Sri Sanbakaranyeswarar Temple, Thirunageswaram, Kumbakonam - 275 Shiva Temples

29. Sri Sanbakaranyeswarar Temple, Thirunageswaram, Kumbakonam (Chola Nadu - South of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Naageswarar, Sri Naganathar, Sri Shenbagaranyeswarar
Name of Goddess : Sri Girigujaambigai, Sri Kundramaamulaiyammai
Holy water (Theertham) : Surya Theertham
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Shenbagam
Thevaram : Thirunavukarasar ; Sambandar ; Sundarar
District : Thanjavur.
Location : Kumbakonam.
Timings : 06:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and from 04:00 p.m. to 08:30 p.m

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This is the 29th sthalam on the southern side of river Cauvery. Moovar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Temple occupies an area of 630 feet South-North and 800ft East-West with adjacent sub lanes and four major streets around. There are four gateways with Gopuram in the big and high compound walls of the temple. Near to the compound walls there is the broad pathway (Praharam) with a flower garden on Northern side. On entering the Eastern gate way, one can find the Vinayaga temple, Balibeedam, Thirunageswaram Raghu TempleNandeeswarar Mandabam and Thwaja Sthambam (Flag post ). On the southern side there is the water head with four Mandaps on around with a 100 pillar Mandap in a temple -car style. There are artistic features on its eastern wall. On remaining Area there is a big Car Parking available for the devotees.

Important Features:

This temple classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
Sekkilar with mother, brother statues in the thiruppani mandapam.
Aadhiseshan, Thakan, Kaarkodagan, Gowthamar, Nandhi, Nalan, Paraasarar, Bagirathan worshiped this temple Iraivan.
The rajagopuram is of 5 levels.
Ambal is made of sudhai in a separate temple and facing east. Only Punuku is applied during Thai Tamil month.
Since it is a Parikara sthalam, lot of people throng to this temple.
The temple was built by Kandarathitha Chozhan.
All Navagrahas are facing Suryan.

The temple structure begins at the Central Gopuram with a long Praharam (pathway) immediately thereafter. There is continuous Mandap structure and in its South-West Corner there is Sri Raaghu Bagavan Sannathi.

Next to this long prakaram , we see front Mandabam where decoration of the Lord and other functions are held. This mandab was constructed by Govinda Dikshidar who was the Chief Minister to King Achuthappa naikar of Thanjavur in 16thCentury. In the front mandab on the eastern side, beautiful artistic pillar with "older and nine horses" design and similar pillars are found on the southern side (at the place of the raised plat form). There is a beautiful Mandab on the northern side with 'Yalli face' pillars where decoration of the idols taken on procession is made. In its western walls, during the renovation works done in 1929, artistic features have been engraved in a magnificent fashion, with the description of the five Moorthi's adorning the place. In the path way to Sannathi, the art work depicting Veda nayakas ,King Sambumali and penance pose of Ambal attract One's attention. The Dwarapalaga Sudhai work (made of Chunam clay) on each side at the entrance to the Swami Sannathi is charmingly big and so well styled that one loses himself at first sight.

History / Legend:

This temple is considered most sanctified by its presiding deity ( Moorthy ) location ( sthalam ) and sacred water ( theertham ) , and most benevolent because Saiva saints Thirugnana sambanda Swamigal , Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Thiru Sundaramoorthy Swamigal have sung in praise of lord siva here, besides being the most worshipful place of legendary fame Saiva saint Sri Sekkizar swamigal who brought out the sacred Saiva text ' Peria Puranam '. This place is one of the 127 worthy places of divine worship spread over the southern bank of River Cauveri.

Thirunageswaram Raghu TempleAmong the nine worship places, for the nine planets, Thirunageswaram is the place where Raaghu Bagavan is obviously active to bestow his grace. Here Raaghu Bagavan can be seen with his two consorts Nagavalli and Nagakanni together, prayers for fulfillment of desires at this shrine are favorably answered with success. This temple is one where Lord Siva was worshipped by Raaghu Bagavan and got relived of a curse.

