Sundarar Murthi received gifts of pearl and diamond chains in Thirunagaikaronam

திருநாகைக்காரோணம்

Greatness of  Temple

Emperor Mushukunda got seven Lingas from Indira for the helps he had rendered him.  These Lingas were small – Vidanga in size.  The Emperor installed the Linga in Seven Places called Saptha Vidanga sthalas.  This is one such Sthalas with a Linga so beautiful made of Ruby.  Hence, the Lord is named Sundara (beautiful) Vidangar.  Lord Thyagaraja is in a separate shrine right of the sanctum sanctorum.  In majority of the temple, people can see only the face of Lord Thyagaraja.  During the Vaikasi Visaka and Margazhi Tiruvadirai festivals, Lord is dressed (Alankara) showing His right hand and feet.  Lord comes in procession waving His hands to and fro and in a dancing form.  This dance is called Paara Vaara Natanam.

The eyes of Mother Ambica is blue in colour as sea showing Her mercy as vast and deep as sea.  Hence, named Neelayadakshi-blue eyed.  She is also Karundhadanganni.  She has Her own shrine with a flag post-Kodi Maram.  Ambica graces as a virgin.  Aadi Pooram is very grandly celebrated in the temple.  Her shrine is designed as a Rath.  On the festival day, Mother comes in procession in a Rath made purely in crockeryware.

As Ambica is a virgin, Lord sent Nandhi Deva to be Her guard.  But Nandhi expressed his wish to be with Lord for ever seeing Him.  Lord said that he can have His darshan though with Ambica.  Nandhi in the temple is seen with its neck turned towards Lord with one eye on Ambica and other on the Lord.  Hence, the Nandhi is known as Twin View Nandhi (Irattai Parvai in Tamil).  Those having vision problems pray to this Nandhi.

Nandhi seen with it neck turned 

Generally, temples are closed if a death occurs in a nearby place.  In this place, the garlands and the clothes – vastras used for the Lord is placed on corpse.  A fisherman, Adhipathar attained salvation with the grace of Lord Shiva in this place.  Remembering this event, as a mark of respect to the community, this practice is followed in this temple. The body is placed before the temple without closing the doors.  The garland and the vastras used for the Lord are placed on the body.

During festival procession, Lord goes round the Mada Veedhis (Streets) and return to the temple.  But Lord beginning his procession from this temple, goes to seven places – Poigainallur, Poravacherry, Sikkal, Palur, Vadagudi, Thethi and Nagoor.  Maharaja Salija worshipped Lord Shiva and performed puja in these seven places.  The present system is to remember this history.

Against the practice of Lord coming in the Vrushab vahan on Pradosham days,  Lord Vishnu too accompanies Lord Shiva in the guise of Mohini.  When the milk ocean was churned, Nectar came out and was served by Lord Vishnu to Devas.  Devas failed to pray to Lord Shiva who swallowed the Halahala poison to save the world.  Realizing their folly, they begged the pardon of the Lord.  Showing His mercy to them, Lord Shiva danced on Nandhi.  This dance took place at the Pradosham time.  Lord Vishnu’s Mohini Avtar took place a little before this time.  This Vishnu darshan is available to the devotees on Pradosham day only. 

Emperor Dasaratha came to know that Planet Saturn would be splitting the Rohini star causing severe famine in his country.  He planned to fight Saturn to prevent him from doing so.  Sun God advised Dasaratha to drop his plan but to beg Saturn to change his transit route in public interest.  Saturn also admired the earlier plan of the emperor to meet him in war for the sake of his subjects without any selfish motive personally.  The planet yielded to the emperor’s wish.  Remembering this event, all the planets (Navagrahas) in the temple are facing west-the Lord.

Fisherman Athipathar was a staunch Shiva devotee.  When he went for fishing, he would offer the first to Lord Shiva.  At a stage, he was getting only one fish each day but did not break away from his commitment.  He offered them to Lord and returned without any catch.  He got a golden fish one day.  Though every one prevented him from throwing it into the sea, Athipathar resolutely stood by his commitment and threw it into the sea.  He was awarded with salvation and a place among the 63 Nayanmars. The event is celebrated on the Ayilyam star day in Aavani month (August-September).  Athipathar goes in catamaran when fishermen place two gold fishes in the net as if caught in the net.  Lord Shiva will appear on the sea shore.  Athipathar performs pujas to Lord Shiva with the golden fishes.  Shiva will grace darshan to Athipathar.  So goes the festival grandly.

