This is the 199th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 82nd Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. This, place Nagapattinam, was called as Nagai Karonam during 6th to 7th Century. This is one of the 44 moovar paadal petra Shiva Temples. This is one of the Saptha Vidanga ( Shiva Linga was not made using chisel ) sthalam, and the others are 1. Thiruvarur, 2. Thirunallar, 3. Thirumaraikadu, Thirukarayil 5. Thiruvaimur and 6. Thirukolili ( Thirukkuvalai ). This is also an avathara and Mukthi sthalam of Athipatha Nayanar.
In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruchathamangai and stayed in this temple for some time. In Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal puranam Sekkizhar records that, he came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukolili ( Thirukkuvalai ) and he has sung 4 hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
மற்று அவர்தம் பெரும்கேண்மை மகிழ்ந்து கொண்டு மால் அயனுக்கு அரியபிரான் மருவுதானம் பற்பலவும் சென்று பணிந்து ஏத்தி பாடிப் பரமர் திருத்தொண்டர்குழாம் பாங்கின் எய்தக்கற்றவர் வாழ்கடல் நாகைக் காரோணத்துக் கண்ணுதலைக் கைதொழுது கலந்து ஓசைச்சொல் தமிழ்மாலைகள் பாடிச் சிலநாள் வைகித் தொழுது அகன்றார் தோணிபுரத் தோன்றலார்தாம்...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்சோலை மறைக் காட்டமர்ந்தருளும் சோதி அருள்பெற்று அகன்றுபோய்வேலை விடம் உண்டவர் வீழி மிழலை மீண்டுஞ் செல்வன் எனஞாலம் நிகழ்ந்த நாகைக்கா ரோணம் பிறவுந்தாம் பணிந்துசாலுமொழி வண்டமிழ் பாடித் தலைவர் மிழலை வந்தடைந்தார்......திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம் Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Sundarar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Sri Muthusamy Dheekshithar has also composed songs on Ambal of this temple
புனையும் விரிகொன்றைக் கடவுள் புனல்பாயநனையும் சடைமேலோர் நகுவெண் தலைசூடிவினையில் லடியார்கள் விதியால் வழிபட்டுக்கனையும் கடல்நாகைக் காரோ ணத்தானே....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்மனைவிதாய் தந்தைமக்கள் மற்றுள சுற்றமென்னும் வினையுளே விழுந்தழுந்தி வேதனைக் கிடமாகேதேகனையுமா கடல்சூழ்நாகை மன்னுகாரோணத்தானைநினையுமா வல்லீராகில் உய்யலா நெஞ்சினீரே....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புத்தூர்புக்(கு) இரந்துண்டு பலபதிகம் பாடிப் பரவையாரைக் கிறிபேசிப் படிறாடித் திரிவீர்செத்தார்எம் எலும்பணிந்து சேவேறித் திரிவீர் செல்வத்தை மறைத்துவைத்தீர் எனக்கொருநாள் இரங்கீர்முத்தாரம் இலங்கிமிளிர் மணிவயிரக் கோவை அவைபூணத் தந்தருளி மெய்க்கினதா நாறும்கத்தூரி கமழ்சாந்து பணித்தருள வேண்டும் கடல்நாகைக் காரோணம் மேவியிருந் தீரே........சுந்தரர் -“தூத்தகைய பாகைக்காரென்னும் பாணிமொழியார் வாழ்த்தோவாநாகைக் காரோண நயந்தோனே”........ திருஅருட்பாதடிகடற் புகுதல் போலச் சைவமாம் கடலிற் புக்கு முடிவலை வீசல் போல முதிர்பத்தி வலையை வீசிநெடியமீன் கவர்தல் போல நிராமய உமையோர் பாகத்(து)அடிகளாம் மீன்க வர்ந்த அதிபத்தர்க் கன்பு செய்வாம்...... தலபுராணம்Moolavar : Sri Kayarokaneswarar, Sri AathipuranarConsort : Sri Neelayadhakshi
Some of the salient features of this temple are….The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. Nagaparana Pillayar is after the entrance. A stucco Rishabam is also after the entrance. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and rishabam are after the 5 tier Rajagopuram under the Rajathani mandapam. Moolavar is of swayambhu little big and back of Lord Shiva and Ambal are in thirumana kolam / Kalyana kolam. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai, Arthanareeswarar and Pichadanar.
