Nageswaraswamy Temple

Coordinates: 10°57′31.4910″N 79°22′43.173″E / 10.958747500°N 79.37865917°E / 10.958747500; 79.37865917
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Nageswaraswamy Temple, Kumbakonam
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Nageswaraswamy Temple
Kudanthai Keezhakottam
Cholas

Nageswaraswamy Temple is a

Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil poet saints known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is counted as the earliest of all Chola temples. Shiva in the guise of Nagaraja
, the serpent king..

There are many inscriptions associated with the temple indicating contributions from

Thanjavur Nayaks and Thanjavur Maratha kingdom. The oldest parts of the present masonry structure were built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions, including the towering gopuram
gatehouses, are attributed to later periods, up to the Thanjavur Nayaks during the 16th century.

The temple complex is one of the largest in the state and it houses three gateway towers known as

gopurams. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Nageswarar, Pralayamkathanathar and Periyanayagi being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls and three precincts; the most notable is the second precinct built during the Vijayanagar period that has many sculptures. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and twelve yearly festivals on its calendar. The temple is maintained and administered by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu
.

Legend

During the time when

Thirugnana Sambanthar.[2]

History

Sculptures from the period of Aditya Chola

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. The temple is designed in such a way that during the first three days of Tamil month Chittirai (April - May), the rays of the Sun falls directly in the base of the presiding deity in sanctum sanctorum.[3]

The temple had been a centre of learning as seen from the inscriptions in the temple. The inscriptions indicate specific subjects like Purvamimansa styled as Pravahakarma. There were also provisions made for feeding and maintaining for teachers and students.[4] In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[5]

Architecture

Inner entrance and Shrine of Nataraja

The temple is one of the prominent Shiva temples in

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.[7] The epic scenes are in low relief on the plinth below the pilasters of the walls of the sanctum, recalling the wood work.[7]

The Devi shrine is an independent structure situated in the outer

Vriddhagiriswarar Temple, Vriddhachalam and Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur.[9]

According to historian Harle, the temple is counted among the four early extant temples of the

Brahmapureeswarar temple in Thanjavur district. These temples follow the Pallava architecture which are relatively small in size. They all have a fair-sized porch, locally called ardhamandapa attached to the sanctum, both of which are slightly below the ground level in a pit kind of structure. The structures are also predominantly built of stone.[10]

During

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 the ardha mandapam, in front of the sanctum of Nageswarar. The Vinayagar seems to be in the Pala style.

Festivals and religious importance

Nageswaran chariot

The temple priests perform the

pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. Mahashivaratri during February - March is the major festivals celebrated in the temple. The major festival of the temple is the Brahmotsavam temple during Tamil month of Panguni when the Sun's rays fall directly on the image in the sanctum.[11]

Religious importance

River Kaveri.[14] The Sun rays falling on the image of Shiva is considered as the worship of Surya.[15]

As per a Hindu belief, people troubled by Sarpa-dosha or Malefic effects Rahu-Kethu seek a relief by offering prayers in a single day to Kudanthai or Kumbakonam Nageshwarar in the morning, Thirunageshwaram Naganathar at the noon, Thirupamburam Pambureswarar in the evening and Nagoor Nageshwarar or Naganathar temple at night.[16]

Specialty

Nageswaraswamy Temple is one of the 12 Shiva temples that are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. The other eleven temples are:[17]

Gallery

  • Shrine of the goddess
    Shrine of the goddess
  • Inner prakara
    Inner
    prakara
  • Temple tree
    Temple tree
  • Vimana of the presiding deity
    Vimana of the presiding deity
  • Vimana of the goddess
    Vimana of the goddess
  • Sculpture at Nagheshwara Temple
    Sculpture at Nagheshwara Temple

Notes

  1. ^ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 25.
  2. ^ "campantar tEvAram -2" (PDF). projectmadurai.org. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  3. ^ R. 2001, pp. 217-8
  4. ISBN 978-81-230-1896-6
    .
  5. ^ "Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu" (PDF). Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 216. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  6. ISBN 978-93-83440-34-4
    .
  7. ^
    ISSN 0012-8376
    . Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  8. ^ Temples of South India P.112. V.V. Subba Reddy
  9. ^ H., Sarkar (1974). The Kampahesvara temple at Thirubuvanam (PDF). Madras: Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 9.
  10. ^ Harle, James C. (1958). The Brahmapuriswara temple at Pullamangai (PDF). Bombay: Bhulabhai Memorial Institute. p. 9.
  11. ^ "Sri Nageswarar temple". Dinamalar. 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Kudanthai Keezhakottam". Dharumapuram Adheenam. 25 April 2020.
  13. ^ Swamigal, Tirunavukkarasu. "Tevaram Of Tirunavukkaracu Cuvamikal Tirumurai 5 part - 2 Poems(510-516)" (PDF). projectmadurai.org. pp. 33–34. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  14. ISBN 9781684666041
    .
  15. ISBN 978-81-7907-053-6
    .
  16. ISBN 9788183682244
    .
  17. ^ Mahamaham Festival 2004 (in Tamil), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2004

References

External links

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