shrine, while
the Girikuchambika shrine is housed in a separate sanctum.
Festivals: The annual Bhramotsavam is observed in the month of
Kartikai while the Sekkizhaar festival is celebrated in the month of Vaikasi.
