8°11′15″N 77°25′59″E / 8.187617°N 77.433130°E
| Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil | |
|---|---|
 The unusual gopura of Nagaraja temple. The city traditional name Nagarkōyil is derived from this temple. | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Nagercoil |
| Deity | Lord Nagaraja |
| Location | |
| Location | Nagercoil |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
Nagaraja Temple is an early large temple found in the city of Nagercoil (Nagarkōyil) near the southern tip of Tamil Nadu, India. Its dating is uncertain but likely pre-12th-century. The main sanctum is dedicated to the Nagaraja – the king of serpents. Padmanabham (1985), Heritage Of The Tamils Temple Arts, Editors: SV Subramanian and G Rajendran, International Institute of Tamil Studies, Since the 17th-century, new Hindu shrines have been added to the temple complex attracting devotees of Krishna (Vishnu), as well as Shaiva and Shakti Hindus.[1] The original iconography of the Tirthankaras and Padmavati Devi have and continue to remain a part of the sacred pantheon close to the temple's main sanctum.[1][2]
The temple has three shrines. The oldest and the main shrine's deity remains the original Nagaraja. The second shrine is dedicated to Ananthakrishna (baby Krishna dancing on a coiled snake) with Rukmini and Satyabhama. The third shrine is dedicated to Shiva.[3] The mandapa includes six icons of Tirthankaras and a goddess such as Parsvanatha and Padmavati Devi with rare, non-standard emblems (all lions). It also includes those of Hindu deities such as Subrahmanya Swami, Ganesha and Devi Bhagavati.[2]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
KramrischCousins1948was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Rao, T.A. Gopinatha (1910). Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. 2. pp. 127–129.
- ^ P.K. Nambiar and K.C. Narayana Kurup (1968), Fairs and Festivals (Temples), Census of India 1961, Volume IX: Madras, Part VII-B, pp.43–44