Nageswaram
Udayar Temple, Sirkazhi – The Temple
This is an east
facing Temple with a 3-tiered Rajagopuram. There are shrines for Vinayaga
and Murugan at the entrance of Rajagopuram. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of
Ardhamandapam, Mahamandapam and sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Naganathar
/ Nageswarar / Nageswaram Udayar and is facing east. He is housed in the
sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Mother is called as Punnagavalli
Amman. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. There are separate
shrines for Planets Ragu and Ketu in the
Temple premises. Both the shrines are facing west. Sani Bhagawan with his
consort shares his place in the shrine of Ragu as his close friend. This
is a very rare set up not to be seen in any Shiva Temple.
Lord Dakshinamurthy Shrine can
be found in the Koshta in the southern side of the sanctum. Shrines of Suryan, Vinayaga
and Bhairava can be found in the northeast side of the Temple premises. Shrine
of Chandikeswarar can be found in the north west side of the
temple.
Shrine of Manikka Vinayaga can
be found in the south west side of the
temple. Shrine of Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai can
be found in the western side the temple. Shrines of Valli and Vinayaga,
who graced Goddess Valli can be found in the southeast side of the Temple
premises.
There is also a shrine for
Abhimukeswarar in the Temple premises. There are no Navagraha and Durga Shrines
as per Agama Shastra. Neem Tree (Veppa Maram in Tamil) is the Sthala Vriksham.
Naga idols can be found under the Neem tree. Also, Naga idols can be found
under Arasa Tree. Kazhumala River is the Theertham of this
Temple.