About trip

About Temple:This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 42nd Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). 
Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).

• Moolavar:Sri Swarnapureeswarar, Sri Semponpalliyar
• Ambal:Sri Sugantha Kunthalambikai, Sri Suganthavana Nayaki, Sri Maruvar kuzhali Amman
• Theertham (Holy water):Surya Theertham
• Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree):Vanni, Vilvam
• Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by:Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar).
• Location:Thiruchemponpalli (Sembanar Koil),Nagapattinam,Tamil Nadu.

History:

• This temple is counted as one of the Maadak Koils built by King Kochengat Cholan.
• This east facing temple has no main tower (Rajagopuram) but it has a beautiful arch at the entrance.
• The temple has a single corridor and it has no flag post.
• The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place in the year 2007. 
• There are six stone inscriptions in this temple dating back to the periods of Chola Kings Kulothungan, Rajathirajan and King Saraboji of Tanjure.
• The historical names of this place are Lakshmi Puri, Indirapuri and Skandapuri.
• There are few reasons why this place gets the name Sembanarkoil.
• One is that Chola kings built and renovated this temple hence it gets the name “Sembian Palli” (“Sembian” is another name for Cholas and “Palli” means village).
• Another reason is that the roof of Lord Shiva’s sanctum tower was earlier believed to have been made using many gold (“Sempon” in Tamil) sheets.
• Another reason is that the Swayambu lingam of this temple once sparkled like gold. For this reason, the lord is also praised as “Sri Semponpalliyar”.
• Usually, the village around the temple does not have a separate name and is referred to by the name of the temple itself. Following this norm, the village here is called Sembanar Koil. 

Itinerary

Day 1 - Nagapattinam Sightseeing

Proceed towards Nagapattinam. Then transfer to Hotel. Hotel Check In. Then proceed to visit Dutch Fort. Kayarohanaswamy Temple. Sikkal Singaravelar Temple. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 2 - Nagapattinam Sightseeing

Morning Breakfast at Hotel. Check out from Hotel. Then Proceed towards Sri Swarnapureeswarar Temple at Thiruchemponpalli (Sembanar Koil) Soundaryaraja Perumal Temple. Nellukadai Mariamman Temple. Finally drop at Railway Junction / Airport.