Specialized for Nagadosham-Nageshwaran temple

                                                            

Nageshwaran Temple

Location: Kumbakonam, 2kms from Kumbakonam Bus stand (Kumbakonam to Thanjavur road) 36 kms from Thanjavur

Sthalas Name:
Arulmigu Sri Nageswaran Temple

DEITY:

God: Naganathar

Goddess: Periyanayaki

Theertham : Nagatheertham, Singa Theeertham

Speciality of The Sthala:
One of the most ancient temples in Kumbakonam, the small Nageswara Swami - Shiva temple, one of the finest early Chola temples, is noted for the quality of its sculpture, thought to have been completed a few years into the reign of Parantaka I (907 - 940). Adisesha and Surya had worshipped Sri Nageswara here. When Adisesha was groaning under the weight of the world, he came to Kuvinvanam, the present Nageswara temple and did penance. Siva and Parvati appeared before Adisesha and blessed him with enough strength. A well in the temple is called Naga Theertham.

The Bilva leaves that were used for worshipping the nectar Kalasa fell on a spot and became a Linga. That came to be known as Vilvanesar. How this Vilvanesar came to be called Nageswar is an interesting story.

Nageswaran Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Shiva in the guise of Nagaraja, the serpent king and is located in the centre of Kumbakonam.

Aditya Chola constructed this temple during the 12th century. It is great marvel of Chola architecture, building technology and astronomy. The orientation is structured in such a way that it allows sunlight inside the temple, right on the sanctum only during the Tamil month of Chithirai (April/May). It bears another name called Surya Kottam or Keezha Kottam. The Karuvarai(Sanctum Sanctorum) of Nageswaran temple is similar to Sarangapani Temple, as it is made in the form of a Chariot. The temple consists of three gopurams in the eastern, western and southern directions. There is a local belief that the worship during morning, afternoon and evening needs to be performed at the three Nageswaran temples namely Nageswaran Temple, Tirunageswaram and Thirupampuram respectively.

Architecture

The temple shows early Chola art in its best form particularly in the form of human figures. The sanctum is of padabandha-padmaka type stands on padmopana. The lotus leaves of the padmopano are carved with vitality. In its iconographic scheme the Ardhanari, Brahma and Dakshinamoorthy in the niches of the outer wall are featured. The other sculptures on the walls almost life-size reflect either the donors to the temples or contemporary princesses and princes. The epic scenes are in low relief on the plinth below the pilasters of the walls of the sanctum, recalling the wood work.

The Devi shrine is an independent structure situated in the outer prakaram(outer precincts of a temple), detached from the axial unit, though it faces south, a feature common to Saiva Devin shrines. The complex of Nataraja shrine is in the form of a chariot on wheel drawn by horses as in the case of Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram and Sarangapani Temple in Kumbakonam.

Gangai Vinayagar

During Rajendra Chola's Ganges expedition, the victorious chola army brought a beautiful Vinayagar statue as a war trophy to the chola empire. The Vinayagar statue was kept at this temple and was aptly named as Gangai Vinayagar. Currently, the Vinayagar is present in theardha mandapam, in front of the sanctum of Nageswarar. The Vinayagar seems to be in the Pala style.

Gallery