    அழுகிணி சித்தர் அதிர்ஷ்டானம்

As a child adamantly demanding the mother to get its wish, there was a Siddha in the place called Azhuguni Chithar – crying adamantly for a wish.  He used to cry in the shrine of Mother Neelayadakshi demanding salvation.  He was the disciple of Gorakka Siddha.  He stayed in the temple, cried for getting his demand.  Mother spoke to Lord Shiva of the issue.  Lord granted salvation to Azhuguni Chithar.   His Jeeva Samadhi is in this temple.  Special pujas are performed to Siddha on Vaikasi Visakam day.  Also special pujas are performed here offering porridge (Payasam in Tamil) as nivedhana on poornima –full moon – days.

Lord Vinayaka graces His darshan wearing a serpent around His body with another one another one above His head as an umbrella.  He is worshipped as Nagabarana Vinayaka.  Those facing adverse serpent planet effects perform milk abishek to Nagabarana Vinayaka at Rahu Kalam times.  Also during the transit of these planets in the zodiac circle, special pujas are performed here to please the planets.

Lord Bhairava, usually appearing with His dog vehicle, has Lion – Simha as his vahan.  When Sage Pundarika worshipped Lord Shiva here, Holy Ganga sprang up in this place along with Lord Bhairava.  He is gracing as Kala Samhara Bhairava in this temple.  The Simha vahan is behind Him. It is believed that Lord Shiva Himself is gracing the devotees who hit Yama the God of Death.  As Lord Kala Bhairava is facing South, devotees pray to him for longevity.  As He looks furious, two smiling Vinayakas are installed before Him.

There is a shrine for Mother Ashta Bhuja (eight hands) Kali in the temple.

The deities for the eight directions have their due place in the temple.  Mother Gajalakshmi in Her sitting form graces the devotees with two elephants offering abishek.  Lord Dakshinamurthi is in the ghoshta wall with His four disciples.  As the temple is on a sea shore, it is said that Lord Shiva is ruling the region as a king, hence the name Shiva Rajadhani –capital of Shiva Kingdom.

The temple is greatly praised by the three celebrated saints Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar in their Thevaram hymns.  Sundarar received gifts of pearl and diamond chains, a horse and cosmetic things. Sages Markandeya, Gauthama, Vasishta, Kashyapa, Pulasthya, Agasthya and Angirasa (Saptha Rishis) had worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple.

Behind the Linga in the sanctum sanctorum is the Somaskanda form of Lord Shiva.  Lord Shiva comes to the sea for a bath on the Masi Magam day in February-March.

The idol of Lord Muruga is made with 12 hands with weapons.   He is praised in the Tirupugazh hymns of saint Arunagirinathar.  The Zodiac circle is in the Mandap.  People pray from here for relief from planetary problems. The event of sage Pundarika entering the shrine of Lord Shiva and merging with Him is celebrated during the Arthajama Puja (the last puja of the day) on the Ayilyam star day in the month of Aani-June-July.  Sri Chandikeswara shrine is on the side of prakara.

Temple History 

Sage Pundarika as advised by Sage Kanwa performed penance on Lord Shiva seeking salvation.  Granting His darshan, Lord embraced the sage and granted salvation.  As a rule, the soul merges with the Lord attaining salvation.  But in this case Lord embraced with the body (Kayam in Tamil) with that of Sage (Aaroganam).  Hence Lord is named Kaya (body) Aarogana (embracing) Easwarar-Lord – Kayaroganeswarar.

King of serpents prayed to Lord and got a girl child.  It had three breasts in birth itself.  The king was sad to see this abnormality.  Lord Shiva assured the king that one breast will disappear when a king of Surya dynasty visited his place.  When king Shalisuhan came there, one breast of the girl disappeared.  Happy Naga king gave his daughter to Shalisuhan in marriage.  As Naga king worshipped here, the place came to be known as Nagai Karonam.  Now it is Nagapattinam.