In prakaram Athipatha Nayanar, Vallabha Ganapati, Agora Veerabhadra, Athma lingam, Pillayar, Palani Andavar and Idumban. In Rajathani mandapam Vinayagar, Arumugar with Valli & Devasena, Kasi Viswanathar and Bhairavar. On the right side is the Ambal Neelayathakshi ( Karunthadanganni ). Ambal is in standing posture.
In the inner prakaram Suriyan, 63var, Mavadi Pillayar, Vennaipiran, Arunachaleswar, Bhairavar, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas and Shanieswaran. In Navagrahas group, all are facing Moolavar in three rows. In Utsava murthis, Pichadanar, Natarajar with Sivagami and Kaatchi Nayagar.
Thiyagarajar sannathi is next to moolavar sannadhi. Sundara Vidangar and Nadanam is Baravaaratharangka nadanam. Sundarar and Paravai nachiyar is opposite to this sannathi.
In the outer prakaram Vinayagar, Arumugar with Valli and Devasena, Kasi Viswanathar, Bhairavar, Anukoola Anjaneyar, Bhadrakali Amman, Agora Veerabhadra, Athipatha Nayanar and Azhuhini Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi.
The 15th Century saint Arunagirinathar and Sri Chidambaram Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.
வாரிபொட்டெ ழக்ரவுஞ்சம் வீழநெட்ட யிற்றுரந்த வாகை பொற்பு யப்ரசண்ட மயில்வீராஞாலவட்ட முற்றவுண்டு நாகமெத்தை யிற்றுயின்ற நாரணற்க ருட்சுரந்த மருகோனேநாலுதிக்கும் வெற்றிகொண்ட சூரபத்ம னைக்களைந்த நாகபட்டினத்தமர்ந்த பெருமாளே..... திருப்புகழ்க்ஷேத்திரக் கோவை பிள்ளத்தமிழ் பூமண்ட லத்திலுள தெய்வங்கள் வேதங்கள் புகழ்கொண்ட தேவர்முனிவர்காணவரு சிவராச தானியெனும் நாகைவரு கந்தசுவா மிவருகவேகைகண்ட அடியார்பணி மெய்கண்ட வேலவன் கருணையங் கடல்வருகவே.........ஸ்ரீ சிதம்பரமுனிவர்The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, Antarala and artha mandapam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSA city developed near to the sea shore is called as Pattinam, hence Nagai is being called as Nagapattinam. The Nagapattinam was one of the Port during Chozha’s Period. The King Rajaraja had built a Buddhist Vihar "Chudamani Vihar” in tiers in which Buddha statues were installed in three postures. The Buddhism was practiced in those days and there were lot of conflicts with Jainism. The Pallava King Parameswara Varman gave a solution that who ever wins can stay here in a competition. Buddhist lost and they moved to Sri Lanka during 10th Century. It was learnt that some of Buddhist were also converted to Muslims on sea coastal areas.
The present Nagapattinam was called as Nagai karonam during Thevara Moovar Period. Moovar has sung hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple. Especially Sundarar asked Clothes made of Silk, jewellery studded with precious stones like Diamond, Emerald & pearl, Javadhu and Santhu from Lord Shiva of this temple. Ambal Neelayathakshi temple is a latter addition may be during 16th to 17th Century Vijayanagara Period..
Sadaiyavarman Sundara Pandya’s 15th reign year inscription records the celebration of Utsavar procession to theerthavari on the King’s birth star Thirumoola nakshathra day and to meet the expenses for the worship, a land measuring 14.5 ( Veli...?) at Sannamangala was gifted to the temple. This place was mentioned as Nagapattinam alias Chozha kulavallipattinam.
Rajendra Chozha-I’s 4th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi, records the endowment of feeding 5 Brahmanas daily for which 180 Kasu was gifted by A Merchant called Thamanthaiyan of Kurakeni Kollam ( May be in present Kerala state ).
