Thirunageswaram

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?Thirunageswaram Tamil Nadu • India
Coordinates: (find coordinates)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Thanjavur
Population	13,814 (2001)

Thirunageswaram is a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thirunageswaram is located 8 km east of Kumbakonam.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[1], Thirunageswaram had a population of 9,814. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Thirunageswaram has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 65%. In Thirunageswaram, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The town receives a lot of rainfall every year (220 cm) and is known for its extremely fertile land and chief crops include Rice, Wheat and Corn. Coconut and Mango farms are also found in abundance.

[edit] Temples at Thirunageswaram

There are two major temples at Thirunageswaram. One of them is the famous Vaishnavaite temple of Oppliyappan (Oppliyappan Sannadhi), the other the ThiruNageswarar or NagaNathaswami (Naga in tamil/sanskrit means Snake and Natha means God) temple for Shaivaites.

An important feature of this temple is that of Rahu bhagawan sannathi where milk abhishekham is performed daily during Rahukaalam. At this time, the milk that is poured on the statue turns blue when it passes over the body and once again to white after it reaches the floor. This wonder is watched by many daily during the raahu kaalam. This is also the only place wherein one can view Rahu bhagawan with his consorts. Sri Thirupureeswarar temple at Pateeswaram, 5 km south-east of Kumbakonam, was constructed during the 16th century by Govinda Dikshithar, a Minister of Nayak King Acchathappa.