Thirumurai 7.46

1. பத்தூர்புக் கிரந்துண்டு பலபதிகம் பாடிப்

    பாவையரைக் கிறிபேசிப் படிறாடித் திரிவீர்

செத்தார்தம் எலும்பணிந்து சேவேறித் திரிவீர்

    செல்வத்தை மறைத்துவைத்தீர் எனக்கொருநாள் [ இரங்கீர்

முத்தாரம் இலங்கிமிளிர் மணிவயிரக் கோவை

    யவைபூணத் தந்தருளி மெய்க்கினிதா நாறும்

கத்தூரி கமழ்சாந்து பணித்தருள வேண்டும்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

2. வேம்பினொடு தீங்கரும்பு விரவியெனைத் தீற்றி

    விருத்திநான் உமைவேண்டத் துருத்திபுக்கங் கிருந்தீர்

பாம்பினொடு படர்சடைக ளவைகாட்டி வெருட்டிப்

    பகட்டநான் ஒட்டுவனோ பலகாலும் உழன்றேன்

சேம்பினொடு செங்கழுநீர் தண்கிடங்கிற் றிகழுந்

    திருவாரூர் புக்கிருந்த தீவண்ணர் நீரே

காம்பினொடு நேத்திரங்கள் பணித்தருள வேண்டுங்

    கடல் நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

3. பூண்பதோர் இளவாமை பொருவிடைஒன் றேறிப்

    பொல்லாத வேடங்கொண் டெல்லாருங் காணப்

பாண்பேசிப் படுதலையிற் பலிகொள்கை தவிரீர்

    பாம்பினொடு படர்சடைமேல் மதிவைத்த பண்பீர்

வீண்பேசி மடவார்கை வெள்வளைகள் கொண்டால்

    வெற்பரையன் மடப்பாவை பொறுக்குமோ சொல்லீர்

காண்பினிய மணிமாட நிறைந்தநெடு வீதிக்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

4. விட்டதோர் சடைதாழ வீணைவிடங் காக

    வீதிவிடை யேறுவீர் வீணடிமை யுகந்தீர்

துட்டரா யினபேய்கள் சூழநட மாடிச்

    சுந்தரராய்த் தூமதியஞ் சூடுவது சுவண்டே

வட்டவார் குழல்மடவார் தம்மைமயல் செய்தல்

    மாதவமோ மாதிமையோ வாட்டமெலாந் தீரக்

கட்டிஎமக் கீவதுதான் எப்போது சொல்லீர்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

5. மிண்டாடித் திரிதந்து வெறுப்பனவே செய்து

    வினைக்கேடு பலபேசி வேண்டியவா திரிவீர்

தொண்டாடித் திரிவேனைத் தொழும்புதலைக் கேற்றுஞ்

    சுந்தரனே கந்தமுதல் ஆடைஆ பரணம்

பண்டாரத் தேயெனக்குப் பணித்தருள வேண்டும்

    பண்டுதான் பிரமாண மொன்றுண்டே நும்மைக்

கண்டார்க்குங் காண்பரிதாய்க் கனலாகி நிமிர்ந்தீர்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

6. இலவவிதழ் வாயுமையோ டெருதேறிப் பூதம்

    இசைபாட இடுபிச்சைக் கெச்சுச்சம் போது

பலவகம்புக் குழிதர்வீர் பட்டோடு சாந்தம்

    பணித்தருளா திருக்கின்ற பரிசென்ன படிறோ

உலவுதிரைக் கடல்நஞ்சை அன்றமரர் வேண்ட

    உண்டருளிச் செய்ததுமக் கிருக்கொண்ணா திடவே

கலவமயி லியலவர்கள் நடமாடுஞ் செல்வக்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

7. தூசுடைய அகலல்குல் தூமொழியாள் ஊடல்

    தொலையாத காலத்தோர் சொற்பாடாய் வந்து

தேசுடைய இலங்கையர்கோன் வரையெடுக்க அடர்த்துத்

    திப்பியகீ தம்பாடத் தேரொடுவாள் கொடுத்தீர்

நேசமுடை அடியவர்கள் வருந்தாமை அருந்த

    நிறைமறையோர் உறைவீழி மிழலைதனில் நித்தல்

காசருளிச் செய்தீர்இன் றெனக்கருள வேண்டுங்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

