Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu

Nava means nine and grahas means planets. The navagrahas or nine planets play a major role in Hindu religion. It is believed that anything that happens to a person, whether good or bad, is caused by these planets (not by all). Among these planets, Sun and Moon are the two that we see every day. Sun plays a major role in the solar system.

The temples dedicated to the navagrahas are called as Navagraha temples or Navagrahastalam. All these temples are majorly dedicated to Lord Shiva and are about 1000-2000 years old. All these temples are open from 6.00 AM to 12.30 PM IST and from 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM IST.

Suryan (Sun) Temple -------------------------------------- Suryanar Kovil

Chandran (Moon) Temple -------------------------------- Thingalur

Chevvai or Angaragan (Mars) Temple ------------------ Vaitheeswaran Koil

Budhan (Mercury) Temple ------------------------------- Thiruvengadu

Guru (Jupiter) Temple ----------------------------------- Alangudi

Sukran (Venus) Temple ---------------------------------- Kanjanoor

Sani (Saturn) Temple ------------------------------------- Thirunallar

Raaghu (North Lunar Node) Temple ------------------- Thirunageswaram

Kethu (South Lunar Node) Temple --------------------- Kezhaperumpallam or Vanagiri

Suryan (Sun) Temple

It is located in a small village called Suryanar Kovil about 14 kms from Kumbakonam towards Mayiladurai. This temple is dedicated to The Sun God. The god graces in a wedding position with his consorts Sri Usha Devi and Sri Prathusha Devi. This is the only Navagraha temple, which has shrines for all other eight grahas belonging to the navagraha family. You can see the Sun in his vehicle of seven horses representing seven days of a week. The speciality of this temple is that the Sun graces in a wedding form with a calm and gracing face.

Chandran (Moon) Temple

It is located in a very small village called Thingalur about 37 kms from Kumbakonam towards Thiruvaiyaru. This temple is dedicated to Lord Chandran. The main deity or moolavar is Kailasanathar and Periyanayagi amman.

An interesting history related to this temple is about Apputhi Adigal and his devotion to the Sage Thirunavukkarasur. Apputhi Adigal was a great person of his times and performed many charity and social works in his village - Thingalur. He had a great respect and devotion towards Thirunavukkarasur without even seeing him. All his charity institutions were run in the name of Thirunavukkarasur.

When Thirunavukkarasur came to Thingalur one day, he came to know about this charity works running in his name. He heard about Appudi Adigal and visited his home. He accepted his invite to have lunch at home with his family. Apputhi Adigal had a son called Thirunavukkarasur, named after the Sage Thirunavukkarasur, who went to fetch a plaintain leaf from garden. Unfortunately, he was bitten by a snake and passed away. When the Sage came home to have lunch, he found the small boy missing. He enquired about that boy to his parents. The parents dint give proper reply. Finally, when forced to say the truth, Apputhi Adigal told him what had happened. Thirunavukkarasur took that boy's dead body to the temple and sang in praise of the Lord Siva and restored him back to life.

Chevvai or Angaragan (Mars) Temple

It is located in Vaitheeswaran Koil about 26 kms from Chidambaram towards Mayiladurai.  The main deity or moolavar is Vaitheeswaran and his consort Thaiyalnayagi Amman. The god Vaitheeswaran is believed to cure all sort of diseases.

When Chevvai or Angaragan is affected by skin disease, he came to this temple to get recovery. Chevvai had a holy dip in this temple pond and prayed to Lord Vaitheeswaran and got remedy.  The moolavar Angaragan is located at the back side of the main deity. The urchava moorthy is located left of the main deity. Abishek alone is done to the moolavar. Archana or pooja is done to the urchavar.

Budhan (Mercury) Temple

It is located in Thiruvengadu about 14 kms from Sirkazhi towards Poompuhar or 34 kms from Chidambaram towards Poompuhar. The main deity is Swetharanyeswarar and his consort Brahma Vidya Ambal. There is a separate shrine for the Lord Bhudan inside this temple. This is one of the famous temple called as "padal petra stalam" by four saints (Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manikkavasakar).

This temple has 3 theerthas (Agni Theertham, Soorya Theertham and Chandra Theertham) and 3 gods (Swetharanyeswarar, Agora Moorthy and Bhudan). Agora Moorthy, an incarnation of Lord Siva, is the most popular deity of the temple. Since Lord Siva has performed six dances in this temple as performed in Chidambaram, it is called Aaadhi Chidambaram. Chidambara Rahasya is also here.

Guru (Jupiter) Temple

It is located in Alangudi about 5 kms from Kumbakonam towards Sirkazhi. The main deity is Apatsahayeswarar and his consort Elawar Kuzhali. Lord Dakshinamoorthy is worshipped as Lord Guru in this temple.

While coming to Alangudi, Saint Sundarar was caught in flood. It is said that Lord Siva himself came to rescue his devotee in a boat. Lord Ganesha protected the boat from turn over and hence called as "Kalangamal Katha Vinayakar". Lord Ganesha in this temple is believed to remove mental worries of the devotees.

