Ramanathaswamy Koil at Thirunaraiyur or Nachiar Koil is popular for Saneeswaran who is present here with his two wives and two sons. Ramanathaswamy temple lies between the Thirunaraiyur Nambi temple or Kal Garudan temple and Siddhanathar temple. Thus it is situated between a Divya Desam and a Padal Petra Sthalam.
The legend goes that King Dasaratha was once ruling the entire world. Saturn was to make its transit to Rohini star after Krithigai. King Dasaratha was informed by sage Vasishta that this transit by Saturn to Rohini would be devastating for the whole world as it would be punctuated with famine and drought causing immense hardship to all the living beings. He asked Dasaratha to prevent it.
Dasaratha instantaneously set out on his chariot and arrived at the star, Rohini. He saw Saturn moving in his golden chariot in the direction of Rohini and tried to stop Saneeswaran by force. Saneeswaran, though impressed with the King’s valour said that just His looks can destroy anybody. However, king Dasaratha could not be harmed because of the powers that he had accumulated through severe penance. Dasaratha requested Saneeswaran to spare Bhoomadevi and all the creatures living on it. Saneeswaran was pleased by the King’s concern for his people. He asked Dasaratha to go to Thirunaraiyur and have a bath at the temple tank to have his wish fulfilled. King Dasaratha did accordingly and Saneeswaran gave a darshan to Dasaratha and agreed to his prayer. Consequently, Thirunaraiyur is an important place to worship Saneeswaran. This is a Sani dosha nivarthi sthalam. King Dasaratha also sang the following hymn to please Saneeswaran and chanting of this stotra is believed to relieve anybody of Sani Dosham.
Dasaratha Shani Stotram (Click here to view the Sanskrit version of the Stotram)
Om. asya shree shanaishchara stotrasya
dashratha rishi
shanaish-charo-devata
trishtup chandahah
shanaish-chara preety-arthe jape viniyogah
Om. Sri Shani Stotra, Dasharatha is the Rishi (seer of the mantra). Shanaishchara is god (related to this hymn). Trishtup is metre. Enjoined is repetition (of this hymn) for the appeasement of Shanaishchara (Saturn).
kono-antaka roudra-yama-tha babhruh
krishnah shanih pingala manda sourih
nityam smrito yo harate cha peedam
tasmai namah shree ravi-nandanaya
Prostrations to Sri Ravinandana (Saturn), who when regularly remembered as (the ten names listed in the first and second line of this verse) steals away the suffering (misfortune of the devotee).
sura asurah kim purusha ragendra
gandharva vidyadhara panna-gash cha
peedyanti sarve vishama-stitena
tasmai namah shree ravi-nandanaya
Prostrations to Sri Ravinandana, by whose unfavourable position, gods, demons, celestial beings, celestial musicians, celestial masters of various wisdom-teachings and even celestial snakes succumb to sufferings.
nara narendra pashavo mrigendra
vanyas-cha ye keeta-patanga-bringah
peedyanti sarve vishama-stitena
tasmai namah shree ravi-nandanaya
Prostrations to Sri Ravinandana, whose unfavourable position brings agony to laymen, emperors, common animals, huge animals, forest creatures, insects, flies and humming bees (irrespective of their status).
desah-cha durgani vanani Yatra
sena-nivesah pura-pattnani
peedyanti sarve visham-stitena
tasmai namah shree ravi-nandanaya
Prostrations to Sri Ravinandana, whose unfavourable position brings about suffering to countries, citadels, forests, war-camps, houses and cities.
tilairya-vair-masha gudanna danaih
iohena neelambara danato va
preenati mantrair-nijavasare cha
tasmai namah shree ravi-nandanaya
Prostrations to Sri Ravinandana, who is appeased by giving in charity things like sesame, paddy, black-gram, molasses, rice pudding, iron, blue cloth etc., and by chanting mantras on his own day (Saturday).
prayaga-koole Yamuna tate cha
sarasvati punya-jale guhayam
yo yoginam dhyana-gatopi sookshmas
tasmai namah shree ravi-nandanaya
Prostrations to Sri Ravinandana, who manifests in subtle form before the yogis who meditate on him at any holy bank of prayag (confluence) of two rivers; Yamuna and Saraswati, or in a cave.
anya-pradeshat swagriham pravishtas
tadeeya-vare sa narah sukhe syat
grihad gato yo na punah prayati
tasmai namah sri ravi-nandanaya
Prostrations to Sri Ravinandana, who bestows happiness to a person when He enters His own house (constellation); (though) when He leaves the house, does not return for a long time.
srashta swayam-bhoor bhuvana trayasya
trata hareesho harate pinakee
ekas tridhah rig yajuh sama murtis
tasmai namah sri ravi-nandanaya
Prostrations to Sri Ravinandana, who is the creator of three worlds, who is the self-manifested being, who is Hari the protector and Pinakin (Siva, bearer of the three pointed spear or pinaka), the destroyer, all in one, as well as the embodiment of the three-fold Vedas; Rig, Yajus and Saman.
konasthah pingala babruh
krishno roudroantako yamah
sourih shanaish-charo manday
pippalandena sam stutah
Thus, Pippalada praises Thee (by chanting your ten names as contained in lines 1-3).
etani dasha-namani
pratar-uthaya yah pathet
shanaishchara-krita peeda
na kadachid bhavishyati
Harih Om
He who chants these ten names, getting-up early in the morning, will never suffer from the pain caused by Saturn. Harih Om.
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This is the only place where He is present with His wives Mandhi Devi and Jyeshta Devi and two sons Maandhi and Kuligan. Lord Rama and Anjaneya are believed to have prayed at this temple on their way back to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
The main deity of this temple is Ramanathaswamy and His consort is Parvathavardhini, just as in Rameswaram. Many consider this temple equivalent to Rameswaram and those unable to visit Rameswaram visit this temple.
In the navagraha shrine, the Sun is at the centre and is seen with his two wives Usha Devi and Prathyushadevi. The rays of the Sun and the Moon fall directly on the Shivalingam sometime in the month of April.
This temple is maintained by the HR and CE department.
Temple Location:
Thirunaraiyur is about 8 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam Tiruvarur route. All buses on this route stop at Thirunaraiyur or Nachiyar Koil.
View Around Kumbakonam in a larger map
Other Temples Nearby:
Other Temples Nearby:
Padikkasunathar Temple, Alagaputhur
Thirucherai Saranatha Perumal Temple
Tirucherai Kadan Nivartheeswarar Temple
Uppiliappan Koil
Karukkakkum Nayaki Temple, Karuvalarcheri
Prathyangara Devi Temple – Ayyavadi
Travel Base: Kumbakonam
Temple Address:
Ramanathaswami Temple,
Nachiar Koil-612602
Phone number 0435-2476411/2476157.