Sri Naganatha Swamy Temple * - Nainarkoil * - Ramanathapuram ~

This place had been previously called as Thenmaruthur. Nobody could have known the real name of this place,except Nainarkoil. It had been patronized by the kings of Sethu on various times. It has been situated at the northwest of Ramanathapuram within the reach of 16 miles. The ancient name for this place had been also 'Thatchina Archunam'.

The presiding deity : Sri Naganathar

The Goddess : Sri Sounthranayaki, Azhagiyanayaki

Thala Virucham : Marutham, Vilvam (Temple trees)

This is the place where, the following had been blessed and also been curse released, they were:

1. Astathikbalagarkal (the guardians of eight directions)

2. Aayiram munivarkal (one thousand sages)

3. Maaniyathiran

4. Agathiyar

5. Athiseshan (Five headed snake)

6. Attama nagangal ( Eight snakes)

7. Mathiman

8. Therisavedan

9. Nagaiyan

10. Saptha kanniyar

11. Thalaimalai kanda Maruthathevar etc.

When having entered the shrine of lord Naganatha which is facing the west in direction, we should worship the lord sincerely about our wishes to be fulfilled, since the temple is noted for it's 'Parighara isthalam' (remedy for all the thosams, that is sins and sickness).

Having finished the prayer there, next we should enter the shrine of goddess sri Soundranayaki Amman and should worship Her to fulfill our wishes by demanding Her to recommend to lord Naganatha.

After that we should come into the inner corridor in order to circumambulate the main shrines of lord and goddess. In the inner corridor there are a lot of parivar deities situated all around. First there lies the shrine of goddess sri Maha Lakshmi, facing towards east in direction, who is the goddess of wealth. Here there is a custom to light up the chitti lamp in front f Her.

The next to this shrine, there lies the shrine of lord Muruga with His consorts sri Deivanai and sri Valli, also facing the east in direction. Here also we could light up the chitti lamp (sand lamp) in order to wipe out the darkness inside our mind.

Near to this shrine of lord Muruga, there we could worship the lord Hanuman, which could be carved on a pillar, on which the 'Chenthuram' (mixture of butter with a orange powder) has been applied,as it has been the favorite of lord Hanuman. This is facing south in direction.

Lord Saturn (or) Lord Sani Baghawan

An individual shrine for lord Saturn or lord Sani Baghawan has been there at the inner corridor, apart from the 'Navagragha' shrine, which is facing the south in direction. Here, it has been the specialized isthalam for Sani Parigharam, (make rectification) for the people who are affected by the lord Saturn.

Near this shrine, the normal Navagragha's shrine has been facing the west in direction. Here, including lord Saturn, all the 9 planets are positioned as per their own directions. Here, we should circumambulate the planets for 9 times, having murmured their slogas (mantras) in our mind in order to get rid of our sufferings. Next to this, there lies the shrine of Sri Puthadi.

Sri Puthadi (Puttru Adi) *

This had been once the Marutha tree, under which the lord Nagalinga peruman had appeared as a snake and had blessed the devotees. From that onwards, the devotees had brought the eggs as the offering to lord Nagaliga here. There has been a ant hill (Puttru) which is now guarded with grill fence as seen in picture.

The devotees took the sand from that 'Puttru', which has been called as puthadi mann (sand from the ant hill) and have it as medicine by in taking it with water. The devotees apply the sand as the paste on their body where they find as the affected area like 'poisonous insect bites, eczema and all type of skin diseases'.

This shrine is facing the west in direction, just behind the shrine of the presiding deity lord Naganathar.

Lord Brahmah

Here on the outer wall of the presiding deity lord Naganathar, there we could see the sculpture of lord Brahmah who has been the creator of lives in the earth.

Again, around the inner corridor of this temple, we could able to see the shrines of lord Thatchina murthy, lord Lingothpawar, goddess sri Durgha and lord Sandigeshwarar.

Suranga thadam

This has been seen in front of the shrine of goddess sri Soundranayaki Amman, where there one mantapam and a one small tank have been found. This tank water has been considered as the 'Sagala roga nivarani' (remedy for all diseases), by the devotees and they have it as in take madicine.

This temple of lord Naganathar (Nainar koil) has been placed amidst the four other temples of lord Shiva, as follows:

1. North of 4 miles - Salaigramam - lord Varaguneshwarar temple.

2. south of 3 miles - North bank of river vaigai - lord Guna Nadhishwarar.

3. East of 6 miles - Kozhuvur - Nagha Naathishwarar.

4. west of 6 miles - Emaneshwaram - lord Yamaneeshsurar.

Theertham

Vasuki Theertham - This has been placed just opposite of the shrine of lord Naganathar at the west of the direction. On Various yugas, in this theertha, a lot of persons including celestial beings and sages had taken bath and had been curse released. This Theertham is having 25 other names for it.

Mangala theertham - This has been at the north east of the temple's 3^rd pragharam.

Maruthavana Maakali theertham - This has been at the north of this temple.

With this, this hub has been ending with a fine tuning of traveling information to the new peoples to this area of Ramanathapuram, since it's having a lot of a lot of temples in and around Ramanathapuram. They are as follows:

Selvaganapathy.