01Vasuki’s worship
At the churning of the ocean the serpent Vasuki was the rope, and the sthala purana tells that, worn out and spitting venom, he came here and worshipped Shiva to be cleansed. The Lord who received him is Naganathar. Ketu, the shadow graha that is the body of the asura Svarbhanu after Vishnu’s discus parted it from the head, has his shrine here and is shown with folded hands, turned in worship towards Shiva. Tuesdays and the Ketu hora draw devotees who bring red flowers and horse gram (kollu).
02On the coast road
Keezhaperumpallam lies a short way inland from Poompuhar, where the Kaveri meets the Bay of Bengal. It is the smallest temple of the nine and the last on most pilgrims’ route, usually taken with Thiruvenkadu on the same morning. Those who follow the old order of the circuit go Surya first and Ketu last, and many end the day with a dip in the sea at Poompuhar, where the Kaveri’s water is said to carry the merit of the whole delta.
About 2 km from Poompuhar and 25 km from Sirkazhi. Open mornings and evenings; the village is small, so carry water.
