Set in Keezhperumpallam, Tamil Nadu, Naganathaswamy Temple, Keezhperumpallam is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Naganathaswamy (presiding deity), with a shrine dedicated to Ketu, the Navagraha this temple represents. It is also known as Keezhaperumpallam Kethu Temple, Nagannathaswamy Temple, Arulmigu Nagannathaswamy Temple.
This is the Ketu shrine of the Navagraha Sthalam circuit and is regarded as a Ketu Dosha Parihara Kshetram, a site where devotees seek relief from Ketu's adverse astrological effects, including issues related to snakebite fears, health and family prosperity. It complements the Rahu shrine at Thirunageswaram in the same circuit. According to legend, during the churning of the ocean of milk (Samudra Manthan) for Amrita, the serpent Vasuki became distressed by the venom released in the process.
Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM |
A dedicated Abhishekam to Lord Ketu is performed daily around 8:30 AM. Some sources give the overall daily window as 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM rather than 8:30 PM; confirm locally.
Poojas and daily rituals
Six daily rituals are performed between roughly 5:30 AM and 10:00 PM, each including abhisheka, alangaram, neivethanam and deepa aradanai. Poojas specifically for Ketu are performed during Rahukalam and Yamakantakalam, typically with red flowers and horsegram rice (kollu sadham) offerings, and seven lamps are lit.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Mahasivarathri | Phalguna month (February-March) | Major annual festival for the presiding deity, Naganathaswamy (Shiva). |
| Vasuki Utsavam | Annual, exact dates not confirmed | Festival honoring the serpent Vasuki, central to the temple's founding legend. |
| Rahu-Ketu Peyarchi | Roughly every 2.5 years, when Ketu transits into a new zodiac sign | Special observance marking Ketu's zodiac transition, celebrated in tandem with the corresponding Rahu transit at Thirunageswaram. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style with a flat raja gopuram and a single prakaram (precinct). The temple has a sacred tank called Naga Theertham, and additional shrines for Ambal (Soundara Nayagi), Subramanya, Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar and Anugraha Vinayaka.
History
According to legend, during the churning of the ocean of milk (Samudra Manthan) for Amrita, the serpent Vasuki became distressed by the venom released in the process. After penance and prayer to Shiva, Vasuki received darshan and Shiva agreed to remain at this site, which is why the presiding deity is named Naganathar (lord of the serpent). The temple's origins trace to the Chola period, with the current structure rebuilt under the Nayaks.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Nearest railway station: Mayiladuthurai Junction, about 24 km away. Nearest airport: Tiruchirapalli (Trichy), about 147 km away. By road the temple is about 30 km from Karaikal, 42 km from Chidambaram, 59 km from Kumbakonam and 93 km from Thanjavur via the Thanjavur-Poompuhar road; it is reached via the Sirkazhi-Poompuhar road.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. History, legend and architecture are corroborated by the official temple site and Wikipedia, but dress code and weekly major days could not be verified from reliable sources, and evening closing time varies slightly between sources.