Rahu Stalam is among the navagraha

Navagraha

Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...

 templesis a Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...

, Tamilnadu, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram

Thevaram

Thevaram is a panchayat town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Thevaram located in the border of Kerala separated by western ghats-Demographics:...

 and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam signifying the nine planet gods. Rahu

Rahu

In Hindu mythology, Rahu is a cut-off head of an asura, that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas in Vedic astrology...

 is the serpent god and his half brother Kethu

Ketu (mythology)

Ketu is the descending lunar node. 'Ketu' is said to be the body of Rahu, after the head of the asura was cut off by God Vishnu. In Hindu mythology, Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet. It is believed to have a tremendous impact on human lives and also the whole creation...

 are among the nine planets.

The Stately Temple

This Shivastalam is located on the Southern bank of the river Kaveri near Kumbakonam; and is located 7 km from Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...

. The temple campus encompasses exclusive sectors for Lord Naganatha Swamy(Shiva

Shiva

Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

), Goddess Giri Gujambigai(Parvathi) and Rahu

Rahu

In Hindu mythology, Rahu is a cut-off head of an asura, that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas in Vedic astrology...

. Four worship services are offered each day, and the annual celebration held in the month of Pankuni(March-April).

Architecture

The temple is another masterpiece of Chola art. It was built by Aditya Chola I

Aditya I

Aditya I , the son of Vijayalaya, was the first great Chola king of South India who extended the Chola dominions by the conquest of the Pallavas.- Pallava Civil War :...

 in 10th century A.D. Later rulers have also improved the temple with additions. It is called Bhaskara(Sun) Kshetram

Kshetram

Kshetram literally means a place. In Hindu mythology, it is referred to as the physical holy location where a temple or a collection of temples, its tank and deities exist.-Sacred geography:...

. The niches contain Vinayagar, Ardanariswara and a maiden - all splendour in a stone.

Reference in Ancient Tamil Literature

This place has been referred to in thevaram

Thevaram

Thevaram is a panchayat town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Thevaram located in the border of Kerala separated by western ghats-Demographics:...

, a saivite Tamil

Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

 literature written by Saint Poet (7th Century AD) Thirugnana Sambanthar and Appar.

Legend

The kings of serpents worshipped the God and hence this place is called Tirunageswaram. Pirunga sage obtained the wrath of goddess Parvathi in the magnitude of worshipping lord Shiva

Shiva

Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

 and started penance at this temple. The serpents Karkodakan, Thakshan, Adiseshan and sages Gouthamar, Nandi

Nandi

Nandi may refer to:* Nandi , the white bull on which Lord Siva rides* Nandi Awards, Film awards given to Tollywood personalities and films* Nandi people, an ethnic group from Africa** Nandi languages...

, Nalan, Parasar, Bageerathan worshipped the Naganatha Swamy here. The abhisheka

Abhisheka

Abhisheka is a Sanskrit term comparable to puja, yagya and arati that denotes: a devotional activity; an enacted prayer, rite of passage and/or religious rite or ritual...

(sacred ablution) of Rahu turns blue in this temple.

Transport

The nearest railway station is in Tirunageswaram, about 8 kilometres from the Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...

 town. The nearest airport is in Trichy.