Naganathar
Temple, Semmangudi, Nagapattinam
Naganathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located in Semmangudi Village in Sirkazhi Taluk in Nagapattinam District
of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Naganathar /
Rudra Kodeeswarar / Kedheeswarar and Mother is called as Thirupurasundari /
Karpooravalli. The
Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention
about this Temple. The Temple is considered as
Kedhu Parihara Sthalam and Naga Dosha Parihara Sthalam. The Temple is also
called as Adhi Kethu Sthalam.
Legends
Birth of Kedhu:
During the churning of the milky ocean, when Amrutha, the
heavenly nectar of immortality, was released. Fierce fighting ensued between
the Devas and the Asuras for it. To protect it from the Asuras, Garuda took the pot and flew away
from the battlefield. The Devas appealed to Vishnu, who took the form of Mohini and, as a beautiful and
enchanting damsel, distracted the Asuras; then, she took the amrita and
distributed it among the Devas, who drank it. An Asura named Rahuketu
disguised himself as a deva and drank some nectar.
Due to their luminous nature, the Sun god Surya and the moon god Chandra noticed this disguise.
They informed Mohini who,
before the nectar could pass the Asura's throat, cut off his head with her
discus, the Sudarsana Chakra. The head fell at Sirkazhi (Sirapuram)
meaning land of Head and the tail at Sembankudi (Sempambinkudi). In Sirkazhi,
the head is in the form of a lion headed demon and the body of a snake and was
called Raahu. In Semmangudi, it appeared with the head of a snake and red
coloured demon body and was called Rahu.
From that day, his head was called Rahu and his body Ketu, which both later became
planets. The story ends with the rejuvenated Devas defeating the Asuras and
that's why the eclipse mode of moon means Raahu swallows moon as his revenge
but Raahu has only head not body, so the god moon Chandra comes out from throat
of Raahu and we can see moon again in sky. this is the vedic theory of moon
eclipse.
Kedheeswarar:
It is believed that Kedhu worshipped Lord Shiva of
this Temple. Hence, he came to be called as Kedheeswarar and the place was
called as Kedhupuram.
People worshipped Lord Shiva
here:
It is believed that Lord Vishnu, Emperor Nalan and
Kethu worshipped Lord Shiva of this Temple.
The Temple
This is an east facing Temple with an entrance arch.
Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum in the outer prakaram. Presiding
Deity is called as Naganathar / Rudra Kodeeswarar / Kedheeswarar and is facing
east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Dakshinamoorthy,
Lingodbhava and Durga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum walls. Mother
is called as Thirupurasundari / Karpooravalli. She is housed in a separate east
facing shrine.
There is a separate shrine for Kedhu in the Temple
premises. He is called as Aadhi Yoga Kedhu. Yama Kandam is normally referred to
as an inauspicious time. But here during Yama Kanda a special pooja is
performed here for this deity. There are shrines of Vinayaga, Lord Murugan
with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Vishnu, Kadan Nivarthi Lingam,
Thirugnana Sambandar, Saptha Mathas, Hanuman and Vishnu Durga in the Temple
premises.
Literary Mention
The
Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had
a mention about this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6th Thirumurai
in 71st Patikam in 3rd Song.
நற்கொடிமேல் விடையுயர்த்த நம்பன் செம்பங்
குடிநல்லக் குடிநளிநாட் டியத்தான் குடி
கற்குடிதென் களக்குடிசெங் காட்டங் குடி
கருந்திட்டைக் குடிகடையக் குடிகா ணுங்கால்
விற்குடிவேள் விக்குடிநல் வேட்டக் குடி
வேதிகுடி மாணிகுடி விடைவாய்க் குடி
புற்குடி மாகுடி தேவன்குடி நீலக்குடி
புதுக்குடியும் போற்றவிடர் போகு மன்றே
Prayers
The Temple is considered as
Kedhu Parihara Sthalam and Naga Dosha Parihara Sthalam. People afflicted with
Kedhu and Naga Dosham pray to Lord Shiva and Kedhu Bhagavan here. Milk
Abhishekam, Archana with Red lilies and offering of Tamarind Rice Prasad to
Lord Shiva is specially done on auspicious days to get relief from Naga Dhosha.
People also perform this Yama Kanda pooja and get relieved from all hurdles
which hinder their life and live with health wealth and prosperity. Worshipping
both Sirkazhi Naganathar Temple and Semmangudi Naganathar temple relieves one
from any Doshas and gives them a peaceful life.
Contact
Naganathar Temple,
Semmangudi, Sirkazhi Taluk,
Nagapattinam District – 609 111
Phone: +91 4364 291
582
Mobile: +91 98658 50552
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 4
Kms from Sirkazhi, 4 Kms from Sirkazhi Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Sirkazhi Railway
Station, 10 Kms from Vaitheeswarankovil, 11 Kms from Thirumullaivasal, 14 Kms
from Nangur, 25 Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 27 Kms from Chidambaram, 68 Kms from Nagapattinam
and 153 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is situated on Sirkazhi to Thirumullaivasal
Route.
Location
