Naganatha Swamy Temple (Keezhaperumpallam Ketu Sthalam)

Temple information

Darshan timings

06:00 – 20:30

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Shiva Lingam (Primary), Granite standing human-serpent form with folded hands in worship (Ketu Bhagwan)

Religious tradition

Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta & Vedic Astrology

Sanskrit name

श्री नागनाथ स्वामी मंदिर (कीलापेरुम्पल्लम केतु स्थलम)

Also known as

Keezhaperumpallam Navagraha Sthalam, Ketu Kovil, Vanagiri Kshetram

Darshan hours

Monday

06:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Tuesday

06:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Wednesday

06:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Thursday

06:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Friday

06:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM

Saturday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Sunday

06:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Break timings

12:30PM -04:30PM

Special days

Continuous extended schedules operating during Ketu Peyarchi (transit) festival cycles and Pradoshams

Festival timings

Continuous all-day darshan queue systems operating during high-peak weekend transits

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

06:30 AM

Midday aarti

12:00 PM

Evening aarti

06:30 PM

Night aarti

8:15 PM

Special aarti days

Saturdays and Sundays feature grand alankaram poojas during specific daily Ketu prayer frames

Ritual schedule

Four periodic daily pooja sessions conducted by local traditional Shivachariya priests

Pooja timings

Archana rituals and standard public darshan rows flow during all operational hours

Abhishek timings

Special Ketu Abhishekam performed continuously on weekends and during seasonal transit shifts

Special poojas

Ketu Parihara Pooja, dynamic obstacle clearance rituals, and spiritual enrichment archanas

Online pooja booking

Via portal

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Mainly patronized and rebuilt in stone by the Medieval Cholas and regional local chieftains

Architect / builder

Medieval Chola Monarchs and regional royal temple builders

Construction materials

monolithic stone framework, traditional grey granite blocks, and lime mortar materials

Historical events

Ancient site noted as a Vaipu Sthalam celebrated in early Tamil devotional song catalogs

Renovations

Significant architectural maintenance by Chola kings, Vijayanagara monarchs, and state department efforts

Archaeological importance

Features standard stone epigraphs tracking historical dynastic property grants and rural governance

Legends

Ketu Bhagwan prayed to Lord Shiva here to gain relief from the cosmic severing during the churning of the ocean

Inscriptions

Wall records describing structural endowments and land grants dating back to Imperial Chola era

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

Imperial Chola and Later Vijayanagara Eras

Structure

Traditional walled single-prakaram configuration surrounding central dynamic shrines

Floors

1

Gopuram

Features a distinctive and beautiful two-tiered entrance gopuram gate facing the main street corridor

Mandapa

Small enclosed assembly hall leading directly to the primary and Ketu shrines

Sculptural features

Ornate granite wall reliefs showcasing icons of Shiva, Vinayagar, and planetary deity panels

Artistic elements

Beautifully stylized representations of celestial planetary rays and historic serpentine motifs

Construction technique

Interlocking dry-granite precision masonry architecture traditional to Thanjavur delta region

Unique features

Ketu Bhagwan stands uniquely with a serpent head and a human body folded in an absolute posture of deep devotion to Lord Shiva

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Adheres precisely to the ancient solar-lunar traditional Tamil almanac cycles

Special celebration days

Every single weekend, monthly Pradoshams, and planetary transit alignments

Cultural events

Devotional classical music and spiritual lectures organized during the annual festival transits

Annual events

Special celestial festival alignments during the planetary transit windows

Peak crowd season

Peak tourist volumes during winter vacation months and specific annual Ketu transit periods

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter
• ✓ Annadanam

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

20-30 vehicles

Parking fees

approx. 20 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Multi-colored horse gram pulse (Kollu) prepared and offered as the distinct primary token for Ketu