Naganadar Nainarkovil

Naganadar, Nainarkovil

Saivite Temples - Ramanathapuram District

God

Naganadar, facing west

Goddess

Soundaryanayaki, facing east

Other Deities

Outer Prakaram – Nandagopala, Sundararaja Perumal, Mahalakshmi, Navaneetha Krishna, Anjaneya, Naagar. Inner Prakaram – Vinayaka, Muruga, Surya, 63 Nayanmar, Ekadesa Lingam, Vinayaka, Mahalakshmi, Muruga with consorts, Saneeswara, Navagraha, Bhairava, Saptamadar, Veerabadhra, Rishabarudar, Kashilingam, triple Vinayaka. Sanctum Niches – Vishnu Durgai, Chandikeswara, Brahma, Lingotbavar, Dakshinamurthy

Naganadar Nainarkovil is a large west-facing temple with entrances on the east and west sides. On the west side is a 3 tiered Gopuram. In front of this gopuram on the west side is a Theppakulam. The outer Prakaram is partly covered and the inner Prakaram is completely covered. There are a large number of Naagar idols all around the outer Prakaram and some carvings of serpents on the walls. The entrances to the inner Prakaram leading towards the sanctums are beautifully decorated with metal lamp arches. The pillars here have some beautiful ornamental patterns carved on them. The Vinayaka shrine in the inner Prakaram has an installation of three Vinayaka idols and three mounts in it. During the festival day of Thaipoosam the processional deities of Naganadar Nainarkovil visit the Gunadeeswarar Temple about 5 kilometers south on the north banks of the Vaigai River.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vanni (Prosopis cineraria)

History

Naganadar Nainarkovil is an old temple as is evident from the architectural style. The old name of the place was Sethu Nattu Thirumarudur. The temple has been patronized by the Ramanathapuram Kings and comes under the administration of the Ramanathapuram Samasthanam Devasthanam. Historical information is not available as of now.

Legend

Sage Viswamitra cursed a thousand disciples and sons of Sage Vasishta who refused to participate in a Yaga to send King Trisanka to heaven with his demonized body. These cursed people roamed the forests as hunters for ages and were relieved from the curse after worshiping Lord Shiva at Naganadar Nainarkovil. This legend is part of the TrisanKa Sorgam (Trisanka’s Heaven) portion which is told in the Bala Kandam of Valmiki Ramayana.

The main deity here at Naganadar Nainarkovil is believed to have faced the west to listen to the songs of Namadeva (a vaishnavite poet from Maharashtra). The dumb daughter of a Muslim King called Mulla Sahib uttered the words ‘Allah Nayinar Aandavar’ when brought to the sanctum sanctorum of the lord here at Naganadar Nainarkovil. Thus the place came to be called Nainarkovil and a thankful Mulla Sahib worshiped the lord here praising him.

Directions

Naganadar Nainarkovil is about 28 kilometers northeast of Ramanathapuram and 12 kilometers east of Paramakudi.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is Ramanathapuram.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples