Nageswarar Temple, Kundrathur – The Temple

Nageswarar Temple, Kundrathur – The Temple

The east facing temple has a five-tiered Rajagopuram with two prakarams. This temple is also called Vada Thirunageshwaram. This temple is also considered as one of the Navakailasams in Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Nageswarar. The sanctum is east facing and enshrines the big Swayambu Shiva Linga. The Naagar around the deity is considered the ‘Rahu’ for worship.

Pariharams (remedial worship) for Rahu are done here, especially during Rahu Kethu Peyarchi and also during Rahu Kaalam (4.30 pm to 06.00 pm) on Sundays. Lord Shiva-Nageswarar represents the attributes of planet Raghu. Milk abishekam is performed to Lord at 6-30-10.00 a.m and at 5.00 p.m. Those afflicted by this Dosha, participate in this ritual, also perform abishek during Raghu Kala time, offer Ulundu dal and rice prepared with Ulundu dal.

The preparation is available in the temple itself. For relief from the adverse aspect of the planet, the temple is considered the best religious destination. A Utsava idol of Kamakshi is also found in the same sanctum. The entrance has big Dwarapalas and a small Ganesha idol. The flag staff, Nandi mandapam and bali peetha are found facing towards the sanctum.

A small Ganesha idol is situated near the flag staff. Ganesha, Dakshina Murti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are found as the niche idols. Chandikeswarar is found in his usual location. The sanctum is with Artha and maha mandapam. Mother is called as Kamakshi. There is a separate south facing shrine enshrining Kamakshi with her Lion Vahana in the Arthamandapam. Rose water abishek is performed to Mother on Thai Fridays in January-February.

Sekkizhar graces from a separate shrine in standing form in prakara facing west worshipping the Lord with Chinmudra and holding palm leaves in hand. Special abishek is performed to the poet saint on all Poosa star days. There is a separate Navagraha sannidhi in the outer praharam. The temple also houses Kasi Viswanathar, Arunachaleswarar in the inner praharam and in the outer praharam there is a temple for Lord Saneeswaran.

The Vinayaka is Lord Anugai Vinayaka. Lord Satyanarayana in form of a serpent, Nagendrar and Lord Naga Nadheswarar grace from their shrines in the Prakara. There is Shiva Linga in the middle of these three serpents. There are also shrines for Mothers Lakshmi and Saraswathi, Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai and Lord Karpaga Vinayaka. Surya Pushkarani is very large and beautiful which is seen outside the temple on the south-eastern side.

There are Shrines of Utsava Idol of Sekkizhar, Somaskanda, various Utsava idols, Natarajar-Shivakami, of Surya, Sundarar in sitting posture with Paravai Nachiyar, Nalvar, Kalinga Nardana Krishna, Somaskanda, Bhairava and Veera Bhagu in the Temple premises.  Sthala Viruksham (holy tree) for this temple is ‘Shenbaga Maram’ and Theertham is ‘Surya Pushkarani’.

There are about 45 Inscriptions around the sanctum wall. As per the inscriptions the temple was built during Kulothunga Chozhan Period i.e 1070 CE. The inscriptions also speak about donations made for Burning lamp, Food Offerings, Three kala Pooja. Most of the inscriptions belongs to Kulothunga Chola I, Veera Rajendra Chola, Rajaraja Chola III, Veerakanda Gopalan, Koperum Singan, Sundara Pandiyan, Kulasekara Deva Pandiyan, Ekambaranatha Sambuvarayar Kambannan and Hariharan.