Navagraha Temples

part i

Navagraha Temples Nine temples, which are famous for each of the Navagraha are situated around Mayiladuthurai,Nagappattinam and Thanjavur.. The seven planets, the Sun (Suriya), the Moon (Chandra), the Mars(Sevvai or Angarakan), the Mercury (Budhan), the Jupiter (Guru or Prahaspathi), the Venus (Sukkiran) and the Saturn (Saneeswaran) and the ascending & the descending nodes of Moon, the Raahu and the Ketu are called the Navagrahas

The Navagragha temples are Vaideeswaran Koil (Mars-Angaraka), Thiruvenkadu (Mercury-Budha), Keezhperumpallam (Ketu), Thirunallar (Saturn-Sani), Kanjanur (Venus-Sukra), Suriyanar Koil (Sun-Surya), Thirunageswaram (Rahu), Thingalur (Moon-Chandra) and Alangudi (Jupiter-Guru).

They pay good fortune or bad fortune to all living things in the universe according to their good or bad deeds. Those who worship Navagrahas will be relieved of their misfortune and of the baneful influence. These navagrahas are situated in all Siva Temples. They are situated on the north eastern side of the karpagrahas of Siva Temples

One can visit all the 9 temples in a day, starting from Mayuram.

Suriyanar koil - Sun - Suriyan This is about 20kms west of Mayuram, near Aduthurai. This is a temple where Surya resides with his wives Chaya and Suvarcha. With Surya at the centre, temples of the other Grahas are around Surya.

Thingaloor - Moon - Chandiran This is about 40 kms west of Mayuram, near thiruvaiyaru. Mentally disturbed people come here to get cure get rid of their sorrows and sufferings.

Vaidheeswaran Koil - Mars - Angarakan This temple is 12 kms north-east of Mayuram. This town is also called as PullirukkuVeloor. Jadayu - the eagle who tried to stop Ravana from proceeding to Lanka with Sita, got his wings cut by Ravana and fell down here and eventually got Moksha. Even today we can see the place where Jadayu was cremated - jadayu kundam.

Vaithiswaran koil is a crowd puller for many reasons along with the Angarakan. Vaidyanadha Swamy ( shiva ) is believed to cure illness of the devotees. Lot of people come here everyday, offer their prayers for getting their illness cured. The Ambal is called Valambika alias Thaiyal Nayaki.

Kiruthigai is an auspicious day here with special poojas performed for SelvaMuthuKumara Swamy ( Murugan ). Nayanmars, Arunagiri Nadar, kumaraguruparar, kalamega pulavar have visited this temple and sung in praise of the deity. Separate sanctorium for Angaraka is here ( and only here ).

Thiruvenkadu - Mercury - Budhan This is about 24 kms east of Mayuram. Lord Shiva resides here in the name of Swetharanyar. This temple is referred in Saiva Thirumurais and Sastras. This place is similar to Kasi with all the Snana Ghats. One can do all the karmas here, that should be done in kasi. We can find a separate sanctum sanctorium for bhudan. Bhudan is helpful for improvement in education and Arts.

Alangudi - Jupiter - Guru This is about 40 kms from Mayuram near Needamangalam. Here Lord Guru is engraved on the wall and is not in the form of separate idol.

Kanjanur - Venus - Sukran Kanjanur is near Suriyanarkoil. People come here for getting the blessings of Sukran, who is believed to give wealth.

Thirunallaru - Saturn - Sani This is the most sought Navagraham, which is about 30 kms east of Mayuram. There is a separate sanctum sanctoriam for Lord sani. This is the place where Sani left from the body of Nala maharaj. This is one of the sapta vidanga kshetras ( where Musukunda chakravarthy installed Thyagaraja ). It is believed that taking bath in the holy tank ( Nala Theertham ) will help people to escape from the woes of Sani.

Thirunageswaram - Ragu This is about 30 kms from Mayuram , near kumbakonam. The main deity's name is Nageshwarar and Ambal's name is Girigujambikai. She will be decorated as a small girl in the Mornings, as young lady in Noons and as lady in evenings. Thirunageswaram is referenced in Lalitha Sahasranamam. Here Ragu resides with his wife and everyday, during Ragu kalam, when Milk is poured over Ragu idol, it changes to blue colour. People having Ragu dosha come here during Ragu kalam and perform Abishekas.

Keezhaperumpallam - Kethue This temple is about 20 kms from Mayuram, near Thiruvenkadu. Here there is a separate sanctum sanctorium for Kedhu. Those who are affected by Kedhu dosha come here for rectification.