Naganathar Temple, Tirunageswaram

Naganathar Temple at Tirunageswaram, on the outskirts of Kumbakonam, is a Shiva temple known as Rahu Stalam, the Navagraha shrine of Rahu. Shiva is worshipped as Naganathar, a lingam, and Parvati as Piraisoodi Amman. Serpents including Adishesha are said to have worshipped Shiva here, giving the place its name, and it is a Tevaram Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is believed to be the work of Aditya Chola I in the 10th century, later altered.

Four gopurams pierce the compound wall of a complex measuring roughly 630 ft by 800 ft, on the south bank of the Kaveri. Rahu and his consorts have a shrine in the north-east corner of the second precinct, and the goddess Girigujambal has a separate shrine; she is held to be self-manifested as a Meru, so no ablution is made. Govinda Dikshitar, minister to the Nayak kings, built a hall of yali pillars. The tank, Sula Theertham, lies on the south side with a hundred-pillared hall, and a dip in it is believed to clear sins.