About this temple
Keezhperumpallam’s Naganathaswamy temple is the Ketu-associated Navagraha shrine near Poompuhar. Shiva is the principal deity, with Soundaryanayaki and a separate Ketu worship space. The temple’s sacred bamboo and Naga Theertham connect its serpent narrative with the local landscape.
History
Temple Connect attributes an earlier shrine to Chola patronage and the present structure to later Nayak work. The temple-information site gives a broad traditional age range, not a dated inscription. These are reported as attributions; an exact original consecration year is not established.
Legends & Religious Traditions
Vasuki, the ocean and the poison
In the local narrative, Vasuki serves as the rope during the churning of the ocean. Exhausted by the strain, he releases venom; Shiva swallows it to protect creation. Vasuki, distressed at what has happened, performs penance and asks forgiveness.
Naganathar’s abiding presence
Shiva appears in response to Vasuki’s devotion. The serpent asks him to remain at the place, and he is worshipped as Naganathar, Lord of the serpents. The bamboo grove forms part of this sacred setting.
Ketu’s place in the pilgrimage
Ketu is venerated here as a shadow graha in the religious astrological tradition. The Vasuki narrative explains the Shiva shrine, while Ketu’s separate worship gives the place its role in the nine-stop circuit; they should not be compressed into a claim that Ketu and Vasuki are the same figure.
Religious and Cultural Significance
Ketu is the circuit association within Naganathar’s Shiva temple. The term shadow graha refers to religious astrology and the lunar-node tradition, not a material planet.
Sacred Geography and Natural Setting
The temple-information page identifies bamboo as the sacred tree and Naga Theertham as the sacred water. These features belong to the Vasuki and Naganathar narrative.
Rituals, Worship and Seva
HRCE lists six daily services and options for milk abhishekam, Ketu archana and homam. The temple-information site mentions horse gram, flowers and multicoloured cloth offerings. Claimed removal of astrological affliction is a belief, not a guaranteed outcome.
Festivals and Religious Significance
Pradosham is specifically highlighted by the temple-information site. Rahu–Ketu transit observances attract circuit pilgrims; use the current temple announcement for dates.
How to Reach
Approach Keezhperumpallam from the Poompuhar–Sirkazhi side of Mayiladuthurai district. It is a separate village shrine, not the Naganathar temple at Thirunageswaram.
Nearby Religious Places
Thiruvenkadu’s Budha shrine and the Poompuhar-area temples are separate nearby stops. Vaitheeswaran Koil is another Navagraha destination in the district.
Address and Location Details
Arulmigu Naaganathaswamy Temple, Keezhaperumpallam 609105, Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu, India.
Official Website and Contact
Government HRCE temple identifier TM018032: https://hrce.tn.gov.in/hrcehome/index_temple.php?tid=18032 . Additional temple-information site: https://kethutemple.org/ .
Contradictory Accounts and Variations
Older sources use Nagapattinam district; current HRCE gives Mayiladuthurai. Its puja table mistakenly labels the evening Sayaraksha service as AM, so that line is not treated as a reliable clock time. General opening intervals are reported separately. Popular broad age claims are not presented as archaeological dating.