Shri Naganathar Temple at Melakottaivasal, Nagore

This is one of the seven Sapta Sthana temples of Nagapattinam. It is at a distance of about Nagapattinam on Nagapattinam-Karaikkal route. This is one of the Rahu-Ketu parihar sthala. 

Mulavar: Shri Naganath Swamy
Utsavar Murti: Shri Chandrashekhar, Shri Kalyanasundarar, Shri Tyagaraja
Kshetra Vruksha: Punnaga Tree
Sacred Teertha: Chandra Teertha
Puranik Name: Punnaga Vanam
Present Name: Nagore
District: Nagapattinam

This is an east facing temple with a five tiered Rajagopuram, and has two prakarams (outer and inner). The shiva linga is a Swayambhu Linga. Shri Shiva is believed to have manifested as a Linga under the Punnaga tree and gave darshan to Shri Vishnu. There is a majestic idol of Nandi in the Mahamandap. 

The utsav murtis (festival idols) are on the right side of the sanctum. On the front side of the Gopuram there are beautiful idols of Shri Gajasamhar murti, Shri Bhikshadanar, Ekapad murti, Ganaga visarjan murti and Shri Sarabheshwarar on the front side of the Gopuram. On the left side of Shri Shiva’s shrine we have the shrine of Shri Parvati Devi, Nayanar, Shri Nataraja and Shri Ayyappa. On the right side of outer parikrama, we find Chandra Teertha and on the left side we have a beautiful garden. On the right side of inner parikrama we come across the idols of Shri Jwareshwarar, Shri Dakshinamurti, Shri Nagakannika, Shri Valampuri (trunk on the right उजव्या सोंडेचा गणपती). On the western side, we come across idols of Rahu, Ivelenathar (Shiva linga), Dattapurishwarar Linga, Shri Mahalakshmi and Nalavar in separate shrines. On the left side, we have the shrines of Shri Brahma, Shri Durga Devi, Shri Kashi Vishwanatha, Shri Narthana Vinayaka. Shri Shanishwarar in a separate shrine. In the inner parikrama, we have a separate shrine for Rahu with his consorts Nagavalli and Nagakannika. 

Kshetra Purana: 

According to the purana, on the full moon day of the Tamil month Aani, Shri Chandra worshiped Shri Shiva. Shri Indra on the full moon day, in Tamil month of Aani performed Brahmotsava for 10 days. They hoisted a flag held a chariot procession of Shri Shiva. Similarly on the new moon day, in the tamil month of Masi, Shri Nagaraja also held Brahmotsava for 10 days. On the ninth day he held chariot procession for Shri Shiva and it happened to be Mahashivaratri day. On the same day in the forest a five year old son of a Brahmin named Sambandhan was playing in the forest. The boy happened to witness the union of Nagaraja and his wife at that time. When the Nagaraja noticed that the boy has witnessed the union he beat the boy. The boy died of snake poison. By his divine vision the Brahmin came to know the cause of death of his son. He cursed the Nagaraja to lose all his powers, knowledge, position and roam alone on the earth. The Nagaraja begged for pardon and for relief of the curse. The brahmin stated that when the Nagaraja meets his father Sage Kashyap after 1000 years and when he worships Shri Shiva on the Mahashivaratri day in the month of Masi at the following places during the four parts of the night, he will be relieved of a curse. The four places where Nagaraja worshiped during the four parts of the night are - 1. In the first part of night at Naganatha swamy temple at Vilvavanam in Kumbhakonam, 2. In the second part of the night at Naganathar temple at Shenbaga Vanam (Champa Forest, known as Sonachafa in Marathi) at Thirunagheshwaram, 3. On the third part of the night Shri Naganathar temple in Shami forest (Vannivanam in Tamil) at Thirupampuram, 4. In the fourth part of the night, Shri Naganathar swamy temple at Punnagavanam in Nagore.

Since Nagaraja worshiped Shri Shiva at this place, he is known as Shri Naganathar and Devi as Shri Nagavalli

2. Shri Shiva gave darshan to Shri Vishnu on the full moon day of Vaikasi. 

Those who worshiped Lord Shiva at this place: Shri Indra, Shri Chandra, Shri Vishnu, Shri Brahma, Sage Durvasa, and Rudrasanman.

Prayers: 1. As this is the parihar sthala for Nagadosha and Rahudosha, devotees worship at this place for relief from dosha. 2. Devotees believe that if one worships Shri Shiva after performing Shraddha ceremony of pitrus, at this place and gives alms and makes a daan, one gets a benefit of Gaya shraddha. 

This is a parihar sthala for Kalasarpa dosha, Mangala dosha. Hence devotees come in large number for eradication of these doshas. 

Festivals:

Mahashivaratri, Pradosha, Thiru Karthigai, Ardhajam Puja, Full moon, New moon, and Brahmotsav

Temple timing: 5.30 am to 12 noon, 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm

Address: Shri Naganatha Swamy / Nagavalli Ambal temple, Shivan Sannidhi, Nagore, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu 611 002

Telephone: 91 98652 69553