8. மாற்றமேல் ஒன்றுரையீர் வாளாநீ ரிருந்தீர்

    வாழ்விப்பன் எனஆண்டீர் வழியடியேன் உமக்கு

ஆற்றவேல் திருவுடையீர் நல்கூர்ந்தீ ரல்லீர்

    அணியாரூர் புகப்பெய்த வருநிதிய மதனில்

தோற்றமிகு முக்கூற்றில் ஒருகூறு வேண்டுந்

    தாரீரேல் ஒருபொழுதும் அடியெடுக்க லொட்டேன்

காற்றனைய கடும்பரிமா ஏறுவது வேண்டுங்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

9. மண்ணுலகும் விண்ணுலகும் உம்மதே ஆட்சி

    மலையரையன் பொற்பாவை சிறுவனையுந் தேறேன்

எண்ணிலிஉண் பெருவயிறன் கணபதிஒன் றறியான்

    எம்பெருமான் இதுதகவோ இயம்பியருள் செய்யீர்

திண்ணெனஎன் னுடல்விருத்தி தாரீரே யாகில்

    திருமேனி வருந்தவே வளைக்கின்றேன் நாளைக்

கண்ணறையன் கொடும்பாடன் என்றுரைக்க வேண்டா

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

10. மறியேறு கரதலத்தீர் மாதிமையே லுடையீர்

    மாநிதியந் தருவனென்று வல்லீராய் ஆண்டீர்

கிறிபேசிக் கீழ்வேளூர் புக்கிருந்தீர் அடிகேள்

    கிறியும்மாற் படுவேனோ திருவாணை யுண்டேல்

பொறிவிரவு நற்புகர்கொள் பொற்சுரிகை மேலோர்

    பொற்பூவும் பட்டிகையும் புரிந்தருள வேண்டும்

கறிவிரவு நெய்சோறு முப்போதும் வேண்டுங்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரே.

11. பண்மயத்த மொழிப்பரவை சங்கிலிக்கும் எனக்கும்

    பற்றாய பெருமானே மற்றாரை யுடையேன்

உண்மயத்த உமக்கடியேன் குறைதீர்க்க வேண்டும்

    ஒளிமுத்தம் பூணாரம் ஒண்பட்டும் பூவும்

கண்மயத்த கத்தூரி கமழ்சாந்தும் வேண்டுங்

    கடல்நாகைக் காரோண மேவியிருந் தீரென்

றண்மயத்தால் அணிநாவல் ஆரூரன் சொன்ன

    அருந்தமிழ்கள் இவைவல்லார் அமருலகாள் பவரே.

Civaṉ who dwelt with desire in Nākaikkārōṇam on the sea-shore!
entring into many villages and eating begging alms singing many garlands of songs.
speaking lies to girls who are as beautiful as a portrait.
you wander indulging in mischief.
having adorned yourself with the bones of gods who are dead.
wander riding upon a bull.
you hid your wealth.
you do not take pity on me even on a single day and say I have nothing to give you a neck-lace of pearls giving me a string of rubies, and diamonds which are very much glittering.
you must bestow on me sandal-paste mixed with sweet-smelling musk, to smear on my body.

having made me enjoy the mixture of the bitter margose leaves and sweet sugar-cane juice margosa stands for worldly pleasures and sugar-cane juice for the pleasure derived from God`s grace.
when I requested you for a means of livelihood.
you entered into Turutti and stayed there without coming out of it.
showing the cobras and the spreading catai shall I brook if you frighten and allure me?
I wandered following you many times you yourself who has the colour of fire and entered into tiruvārūr where in the cool moats arrow-head aquatic plant and purple indian water-lily are prominent, and stayed there.
you must give me varieties of silk known as Kāmpu and nēttiram.

you were dwelling with desire in nākaikkārōṇam on the sheashore, which has long streets full of beautiful storeys which are pleasing to look at.
you have adorned yourself with the shell of a young tortoise.
mounting on a fighting bull assuming an ugly form.
to be seen by all.
speaking flattering words;
you do not give up receiving alms in a lifeless skull.
you have the nature of placing on the spreading caṭai a crescent along with a cobra.
if you snatch the white bangles from the hands of ladies by speaking unnecessary words.
will the beautiful daughter of the king of mountains brook it?
please tell me.