Rajendra Chozha-I’s period inscription records the endowment of land ( irandee ezhu maa ) gifted to this temple for Naivedyam and burning of lamps for the 6 days function of Masi maham. The boundary land owners names are also given, in which a dancer’s name as Sembiyan Mahadevi Thalaikoli.
Natarajar idol was established during Rajathirajan-I, by Chozhapallavatharaiyan. Most of the inscriptions records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, sale of land, donations in terms of lands, money, Gold etc to this temple.
A 19th Century inscription records the endowment of some portions ( Palakai vari, Pothigai ) of Gopuram by Pachaiyappa Chettiar’s son Muthu Thandayutham and Amarapathi Arunachalam,
Rajendra Chozha-I’s 7th reign year inscription records the establishment of Arthanareeswarar, for Naivedyam and feeding 2 Brahmanas, gold 87.75 kalanju China kanakam / Gold, 60.75 Kalanju undikai pon gifted to the temple, by Sri Kuruthan Kesavan alias Akkaralegai ( head accountant ).
Veerarajendran ( Kulothunga-III..? ) 4th reign year inscription records that Mankondan Thevandan had received 255 kalanju pon as loan. Since it was not paid even after heavy follow up, he was ordered to repay 510 Kajanu gold, doubling the actual amount borrowed. He had sold a land for 479400 kasus and repid the same. The same person sold 10 veli land for 40000 kasu to this temple, which he received as his share after the demise of his brother Mankondan Nayanar, who owned 700 veli land.
Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 14th reign year inscription records that Maruthamangalamudayan malaimel Marutha naarathavanavan, Vizhaupparaiyan gave a gift of gold and silver jewellery to Moolavar and Veethividangar which includes Man, Mazhu and Ganga Devi.
A1777 CE Inscription on the Kailasanathar Temple wall records that death of Dutch person. A 12th CE inscription was found on a bronze image. On a small temple, an Inscription records that the temple was built by Governor Reiwan Vilisingam. An Silver plate contains the inscriptions in telugu script, records that, Nagapattinam was give to Dutch by the Thanjavur King Vijayaraghavan. Another silver plate translated to Tamil version of the above is inscribed and that was confirmed by Marata Kori in 1676 CE. In 1774 CE Dutch church was built. A drum also contains some inscriptions.
Even though Athipatha Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars, belongs to this place and there is sannathi for him, non of the inscriptions speaks about worship and donations made to this temple. But the inscription at Thirukolili another Paadal Petra sthalam, records the celebrations and donations made to Athipatha Nayanar. To our surprise, there is no sannathi for him at that temple.
LEGENDSLord Shiva gave his marriage darshan to Agasthiyar. Thiagarajar is a Sundara vidangar. Nadanam is called Baaravaratha Ranga nadanam. Arumugar is very beautiful with 12 hands. This is one of the Saptha vidanga sthalam. This is the Athipatha Nayanar’s avathara and Mukthi sthalam. Nagapattinam was called as Adhipuranam, Parpatheecharam and Arava Nagaram, during ancient times. This place is called a Nagapattinam and the temple as Karonam.
It is believed that there are different cults existed in worshiping Lord Shiva like Maakalam, Kapalikam, Lakuleesam, etc,. This Lakuleesam was practiced popularly in North India and Lakuleesar Statues are found in many parts of North India. The basic principle of this cult is to attain Lord Shiva’s feet with mortal body ( Kayam = காயம், உடம்பு human body ). It was believed that Pundarika Maharishi who practiced this Lakuleesa Pasupatham worshiped Lord Shiva of Kasi, Kanchipuram and Kumbakonam, where the Kayarokanam or Karonam temples are still exists. Hence this temple Shiva is called as Sri Kayarokaneeswarar.
The Maharishi further asked Lord Shiva, to bless moksha to his descendants too. It was learned that who ever dies from the maharishi’s family, will be brought to the temple’s main gate. Lord Shiva’s clothes and garland will adorn the body.
Ambal Neelaladhakshi is believed to be with blue eyes and a pubescent child. This temple is considered as one of the sakthi Peedams, also considered as one of the 5 most important goddesses, which signifies the 5 stages of human life. Visalskshi as a Girl child at Kasi, Kamakshi as an young girl at Kanchipuram, Neelayadhakshi as a pubescent Child at Nagapattinam, Kamalambigai as an young woman at Thiruvarur and Meenakshi as a married woman at Madurai.
