Pamani Sri Amirthanayagi Samedha Naganathaswamy Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Pamani Sri Naganathar Temple, Tirupadaleswaram, Pamani-614 014, Tiruvarur district. Phone: +91- 93606 85073

Diety

Naganathaswamy, Sarpa Pureeswarar, Amman: Amirthanayagi

Introduction

Pamani Naganathar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Pamani in Tiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Naganathar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Amirtha Nayaki. The Temple is also called as Sarpa Pureeswarar Temple. The historical name of the place is Tiru Padaleswaram. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Thirugnana Sambandar. This is the 221st Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery and 104th Sthalam in Chozha Nadu. Thala Virutcham : Mango Theertham : Naga theertham, Pasu theertham, Thenu theertham, Rudra theertham

Puranic Significance

Tirugnanasambandar (7th Century CE) has rendered Thevaram Hymns here for the lord. About 7 stone inscriptions mentioning donations and services provided by Rajaraja I (985 CE), Rajaraja III (1238 CE), Sundara Pandya (1283 CE) are some of them. A contest arose between Adisesha and Vayu Bhagwan about their prowess. Adisesha pressed the Meru Mount with its head and coiled it around. Vayu could not move the mount and thus was defeated. Vayu with all his fury controlled the air which led to suffocation of all beings threatening their lives. As requested by Devas, the contest took place again. Devas slightly reduced the power of Adisesha. Three of his heads became weak. Vayu broke three peaks. Saddened by its defeat, Adisesha, for mental peace, came to this place, made a Shiva Linga of anthill sand and worshipped Lord. The Linga is in the form of an ant-hill.

Beliefs

People pray to Divine Serpent Adisesha by lighting ghee lamps for relief from adverse aspects of serpent planets as Rahu and Ketu and those under the Kalasarpa Dosha. Those belonging to Simha, Kumba, Danus, Mesha and Vrichika signs pray to Lord Simha Dakshinamurthy for a peaceful life. Devotees perform special abishek and pujas to Lord and offer vastras.

Special Features

As the Divine Serpent Adisesha came to earth from the world below-Padala Loka to worship Lord Naganatha, the place is named Tiru Padaleswaram. There is a shrine for Adisesha with human face and snake body. Adisesha is the head of the eight Nagas – Anandhan, Vasuki, Dakshan, Karkodakan, Sangabalan, Kulikan, Padman and Mahapadman and planets Rahu and Ketu. It is the staunch faith of the devotees that they would be relieved of all adverse aspects of snake planets if they worship Adisesha lighting ghee lamps. It is also noteworthy that no abishek is performed on Lingas made of sand, but the one made of ant-hill sand by Adisesha is an exception. The place and temple is also noted for relief from Saturn problems as Lord Bhairava and Saturn together grace the devotees. Maha Maham festival is celebrated in dedication to GuruJupiter when He enters the Leo-Simha sign in the zodiac circle once in 12 years. As Lord Dakshinamurthi, authority for Jupiter planet is gracing in this temple sitting on four lions, those worshipping here the Lord are blessed ones. Disciples of Lord Dakshinamurthi once went to Vaikundam for darshan of Lord Vishnu, but they were denied admission by the Dwarapalakassecurities. The disciple sages cursed the securities and thus incurred a dosha for being rash. They worshipped Pamani Naganathar and Simha Dakshinamurthi and got relieved of the doshas. All those belonging to Leo, Kumba, Cancer, Saggitarius, Aries, Scorpio signs are advised to worship Simha Dakshinamurthi to realize a peaceful and happy life. As Adisesha himself sought this place to worship Lord Naganathar, the place is considered important to all including those under the influence of planet Mars and all planets.

Festivals

Vaikasi Brahmmotsavam in May-June; Thai Poosam Theerthavari in January-February; Aipasi Skanda Sashti in October-November; Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January and Maha Shivarathri in February-March are the festivals celebrated in the temple