Visit Ketu Temple at Keezhperumpallam: Rahu Ketu Transit 2009

• Name : Sri Naganathaswamy Temple, Keezhperumpallam, Near Poompuhar, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu - Phone numbers 04364 - 275222 , 04364 - 260582 , 04364 - 260088
• Lord: Sri Naganathaswamy
• Consort: Soundaranayaki
• Theertham (Holy water): Naga Theertham
• Sthala Vriksham (Holy Tree): Bamboo
• Shrine: Ketu Shrine
• Poojas: Poojas will be performed six times in a day. There will be special abhishekam (bathing the deity with holy water) at 08.30 A.M
• Opening Timings: 6.00 A.M. to 1.00 P.M. and 4.00 P.M. to 8.00 P.M.

Sri Naganathaswamy Temple

Sri Naganathaswamy temple at Keezhperumpallam is well known as Ketu shrine. The shrine is also called as Vanagiri. It is a small village surrounded by green fields. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and Sri Naganathaswamy is the presiding deity. Soundaranayaki is the consort of the Lord. In Vedic Hindu astrology the South Lunar node or the descending node is recognized as Ketu. It is also called Dragon's tail. There is special significance for Ketu in Vedic Hindu astrology. Ketu is considered as a planet. The temple shrine at Keezhperumpallam is one of the Navagrahasthalam (nine celestial bodies).

Separate Sanctum Sanctorum for Ketu

The sanctum sanctorum of Ketu is located at this temple. It is rare to find Ketu with his head. You may see Lord Ketu with his consort Chitralekha and you may also see Lord Ketu with his head as well. At this shrine Lord Ketu performed penance towards Sri Naganathaswamy and prayed Lord to get rid of His sins. Lord Shiva blessed Lord Ketu and the sins of Ketu were relieved here. You may also find Lord Ketu worshiping Sri Naganathaswamy (Lord Shiva) with his folded hands and he is facing north-west direction.

Rahu Ketu Legend:

The significance of this legend is well illustrated in the Saivite and Vaishnavite literature. The gods (devas) and demons (the asuras) decided together to churn the ocean of milk (ksheerasaagaram) to obtain elixir of immortality (amrita). The mammoth mount Mandara was used as churner and the legendary serpent Vasuki was also used as rope. Lord Vishnu, one of the trinities of Hindu mythology, assumed as tortoise (Koorma Avataram - one among the ten avatarams of Lord Vishnu) and played as the sheet anchor and prevented the mountain from sinking. In the course of churning the serpent Vasuki spit the dreaded poison. The gods and demons prayed Lord Shiva to save them from the fuming poison. Lord Shiva consumed the poison and the poison was stopped at the throat of the Lord Shiva by His consort.

The churning continued till Dhanvantari, the legendary physician appearing with the pot filled with the amrita (elixir of immortality. Meanwhile the issue of sharing the elixir surface and the gods and demons fought among themselves. Lord Vishnu wanted to help gods. He never wanted the demons to assume immortality. He took the form of an enchanting girl (Mohini) and the amrita was served only to gods (devas).

However, two demons were able to taste the elixir in disguise of Devas. Lord Vishnu was able to note this when the elixir was half swallowed. The Lord severed their heads. With the power of elixir, the demons assumed two forms - Rahu and Ketu. Rahu assumed the form with a snake's head and human body and Ketu assumed the form of human head and the body of the snake.

Rahu Ketu Transition

The transits of Rahu (Raghu) - the North Lunar Node and Ketu (Kethu) - the South Lunar Node will take place on Tuesday 27th October 2009 at 9:04 AM as per Indian Standard Time. The transit is predicted according to Tamil Panchang or almanac (Solar calendar system). Rahu will transit from Zodiac sign Capricorn (Makar Rasi) to Zodiac sign Sagittarius (Dhanur Rasi). Ketu will transit from Zodiac sign Cancer (Kataka or Karkataka Rasi) to Zodiac sign Gemini (Mithuna Rasi). Both Rahu and Ketu will stay at Sagittarius and Gemini for the next eighteen months or one and half years.

Ketu Doshas

Kala Sarpa Yoga' or 'Kala Sarpa Dosha': Your horoscope will be uniquely identified as 'Kala Sarpa Yoga' or 'Kala Sarpa Dosha' when all the planets in your horoscope falls between the axis of Rahu or Ascending Node and Ketu or Descending Node.

'Sarpa Dosha': 1. Starting from Moon if Rahu or Ketu is placed in your 8th house of your horoscope; 2. Starting from your own lagna, if Rahu or Ketu is placed in Trikona (fifth and nineth house).

Ketu Dosham: If Ketu is placed in the seventh or the eighth house from Ascendant (Lagnam) or Raasi (Moon sign), then there is Ketu dosham.

Astrological Remedies

1.Specific chanting on Lord Ketu Or Archana is performed at this shrine
2.Chanting as Astrological Remedy or Parihara Archana is also performed at KeezhaPerumballam
3.Pouring and bathing the deity with milk - Milk Abishekam is one of the specific remedy performed at KeezhaPerumballam
4.Pouring and bathing the deity with milk, curd, rose water, honey, coconut water, fruit jam, holy ash etc. It is called Parihara Abishekam
5.Dhosha Nivarthi Homam or Havan as astrological remedy is performed at KeezhaPerumballam. On special occasions. The transit of Ketu is one such occasion.

Location of the Temple:

Most of the Navagraha temples are located in Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur and Thanjavur districts. Chennai airport is well connected with most of the Indian cities and towns and there are frequent flights. From Chennai you may able to reach Thiruchirapalli by air. From Thiruchirapalli you may able to reach Thanjavur by bus or taxi. It is about 58 kms. Thiruchirapalli is the nearest city connected by train. From Thiruchirapalli there are trains to Thanjavur. You may able to reach all the small and big towns as well as villages by Tamil Nadu road transport corporation buses. Sri Naganathaswamy Temple is located at Keezhperumpallam. It is a very small village. From Kumbakonam the shrine is 63 km away. You can access Keezhperumpallam from Sirkazhi (a temple town), enroute to Poombuhar. It is six kilometer away from Thiruvenkadu, a Navagraha shrine devoted to Nercury (Lord Budhan).

You may get good hotels at Sirkazhi or Mayiladuthurai (Mayavaram). You can conveniently reach the temple by bus or taxi from Sirkazhi or Mayiladuthurai (Mayavaram). However, bus services are not frequent. You may have to hire taxi and you may able to cover these shrines Thiruvenkadu (Shrine of Mercury), Keezhperumpallam (Shrine of Ketu) Vaitheeswaran Koil (Shrine Chevvai or Angarakan or Mars), Thirukkadiyur (Shrine of Lord Amirthakadeshwar and Abhirami) and Thirunallaru (Shrine of Saturn).

Reference

1.Temple Keezhperumpallam http://pariharam.com/Temple_Keezhaperumpallam.aspx?TempleID=TMPL009
2.Keezhperumpallam http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/Navagraha/keezhperum.html
3.Sri Kethu Bagavan Keezhperumpallam
4.http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2009/07/kethu-navagraha-temple-at.html