Thirunageswaram temple is 6kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam - Karaikal bus route and by train, there is Thirunageswaram Railway Station between Mailaduthurai and Kumbakonam and the temple is 1km.on the south.

Poudiga Purana contains the fact that Lord siva once told his consort Umadevi about Shenbagaraniyam , now called Thirunageswaram and its renown.

At Shenbagaraniyam , under the Shenbagam tree Lord Siva known as Shenbagarane Eswara was gracefully giving bless to devotees. It is here that Nandi (Bull as Lord's mode of conveyance) worshipped the Lord and attained the status as Nandeesan , so too Vinayaga (Lord's first son ) the status of Head of Ganas (Lord's worshipful lot of servants ). Indira (King of Devas ) worshipped Goddess Girigujambal (one adnored with heightened breasts) with Punugu (a rare scent variety) and got relieved of the bad smell emanating from all over his body. Sages Gowthama , Vashista , Parasarar , and Kings Nala , Pandavas and Bageerathan obtained relief after worshipping Sri Naganatha Swami here. Kings of Snakes Aadisesha , Thakshagan and Karkotagan worshipped the Lord here and got blessed It is firmly believed even today that those men and women whose marriages are getting delayed due to various circustances, will soon get married if they come to this Sthalam and worhsip God Shiva. Manmadhan is believed to have worshipped God Shiva at this sthalam. The shrine of Thirumananjeri is closely associated with legends that tell the story of Shiva's marriage to Parvati.

There are twelve sacred water heads in this place, like Suriya Pushkarani , Gowthama Theertham , Parasara Theertham, Indira Theertham , Prugu Theertham, Kannuva Theertham and Vasishta Theertham and among these Suriya Pushkarani is inside the temple compound and held very sacred. Built in " Chola " style, it is in square shape with 'double-bat' roofing and only one on the eastern side is still in form.

Among the nine worship places, for the nine planets, Thirunageswaram is the place where Raaghu Bagavan is obviously active to bestow his grace. Here Raaghu Bagavan can be seen with his two consorts Nagavalli and Nagakanni together, prayers for fulfillment of desires at this shrine are favorably answered with success. This temple is one where Lord Siva was worshipped by Raaghu Bagavan and got relived of a curse. In this temple only we can see the Raaghu Bagavan with human face. All of the places we can see the Raaghu with Serpent Face.

Thirunageswaram is known as Raaghu Bagavan ( Raaghusthalam ) place among the Nine planetary situations. As per Astrological system , by doing Milk abisekam here for Raaghu during Raaghu kalam (period of 1and 1/2 hours occurring every day ) the delay in getting married; childlessness, trouble some married life, ill-effects of Kalasarpa Dhosha (affliction), Kalasthra Dhosha , Sarpa Dhosha are all cured.

The MILK while being over poured over the idol, turns BLUE even today and it is really to be seen, to be believed . People from far and near throng here for performing MILK Abhisekam and the number is ever increasing. It should be given kept already in one's life to be lucky to visit this shrine, says Appar Swamigal ( Navukkarasar ) in one of his rhymes ( Thevaram ) . If people born in stars ' Rohini ' and ' Aayilyam ' perform Abhisekam etc. for Sri Naganatha swami, they can get cured of bodily ailment and he healthy.

Raaghu Bagavan , is founds in 3rd ,6th and 11th houses from Lagna or in 9th or 10th place at the time of birth according to the horoscope there will be good effect. But if Raaghu Bagavan is found in 2nd ,5th , 7th or 8th place from Lagna it indicates Raaghudhosha (ill-effects).

Raaghu Bagavan generally can be said to be the cause for one's good position, status, business, faithfulness, winning over opposition, to be dept-free, to travel over seas, and for mantra power.

Location: This temple is located 5 Kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam - Nannilam road. Town bus services from Kumbakonam are available to go to Tirunageswaram. A Divya Desam shrine of Lord Vishnu is located at Tiruvinnagar (Uppiliyappan Kovil) which is about 2 Kms from Tirunageswaram.