Nageswarar Temple, Kundrathur, Chennai
Nageswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva located at Kundrathur in Chennai City in Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Nageswarar and
Mother is called as Kamakshi Amman. The temple was built by the
celebrated Saivite Poet Sekkizhar. This place is also called as Vada Thirunageswaram. Here the
Nagabaranam around the Linga is supposed to be the Rahu for worship.
This
temple is considered as the Rahu Sthalam among 9 Navagraha Temples of Chennai
(or Thondai Mandalam).
The
Navagraha Temples around Chennai are:
Legends
Few
years ago, as the original Shiva Linga idol which was installed by Sekkizhar
got damaged, the villagers replaced the idol with a new idol. On that night,
Lord Shiva appeared in the dream of a devotee and ordered him to reinstall the
original idol. Accordingly, the original idol was reinstalled in the sanctum. The
new Linga named Lord Arunachaleswarar is also revered as the presiding deity.
History
The
famous Tamil scholar and poet Sekkizhar was from this village named Kundrathur.
He lived in the 12th century CE during the period of Kulothunga Chola II. He
was the author of Periya Puranam, which talks about the lives and greatness of
63 Nayanmars in detail. It is said that Sekkizhar had once visited
Tirunageswaram near Kumbakonam and he apparently wanted to get darshan of the
deity every day. Hence, he built a similar temple in his native place and this
is the history behind this temple in Kundrathur. He installed the deity
(Shiva Lingam) with Nagabaranam (snake as an ornament) around the Shiva Lingam
and named the Lord as Sri Nageswarar. This temple is also popularly called as
Vada Thirunageswaram. The temple is maintained by the trustees of Senguntha
Mudaliyar appointed by Sekkizhar Peruman.
The
Temple
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple remains open from 06.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 05.00 PM to 08.30 PM.
Festivals
10-day
Brahmmotsavam is celebrated with Chitra Poornima (Full Moon day) in April- May.
On the eighth day, Lord grants darshan to His devotees when Nalvar the four
poet saints, 1) Gnanasambandhar, 2) Thirunavukkarasar, 3) Sundarar and 4)
Manickavasagar with Sekkizhar go in procession around the Lord. The wedding
festival of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi is celebrated on Chitra Poornima
day. During the festival, Lord comes in procession on snake vahana.
Guru
Puja is celebrated for 10 days in Vaikasi (May-June) with Poosa star day. He is
taken to the car shed (procession deity of Sekkizhar) on the Guru Puja day
morning, when the public take the saint to the temple on behalf of Lord
Himself. Then Sekkizhar enters the sanctum sanctorum to worship Lord Shiva.
Full procession takes during the night till returning to the temple next
morning. Throughout the day, the temple is open.
There is also a separate temple nearby for Sekkizhar
where also a 11-day Guru Puja is celebrated. On the fourth day of the festival,
Sekkizhar visits Tirunageswaram temple. Purattasi Niraimani Katchi in
September-October, Thai Poosa star float festival, Adipooram in July-August and
Masi Magam in February-March are the other festivals celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Those
afflicted with serpent planet adverse aspects and those facing problems due
Ragu planet transition pray for relief. Devotees, realizing their wishes,
perform special abishek and pujas to Lord.
Contact
Nageswarar
Temple,
Vadanageswaram,
Kundrathur,
Chennai
– 600 069
Phone: +91 44 2478 0436
Mobile: +91 93828 89430
Connectivity
For
brief details, please refer below link;