The Naganathar Temple known as the Kethu. This is an ancient Saivite shrine where legend has it that Kethu, one of the 9 celestial bodies central to astrological beliefs worshipped Shiva. This place is also called Vanagiri. Kethu prayed to Naaganaadhaswami and was blessed and rid of his sins by Lord Siva. It is rare to find Kethu with his head. At this sthala, he can be seen worshipping Naaganaadhaswami with his folded hands held high. Kethu is the tail of a serpent as his body, a description which very much matches with his connection to the image of a comet. However in the images, he is usually shown with a poke marked body, riding upon a vulture and holding a mace.The devas and asuras churned the Paarkadal (Sea of milk) to obtain amirtham that would free them from death, keeping them alive for ever. When the amirtham emerged, Lord Vishnu in the fuise of Mohini ws distributing the amirtham only to the devas. He was worried that the evil deeds of the asuras will incrase multifold if they consumed amirtham. Realizing this, one of the asuras with the help of the asura Guru Sukrachariyar, took the form of a deva and consumed the nectar. Suryan and Chandran who noticed this, complained to Lord Narayana.
In anger, Lord Narayana hit the asura on the head with the spoon in his hand. The head was cut off and fell on the ground. But because the asura had consumed amirtham, his head and body continued to live. The head portion of the asura attached itself to a snake body to become Rahu Bhagavan. The body portion that was thrown away fell in Pothigai mountain region. This was found and preserved by a Brahmin. The head of a snake got attached to the asura body to become Kethu.
Benefits of Worshipping:The kethu Bhagavan is ruled by Lord Ganesha and Indra. Those who are affected by Kethu dosha come here for rectification. The person who affected naga dosham, kala sharpa dosham, vivaha dosham(marriage), mental disorders, puthra dosham, fears of robbery, bad habits, nervous and leprosy problems, especially dangerous of all poisonous life forms, they come to visit Kizhaperumpallam Kethu Sthalam(kethu planet) they will rid from all these problems. Kethu is the presiding deity of Moksha.
Things of Worshipping:
Day : Tuesday
Donation : Horse Gram, Cat's Eye, spotted Goat, Dear Musk, Mixed Colored Cloth, Feeding Black Dog
Homa/Havan : Wood From Kusha Tree
Medicinal Bath : Red Sandal, Dear Musk, Elephant Musk, Urine of Ram, Pomegranate
Flower : Red AlliCloth : Multi Coloured Cloth
Prasatham (Food) : Rice mixed with Khollu powder.
Location:
(kizhaperumpallam)The ninth Navagraha temple is the Kizhaperumpallam near Poombukar, Nagai district in Tamil Nadu (India).
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