Chennai: Next to the Shani and Guru Peyarchi — the major transits, the Rahu Ketu Peyarchi triggers religious activities in the ancient temples. And devotees visit the ancient Sri Naganathar Temple (which is the Rahu Sthalam), at Thirunageshwaram in Kumbakonam, and Sri Naganathaswamy Temple (dedicated to Ketu) at Keelaperumpallam in Nagapattinam, to mollify the planets so as to get relieved or diminish its negative effects.
Both these two ancient temples in the state are gearing up for the Rahu Ketu Peyarchi on July 27. Though not many are aware, Chennai’s neighbourhood has two ancient temples dedicated to Rahu and Ketu viz. the Nageswarar Temple dedicated to Shiva as Nageswara Swamy, at Kundrathur (for Rahu) and Neelakandeswarar Temple at Gerugambaakkam, dedicated to Kethu Bhagavan. These temples are also getting ready for the transit of Rahu to Cancer (Kadagam) and Ketu to Capricorn (Maharam) for next one-and-half years.
The Siva temple at Gerugambaakkam belongs to Chola era and its main deity is Sri Neelakandeswarar and Goddess Sri Aadhi Kamakshi and the shrine is one of the Navagraha temples of Chennai dedicated to Sri Kethu Bhagavan. Special Poojas and Homams are performed to Sri Kethu Bhagavan during Rahu Ketu Peyarchi at this ‘Parihaara Sthalam’ for people having ill effects due to Ketu’s position in the Horoscope. Sri Aadhi Kamakshi present at this temple outside the main sanctum, facing south is tall and looks very majestically beautiful. She is said to be the first among 5 forms of Kamakshi.
At the Sri Nageswarar Temple, the Moolavar is Nageswarar, while Somaskandar is the Utsaavar, the Goddess here is Kamakshi. This place is also called as “Vada Thirunageswaram.” Kundrathur is also famous for Murugan temple.
At the Sri Naganathaswamy temple, Thirunageswaram, during the Rahu transit in anti-clockwise, special abishekam with homam are performed and on all the three days. Rahu Bhagvan is taken in a procession on Sesha Vaha-
ham.
The Seshapureeswarar temple at Tirupampuram in Tiruvarur district is another famous Rahu Ketu pilgrimage spot in the state and it is believed that this temple is equally powerful as the Keelaperumpallam and Sri Kalahasthi tem-ples.
