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NAGANATHAR TEMPLE - RAHU ( NORTH LUNAR NODE) - TIRUNAGESHWARAM

 Tirunageswaram Naganathar Temple – Rahu (North Lunar Node – Shadow planet)



Tirunageswaram Naganathar Temple also known as Rahu Sthalam is a temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Tirunageswaram, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam. It is one of the temples associated with, the Navagraha Sthalas, and specifically Rahu. Shiva is worshiped as Naganathar, and is represented by the Lingam. His consort Parvathi is depicted as Piraisoodi Amman. There is also a shrine for Rahu and Girigujambal in the form of Swayambhu. The milk turns from white to blue during the abhishekam to the lord in this temple.
It houses four Gopurams. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Naganathar, Rahu and Piraisoodi Amman being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the ornamental entrance hall built during the Nayak’s of Tanjore.
Many serpents, including Adisesha, Takshaka and Karkotaka, worshipped Shiva at this place, leading to the name "Tirunageswaram". As per Hindu legend, the king of snakes, Adisesha did penance at this place.Shiva was pleased by the penance and appeared to him. Since Shiva gave a boon to the king of Serpents, he is called Naganathar.
The Goddess Girigujambal is believed to be worshipping Shiva here with goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswathi. The Goddess is said to be Swayambu as she is present in the form of Meru. Hence, no abhishekam (ablution) is performed for the image.
The temple is another masterpiece which exhibits the Chola style of architecture. It is believed to have been built by Aditya Chola I in the 10th century A.D. The Chola King Kandaraathithya (950AD-957AD) changed it into a granite edifice. Later rulers have modified the temple with their own additions. The temple campus encompasses exclusive shrines for Naganatha Swamy (Shiva), Pirayani Amman (Parvathi), Giri-Gujambigai (Parvathi) and Rahu with his divine spouses. Goddess Girigujambal has a separate shrine inside the temple campus as it is believed that the goddess is in thava kolam (mode of deep penance).
There is a Ganapathy shrine near the eastern gate, which is said to have been installed along with a Ganapathy Yantra.
The temple tank(Sula Theertham) is located in the southern side and has a hundred pillared hall. The path leading to the main shrine of Rahu in the second precinct has a hall decorated with Nayak style pillars with Yalis( a combination of Lion,Elephant,Horse,griffin also with bird feature). In the path way to main shrine, there are art works depicting Veda nayakas, King Sambumali and penance pose of Ambal. The Dwarapalaka images on each side at the entrance of Naganathar shrine are made of Chunam Lime clay.
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