Rozella5628: put up some location added tags

2025-04-19T16:11:38Z

put up some location added tags

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{{Short description|Navagraha temple in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Naganatha Swamy Temple
| image = Kethu sthal.JPG

| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11.1351|N|79.8353|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Mayiladuthurai]]
| location = [[Keelaperumpallam]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Naganatha Swamy([[Shiva]])
Sowndara Nayagi([[Parvathi]])

| facade_direction =
| temple_tank = Naga [[Theertham]]
| tower =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website = http://kethutemple.org/
}}

The '''Naganatha Swamy Temple''' or '''Kethu Sthalam''' is a [[Hindu]] temple in the village of [[Keelaperumpallam]], 2 kilometres from [[Poompuhar]]. The presiding deity is [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]], a shadow planet. However, the main idol in the temple is that of Naganatha Swamy or [[Shiva]]. The temple has a flat raja[[gopuram]] surrounded by two ''[[prakaram]]'' (closed precincts of a temple).<ref>{{cite web|title=Kethu stalam|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=212|access-date=18 July 2021|publisher=Dinamalar}}</ref>

The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. Mahasivarathri, Margazhi Thiruvadirai, Panguni Uthiram and Thirukartigai are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. The village finds cursory mention in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[Nayanars]] and classified as ''[[Vaippu Sthalam]]''.

The original complex is believed to have been built by [[Cholas]], while the present masonry structure was built during the [[Thanjavur Nayak|Nayak]] during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]. The temple is one of the nine Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu and is a part of the popular Navagraha pilgrimage in the state - it houses the image of Ketu.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jothirlingam: The Indian Temple Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CE55CgAAQBAJ&q=thiruvenkadu|page=92|publisher=Partridge Publishing|author=Suriya|year=2015|isbn=9781482847864}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Navagraha temples|url=http://www.thanjavur.tn.nic.in/navagrahas_m.html|publisher=Thanjavur District Administration|access-date=2013-07-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112023302/http://www.thanjavur.tn.nic.in/navagrahas_m.html|archive-date=2013-11-12}}</ref>

==Legend==
[[File:Samudramanthana - the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.jpg|250px|thumb|left|The churning of Ocean of milk]]
As per [[Hindu]] legend, to obtain [[Amrita]] – the nectar of immortal life, the Ocean of Milk was churned. At the suggestion of [[Vishnu]], the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] and [[asura]]s churn the primeval ocean in order to obtain [[Amrita]] which will guarantee them immortality. To churn the ocean they used the Serpent, [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]], for their churning-string. For a churning pole they used [[Mount Mandara]] placed on the back of a Great Tortoise – the [[Kurma|Kurma Avatar]] of Vishnu. As the gods and demons churned the sea, the terrible poison [[Halahala]] issued from its depths and began to envelop the universe with its choking fumes. The devas went to [[Shiva]] for rescue who drank the poison the neutralize it. Vasuki was very upset that her mistake resulted in the issue. She prayed to Shiva to propitiate her sins. Shiva was pleased with her devotion and appeared as Naganathar in this place.<ref name=dinamalar/>

==Architecture==
The temple is located in [[Keelaperumpallam]], a village located {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Poompuhar]] and {{convert|93|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Thanjavur]] on the Thanjavur - Poompuhar road.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Top Ten Temple Towns of India|publisher=Mark Age Publication|first=S.C.|last=Karkar|location=Kolkota|isbn=978-81-87952-12-1|year=2009|page=80}}</ref> The temple has a recently built flat raja[[gopuram]] surrounded by single ''[[prakaram]]'', closed precincts of the temple. The place is revered by the verses of [[Appar]], but since there is no mention about the deity, it is not classified as [[Padal petra stalam]]. The image of Ketu is located in the first precinct and houses the image made of black granite.<ref name=A/> The shrine faces West and shown worshipping the presiding deity. The image of Vinayaka in the temple is called Anugraha Vinayaka.<ref name=dinamalar/> The gopuram and the central shrine faces East, while the other entrance faces South towards the shrine of Ambal. There are other shrines for Ambal, Subramanya, Gajalakshmi and Bhairavar. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=HRCE>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|page=17|access-date=4 September 2021|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009010850/https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Religious importance==
The temple is one of the nine Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu and is a part of the popular Navagraha pilgrimage in the state - it houses the image of Ketu.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jothirlingam: The Indian Temple Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CE55CgAAQBAJ&q=thiruvenkadu|page=92|publisher=Partridge Publishing|author=Suriya|year=2015|isbn=9781482847864}}</ref> The planets are believed to influence the horoscope computed based on time of one's birth and subsequently influence the course of life. Each of the planets are believed to move from a star to another during a predefined period and thus sway over an individual's fortunes. The Navagrahas, as per Hindu customs, are believed to provide both good and bad effects for any individual and the bad effects are mitigated by prayers. As in other Navagraha temples, the common worship practises of the devotees include offering of cloth, grains, flowers and jewels specific to the planet deity. Lighting a set of lamps is also commonly followed in the temple.<ref name=A>{{cite book|title=Temples of South India|last=Anantharaman|first=Ambjuam|publisher=East West|edition=second|year=2006|isbn=978-81-88661-42-8|pages=43–47}}</ref> As per contemporary Saivite belief, the energies distributed cyclically by Navagrahas can be channeled based on remedial measures. As per local legends, Shiva, the overlord of the nine planetary deities, allowed them to freely grant wishes based on devotion of the devotees.<ref>{{cite book|title=Astrology in Time and Place|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|year=2015|isbn=978-1-4438-8381-8|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wtX6DAAAQBAJ&q=navagraha+temples+in+tamilnadu+map&pg=PA70|chapter=Astrology and its ritual applications|last=Friscia|first=Mario|editor1-last=Campion|editor1-first=Nicholas |editor2-last=Greenbaum|editor2-first=Dorian Gieseler |page=70}}</ref>

==Worship and festivals==
The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Shaivism|Shaivaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 8:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''abhisheka'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Naganathaswamy. The worship is held amidst music with ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the [[Vedas]] read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'', fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'' and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''. Mahasivarathri, Margazhi Thiruvadirai, Panguni Uthiram and Vasuki Utsavam during ''Panguni'' are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. The temple is famous for the conduct of ''[[Anna Prasanam|Annaprasanam]]'' ritual, first feeding of rice to infant children.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Naganathaswamy temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/new.php?id=212|publisher=Dinamalar|year=2011|access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref> [[Rahu]] and [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]] transition is celebrated every 2.5 years in the temple during planetary transition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thousands worship at temples on transition of Rahu & Ketu|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/thousands-worship-at-temples-on-transition-of-rahu-ketu-116010800478_1.html|publisher=Business Standard|date=8 January 2016|accessdate=4 September 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|20em}}

==External links==
{{Navagraha}}
{{Mayiladuthurai Topics}}

[[Category:Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Mayiladuthurai district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Mayiladuthurai district]]
[[Category:Mayiladuthurai district]]

Nagannathaswamy Temple, Keelaperumpallam - Revision history

Rozella5628: put up some location added tags