Navagraha Kshetram !! Thirnageswaram Thiru Naganathaswamy Temple !!

 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
 
 
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
 
 
 
Thirunageswaram/ Sembakavana Kshetram/Navagraha Kshetram  is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva located on the river banks of Cauvery in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.  This is one of the prominent temples of Lord Shiva built by the Kings of Chola Dynasty, famous for stunning architectural and craftsmanship.




Presiding deity – Sri Sembakaranyeswarar /Naganathar with his consort Goddess Sri Pirai Anivalnuthal Ammai, Girikuchambikai




Mangalasasanam – Thirunavukkarasar, Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, Sundarar


Saint Arunagirinathar sung praising the glories of Lord Subramanya in this temple.




Sthalavruksham – Sembakam




Theertham – Surya Theertham





Surya Theertham, Gouthama Theertham, Indra Theertham, Kanva Theertham, Brigu Theertham, Parasara Theertham, Vashishta Theertham,




The sthalapurnas describes that there were 12 ponds beautifully encircled this temple in olden days.  Presently, only one pond  Surya Theertham is evident at sight.  Holy dip in this pond provides abundance of devoutness.  King Chandravarman regained his original form after a holy dip in this pond.




Worshipped by –Goddess Sri Parvati along with Goddesses Sri Mahalakshmi & Saraswathi, Lord Indra, Pancha Padavas, Sage Bringi, Sage Gauthama, King Nala, Pandavas, Serpent God, Rahu. Sage Parasara, King Bhageeratha, Lord Kamadeva,
 
Deiva Pulavar Thiru Sekkizhar attained eternal wisdom from Lord Sembakaranyeswarar on this sacred temple and composed glorious scripture ‘Periya Puranam’ comprises the life of 63 Nayanmars.  Sekkizhar was a zealous devotee of Lord Sembakaranyeswarar, he built a temple for Lord Sembakaranyeswarar in his birth place Kundrathur.


The significance of this worship place was that Sage Gauthama reunited with his wife Ahalaya after worshipping Lord Shiva on this sacred land, Pancha Pandava recaptured their lost kingdom and King Nala regained his glories.  Lord Indra was relieved from the curse of Sage Gauthama,




This is one of the famous temples of Rahu known as Rahu Kshetram, one of the nine planets.  Worship of Lord Rahu and sacred bath to the idol with milk eradicates sins, delays in marriages, provides virtuous offsprings, blissful married life and all other ill-effects.



Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, 63 Nayanmars, Lord Nataraja & Goddess Sivakami, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddesses Sri Valli & Deivayanai, Nalvar, Rahu with his consorts Sri Nagavalli & Nagakanni, Deivapulavar Shekkizhar, Palanavayar (brother of Shekkizhar), Azhakambikai (mother of Shekkizhar), Sri Girikuchambikai with Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi & Goddess Sri Saraswathi, Goddess Sri Saraswathy,




Festivals – Maha Shivaratri, Thiru Karthikai, Panguni Uthiram, Masi Makam, Arudra Darisanam, Aippasi Annabhishekam, Pournami, Navaratri, Sekkizhar Thiruvizha, Brahmostavam, Skandha Shashti, Markazhi Utsavam,

 




The legend has that Sage Bringi was a fervent devotee of Lord Shiva.  He worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of a bee and completely ignored the presence of Goddess Sri Parvati.  Goddess Sri Parvati was totally annoyed by this approach of Sage Bringi and decided to teach him a lesson.  She claimed half of Lord’s body and remained as Ardhanareeswara.  Sage Bringi adamantly encircled Lord in his bee form and worshipped Lord at his heart’s content.  It multiplied the rage of Goddess Sri Parvati and in a mounted anger she ripped out Sage Bringi’s muscles and gulped down his blood.  Sage Bringi vehemently continued to worship Lord Shiva with the skeleton remained in his body.    It triggered immense fury in Lord and cursed Goddess Sri Parvati as she was the cause for the painful state of Sage Bringi.    Due to this curse Goddess Sri Parvati was separated momentarily from the Lord, She came down to Earth along with Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi & Goddess Sri Saraswathi  who were came down to console her.  Goddess Sri Parvati carried out severe penance worshipping Lord Shiva, later this divine couple was reunited at Madurai.  Hence, Goddess Sri Parvati can be seen with Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi & Goddess Sri Saraswathi in this temple.






Worship of Lord Shiva with his consort Goddess Sri Parvati during the most promising hours of morning, afternoon and evening in Thirukudanthai Kizhkottam, Thirunageswaram and Thirupampuram provides commendable rewards.




This temple remains open from 6.00AM to 12.00PM in the morning and 4.30PM to 8.30PM in the evenings.




Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

 
 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

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