KETHU

Place  : Keezhaperumballam
Distance : 65 Kms From Kumbakoam
Deity : Naganathaswami with Sounthranayaki
Holy Tree : Vilvam
Holy Water : Naagha Puzhkaran

Hymn:
Once when Lord Vishnu in feminine from sent elixir to Devas you interposed and your severed head replaced by a snake's hood. I praise thee, Kethu you should protect me!
History:
When Lord Vishnu in the guise of a maid bewitching grace and undertook to distribute the elixir among the Devas and Asuras, he decided to deny the Asuras and fed only the Devas. Rahu was the Asura Who understood the intention of Vishnu. He transformed himself into the form of a Deva and stood among the Devas. But Suriyan and Chandran detected this subterfuge of Rahu and intimated Lord Vishnu of Raghu's maleficient Cunning. But Lord Vishnu knew this only after he had already given Raghu the Elixir. Raghu had just then taken a mouthful,when Lord Vishnu hit him at the head. But Rahu had tasted the elixir and was now immortal. The dismembered head became Rahu, and the headless body kethu. The head fell in the Earth at Malayam; a brahmin, by name Mini brought him up. Raghu learnt of spiritual truths form the Brahmin. In revenge the dark snake that is Raghu grips Chandran and causes Lunar eclipse. Kethu who is a red snake grips Suriyan and causes Solar eclipse. Kethu by the grace of Lord Siva. became a Graha. His form became divine and he had the five heads of snake grown upon him. His consort is Chitralekha.
Location :
The temple is at a distance from Dharmakulam, where buses flying between
Mayiladuthurai to Poomphuhar stop.
Temple :
The shrine faces east. The village is itself divided into two Keezhaperumpallam and Melaperumpallam. Melaperumapallam is referred to as valampuram in Devaram songs. The temple is called Naganthanswamy temple.
The Name of the
Temple:
Sri Naganathaswamy Temple
Reigning Deity: Lord Naganathaswamy with Mother Soundaranayaki.
Holy Waters: Nagatheertham.
Holy Trees:
Devotees who have
prayed here :
Bamboo,Appar,Sambandar and Sundarar have sung
hymns.
Saints who have sung
hymns:
Sambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar, Arunakiriyar, Kumara
Kurubarar, Padikkasu Thambiran, Chidambara Munivar,
Kalameghappularvar.
Features of the Shrine:
The festival which makes the occasion when the king of the land welcomed. Pattinathar into the city is celebrated annually. In the stone inscription of Vikramachozha this temple is mentioned as "Rasarasa Valanattu Akkur Nattu Thalai Chenguttu Thiruavalampuram" and the dieties "Valampuri Udayar" and "Thadangan Nachiar"