Keezhaperumpallam Naganathaswamy Temple

The temple is tied to the story of the churning of the ocean of milk. The gods and asuras churned the ocean for the nectar, using the serpent Vasuki as the rope. The sthala account says the endless churning wore Vasuki down until, exhausted, she spat out poison. The frightened gods ran to Shiva, who swallowed the poison and saved them.

Vasuki was grieved that the Lord himself had had to swallow her poison, and did penance here to atone. Moved, Shiva appeared to her, forgave her and praised her spirit of sacrifice. Vasuki asked him to stay at the very place where he had appeared to her, in the same form. The temple's account says he agreed and settled here as Naganathar, bearing the serpent's name. A Vasuki Utsavam is held in the month of Panguni in memory of this story.

This is the Navagraha temple of Ketu in the Kaveri delta. Ketu has his own west-facing shrine here. With a serpent's head and a human body, he sits on a lion pedestal, both hands joined in worship, facing the Shiva shrine. The image is carved in black granite and stands in the first prakaram. The temple's page says that Ketu, regarded as the giver of wisdom, appears here as Anugraha Murthy, a form that blesses, and so devotees hold that there is no need to fear him.

The main deity is Naganathar and the goddess is Soundaranayaki. Bamboo is the sacred tree and the temple tank is the Naga Theertham. The temple's Vinayaka is worshipped as Anugraha Vinayaka. There are two images of Surya and one of Shani; one Surya is worshipped during Uttarayana and the other during Dakshinayana. There are also shrines to Subramanya, Durga, Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Gajalakshmi, Dakshinamurthy and Chandikeswarar. The temple is also known for the annaprasanam rite, a child's first feeding of rice.

The village is mentioned in Appar's Thevaram, but because the hymns do not sing this temple's deity by name, it is classed as a Vaippu sthalam rather than a Paadal Petra Sthalam. The original complex is believed to be Chola-era, and the present masonry dates to the Nayak period in the 16th century. It is built in the Dravidian style. It lies in Mayiladuthurai district, about 2 km from Poompuhar, and the HR&CE Department runs the temple. Maha Sivaratri, Margazhi Thiruvadhirai, Panguni Uthiram and Thirukarthigai are the major festivals, with Annabhishekam in Aippasi and the Vasuki Utsavam in Panguni.

People who feel troubled by Ketu's influence, and those who believe they have naga dosha, come here. A temple guide says it is customary for those with naga dosha to worship Naganathar first and then Ketu. Common practices here include offering red flowers, kollu (horsegram) rice as nivedhana, lighting seven lamps and offering multi-coloured cloth. Those running a Ketu dasa sometimes offer milk abhishekam on their birth-star day. Special pujas for Ketu are held during Rahu kaalam and Yamakandam. Devotees also pray to Ketu for progress in studies and the welfare of the family. These are devotional practices based on belief, and no result is promised. For timings and fees, please check with the temple before you go.