This legend is associated with Athipatha Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmar. This is the birth place of Athipatha Nayanar, who belongs to fishermen’s community. He used to let the first fish caught, back in to the sea. Lord Shiva wants to test his bakthi and made a golden fish to be caught. Though the Nayanar has to survive with that day’s fish catch, he let the golden fish back in to the sea. Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. This incident is being celebrated as a festival every year and fishermen’s community used to participate from Various parts of the Tamil Nadu.
This legend is related to Azhukuni Siddhar, one of the disciple of Gorakka siddhar. As a Child he adamantly cried to Neelayadhakshi Amman to give salvation / mukthi. He stayed in the temple, cried and demanded mukthi to Ambal. Ambal requested Lord Shiva to grant him the mukthi. Finally he was granted to mukthi and his jeeva Samadhi is in the prakara. Special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam days and every purnami ( full moon days ).
This legend is similar to Madurai Meenakshi. The king of serpent worshiped Lord Shiva for a child boon. A girl child was born with three breast. Lord Shiva told that the third breast will disappear if she happened to see a King or the bride groom from the surya dynasty. When the Shalisuhan from Surya Dynasty, came to the palace the third breast disappeared and married her. Since the Naga King worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, the place was called as Nagapattinam.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSLord Shiva’s blessing day of Athipathanayanar is celebrated in the month of Avani in which Nampiyankuppan ( originally called as Sembadavarcheri )
Abhishekam for the Sundara Vidangar Shiva linga will be conducted two times in a day ie at 09.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs. The existing Shiva Linga was replaced by a Gomethaka Linga, since the original Shiva Linga given by Musukunda Chakravarthi was stolen away.
The event of Pundarika Maharishi entering in to the shrine and merged with Lord Shiva, is celebrated during artha jama pooja on Ayilyam nakshatra days in the month Aani ( June – July ).
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi marriage utsavam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aadi pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Maha Shivaratri and Masi magam day theerthavari at sea in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), and monthly pradoshams.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 21.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILSThe land line and mobile numbers +91 4365 242 844, +91 9894501319 and +91 93666 72737 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH Bus and Train are available to Nagapattinam. And the temple is in the heart of the city.The temple is 6 KM from Nagore, 14.6 KM from Nagore, 21 KM from Seeyathamangai, 25.3 KM Thirumarugal, 28 KM from Thiruvarur, 57 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 70 KM from Kumbakonam and 302 KM from Chennai.Nearest Railway station is Nagapattinam
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Azhukini Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi
Ayyanar with his consorts
Adhikara Nandhi with his consort
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
மால் அயனுக்கு அரியபிரான் மருவுதானம்
சொல் தமிழ்மாலைகள் பாடிச் சிலநாள் வைகித்
......திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்
மனைவிதாய் தந்தைமக்கள் மற்றுள சுற்றமென்னும்
....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்
-“தூத்தகைய
தடிகடற் புகுதல் போலச் சைவமாம் கடலிற் புக்கு
The 15th Century saint Arunagirinathar and Sri Chidambaram Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.
க்ஷேத்திரக் கோவை பிள்ளத்தமிழ்
கைகண்ட அடியார்பணி மெய்கண்ட வேலவன்
Rajendra Chozha-I’s 4th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi, records the endowment of feeding 5 Brahmanas daily for which 180 Kasu was gifted by A Merchant called Thamanthaiyan of Kurakeni Kollam ( May be in present Kerala state ).
Ambal Neelaladhakshi is believed to be with blue eyes and a pubescent child. This temple is considered as one of the sakthi Peedams, also considered as one of the 5 most important goddesses, which signifies the 5 stages of human life. Visalskshi as a Girl child at Kasi, Kamakshi as an young girl at Kanchipuram, Neelayadhakshi as a pubescent Child at Nagapattinam, Kamalambigai as an young woman at Thiruvarur and Meenakshi as a married woman at Madurai.
Azhukini Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi
Ayyanar with his consorts
Adhikara Nandhi with his consort
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