The Miracle of Thirunageswaram Temple

Tirunageswaram Temple Rahu Stalam is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva is located in Tirunageswaram, a village on the outskirts of the town Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. It is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as it is one of the temples associated with the nine planet elements, the Navagraha Stalas, specifically Rahu. Lord Shiva is worshiped as Naganathar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Goddess Parvati is depicted as Piraisoodi Amman.

The ablution of the image of Rahu during Rahukaalam with milk turning blue in this temple is a miracle, and attracts devotees from distant places. There is a local belief that the worship of Lord Shiva in the morning, afternoon and evening needs to be performed at the three Nageswaran temples, Nageswaran Temple, Tirunageswaram and Thirupampuram respectively.

The temple is counted as one of the Navagraha Temples for planet Rahu. Tirugnana Sambandar, a 7th-century Tamil Saivite poet, venerated Naganathar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the First Tirumurai. Appar, a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Annamalaiyar in 10 verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Fifth Tirumurai. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. This temple is one of the most visited temples in the district.

Naganathaswamy Temple is among the rarest of rare temples, where devotees throng to get relief from sarpa or serpent dosha, specifically Rahu dosha. Miraculously the milk offered to the Linga for Abhishekam turns blue acknowledging the Rahu dosha of the devotee with the ever-benevolent Lord Shiva blessing the devotee. The milk poured on the deity miraculously turns in to blue colour and turns back to pure white after flowing down to the ground.