105. SEERKAZHI

NAGANADHAR TEMPLE

Distance: 21kms from Chidambaram

Shiva: Naganadhar

Amman: Punnagavalli

Theertham: Kazhumala Aaru

Sthala Viruksham: Neem tree

Speciality:

Seerkazhi is also known as Brhmapuram, Venupram, Poondharai, Kochaivayam, Thonipuram and Shreekalipuram. Shreekaali was later transformed to Seerkazhi.

Seerkazhi Nageswaramudaiyar temple is a Rahu Sthalam.

The Raja Gopuram of this temple is 3 tired.

The Mulavar Nagaeswaramudaiyar faces east.

The important feature of this temple is that Lord Saneeswarar is seen with his wife Neeladevi in the Shrine of Rahu. We cannot find this feature in any other temple.

People with Nagadhosha, Kala Sarpa Dhosha, Mangalya Dhosha and any Dhoshas related to Snakes perform pooja to Lord Shiva and Rahu of this temple with offerings and get relieved from their problems.

History:

During the Churning of the Ksheera River when the Amudham was released there arose a dispute between the Devas and the Asuras. Vishnu transformed himself into a beautiful women as Mohini to Shatter the concentration of the Asuras. While all the Asuras were attracted towards Mohini one among them Sobanu somehow understood the Situation. He came to Devas side in disguise. He was the son of Viprachith and Hirananyan's sister Simhi. The Suryan and the Chandran noticed this and they signalled to Mahavishnu. Mahavishnu hit the Asura such as the body split into two. The head fell at Seerkazhi which was called as Sirapuram meaning land of Head and the tail at Sembankudi (Sempambinankudi). In Seerkazhi the head is in the form of a lion headed demon and the body of a snake and was called Raahu. In Sembangudi it appeared with the head of a snake and red coloured demon body. The body could not be killed as the Asura had consumed the nectar in the form of Deva and therefore spliced in the form of Serpents.

Rahu performed penance for a long time by consuming only air as food. After many years Shiva appeared before him. Since Surya and Chandra secretly informed about him to Vishnu Rahu he was angry with them. He wanted to have control over the Sun and the Moon and therefore the whole world. Lord Shiva told him that he could not do so as he was the controller of the sun and the moon and the whole universe and if their positions were troubled it would cause immense damage to the whole universal system. But as Rahu wished he could control them for few hours by keeping them in his custody and that situation is now called as Eclipse. When the Sun is under his control it is called Solar eclipse and when moon is under his control it is called Lunar eclipse. Rahu again performed penance to Shiva and gained the place among the 7 planets that is a place in the Navagraha Mandala.

A garden was created by Lord Indhira and due to severe drought it became dry (lack of water). So Vinayaka took the form of a crow. Agasthya was performing penance with his Kamandalam beside him. The crow (Vinayaka) push the Kamandalam down such that the water flowed as Kazhumala Nadhi. Agasthya got angry and chased the crow. But later found that it was Vinayak who placed the game. We can still see the water flowing in the North of the temple which is the Theertham of the temple.