the caṭai which is loosened to hang low.
the vīṇai to appear beautiful and conspicuous.
you mount and ride on a bull in the streets.
you liked slaves without any profit to you.
performing dance to be surrounded by the pēys which are mischievous.
having a beautiful form.
is it proper to wear on the head a spotless crescent.
is it fitness or an act of penance to cause the ladies who have long tresses of hair which they dress as a circle, to be infatuated with love?
when are you going to give me bars of gold to remove all my distress?
please tell me.

you are seated with desire in nākaikkārōṇam on the sea-shore.
wandering by indulging in vain acts.
committing only detestable acts.
you wander according to your whim speaking words which are useless.
beautiful god who does not bestow your grace, having accepted as your protege me who is wandering doing humble services to you.
you must order from your treasury, dress, sandal-paste and ornaments.
is there any evidence for anybody having seen you before?
you rose high as a column of fire difficult to be seen by goda Māl and Piramaṉ who had seen you on other occasions

riding on a bull with Umai who has lips like the flowers of the red-flowers of the silk-cotton tree.
the pūtam to sing.
in the noon when sacrificial fire is maintained, to receive the alms given.
you wander entering into many houses.
what a cruelty is the manner by which you keep quiet and do not order silk and sandal-paste!
when the immortals requested you in the distant past.
as you had unbounded compassion which made you not to turn a deaf ear to their request, you consumed the poison which rose in the ocean which is always moving.
you were in wealthy nākaikkārōṇam on the sea-shore, where ladies who are as tender as the peacock with a big tail, dance.

coming as on mutual under-standing when you tried to remove the love-quarrel which did not end, of the lady speaking pure words and a broad waist on which a valuable cloth is worn.
pressing down the King of the inhabitants of Ilaṅkai, whose body was lustrous when he lifted the mountain.
when he sang divine music you gave him a chariot and a sword.
the devotees who have love towards you to eat their food without suffering from hunger, during scarcity.
you granted daily one coin in vīḻimiḻalai where brahmins full of vēdic lore live.
you must grant me also like that a coin as subsistance allowance for a day.

you do not give any reply to my request you keep silent.
you voluntarily admitted me as your slave saying I shall help you to live.
I am a hereditary slave to you you have plenty of wealth.
you have not become poor.
in the heap of rare wealth which you have accumulated in beautiful ārūr.
I must get one third of the three portions, which I think I must get.
I will not allow you to go beyond out at any time, if you do not give me;
I shall catch hold of your legs.
I want a galloping horse whose speed is like the wind;
to ride upon.

your rule extends over this world and the heaven.
I shall not trust the beautiful daughter of the King of the mountains and the child Murukaṉ.
Kaṇapati who has a big belly and eats enormously does not know anything except his food.
What shall I request and get from him?
my Lord!
is this proper for your family as a whole?
please tell me.
if you do not grant me a means of livlihood for my body to be strong.
I now obstruct you to make your holy form to feel pain.
you need not speak about me with detest afterwards as one who is hard-hearted and cruel

you hold a young deer in your hand!
if it is greatness you have it in abundance.
you admitted me as your slave, having won in the case against me saying I shall give you great treasure hoard speaking deceitful words.
you entered into Kīḻvēḷūr and stayed there.
my god!
if there is your royal order.
shall I be deceived by you?
I shall not.
you must grant me a dagger made of gold which is glittering, and a seal, flower made of gold to wear on the head, and a silken belt to wear on the waist I must get thrice in a day food, curry and rice, and ghee to be mixed with these two.

the god who is the support for paravai and caṅkili whose words are music itself, and for me.
whom else shall I have as my support?
you must fulfil the wants of your slave well-known to you.
ornaments of string of bright pearls, bright silk, and flowers.
I want sandle-paste from which the fragrance of musk which is pleasing to the eye, spreads.
praising Civaṉ as, the god who dwelt with desire in nākaikkārōṇam, being very near to and intimate, with him.
those who are capable of reciting these tamiḻ verses composed by ārūraṉ, born in beautiful nāvalūr.
will becomes rules of the world of the immortals