Sukran (Venus) Temple

It is located in Kanjanoor about 17 kms from Kumbakonam towards Sirkazhi and 2 kms from Suryanar Kovil. The main deity "Agniswarar Swami" is incarnated as Lord Sukran. This temple is also called as "Padal Petra Stalam". It is believe that Lord Brahma blessed the marriage of Lord Siva and Parvathy in this temple. The Goddess is named as Karpagambal.

Sani (Saturn) Temple

It is located in Thirunallar about 7 kms from Karaikal and 52 kms from Kumbakonam towards Karaikal. The only temple dedicated to Lord Sani is Tirunallur Saneeshwaran Temple. The main deity is  Sri Dharbaranyeswara Swamy.

It is believed that the King Nala got relief from all the malefic infleunce of  Lord Sani only after worshipping in this temple. The most popular and important theertham in this temple is called as "Nala Theertham".

Raaghu (North Lunar Node) Temple

It is located in Thirunageswaram about 7 kms from Kumbakonam towards Karaikal. The main deity is Naganathar with his consort Piraisoodi Amman. The temple has a separate shrine for Lord Raaghu along with his two consorts Nagavalli and Nagakanni.

Milk abhishek performed during Raaghu Time (Raaghu Kalam - 4.30 PM to 6.00 PM) on Sundays is more popular. The miracle that happens during milk abhishek is that the colour of the milk changes from white to blue when milk is poured over the statue and returns back to white colour while reaching the floor.

Kethu (South Lunar Node) Temple

It is located in Kezhaperumpallam about 21 kms from Sirkazhi towards Poompuhar or 41 kms from Chidambaram towards Poompuhar or 2 kms from Poompuhar. This place is also called as Vanagiri. It is just 6 kms from Budhan Temple - Thiruvengadu.

The main deity is Naganatha Swamy with his consort Sowndara Nayagi. The theertham in this temple is called as Naga Theertham. A separate shrine for Lord Kethu  is available in this temple. You can see Kethu with folded hands worshipping Lord Siva in this temple.

Six houses of Lord Murugan

Lord Murugan is called as the Tamil god. Many popular poets have sung about him. Though he has many temples, six temples are popular known as “arupadai veedu’’.  They are:

1. Thiruparankundram
2. Thiruchendur
3. Palani
4. Swami Malai
5. Tiruttani
6. Palamudhircholai

All these houses are located in Tamil Nadu.

Thiruparankundram

It is called the first house of arupadai veedu and located 8 kilometers south of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. This is a cave temple and belongs to 8^th century. This is the only temple where Abishek is performed to Vel, the weapon of lord Muruga. He graces in a sitting, wedding form with his wife Deivanai in this temple. In all other five houses, he graces in a standing position.

This temple has 11 theerthas. The persons affected with skin disease can offer their prayer with rock salt and pepper in lakshmi theertha to get remedy. Worshipping Goddess Durga in this temple during Raghu period is believed to provide goodness to life. You can see lots of white peacocks around this temple.

Thiruchendur

It is called the second house of arupadai veedu and located 46 kilometers from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. Among the six houses, this is the only house located in the seashore. This temple is around 1000 to 2000 years old.

Lord Muruga finally destroyed damn Surapadma in this place and got victory. That day is celebrated as Kanthasasti. Soora samharam is most popularly and grandly celebrated in this temple every year.

Palani

It is called the third house of arupadai veedu and located in Dindugal district of Tamil Nadu, India. It was built by the King Seraman Peruman about 1300 years ago. Golden chariot and golden peacock vehicles of Lord Muruga are too popular in this temple.

This temple is located at a height of 450 meters. To reach the temple, you need to take 690 steps. You can also use winch and rope car services to reach the temple.

Swami Malai

It is called the fourth house of arupadai veedu and located 8kms from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. This is the only rock temple around Kumbakonam. To reach the top of the temple, you need to walk 60 steps. All these steps are considered to have holiness.

During Tamil and English New Year days, poojas are performed for all these 60 steps. This pooja is done with cloth, coconut and fruits and popularly known as ‘thirupadi pooja’.

Tiruttani

It is called the fifth house of arupadai veedu and located in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, India. This temple has 365 steps denoting the 365 days of a year. Rudracha mandapa located in this temple has around hundreds and thousands of ruthrachas. This temple is considered as one of the oldest temple among all other temples of Muruga.

The sandal prasatham given in this temple is not applied on the forehead by the devotees as did in other temples. Instead, this prasatham is mixed with water and taken as a liquid drink, which is said to heal many diseases. This prasatham is provided only on the function days.

Pazhamudhircholai

It is called the sixth house of arupadai veedu and located above Azhar Malai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Among other six houses, only in this temple he graces with both his wife Valli and Deivanai. Sutta pazhama or sudatha pazham thiruvilaiyadal of Muruga to Avvai happened in this place.

Syzygium cumini (Naaval or nava pazham) ripe usually in the Tamil month of ‘Aadi or Aavani’. But, in this place this fruit ripe during the Tamil month ‘Iypasi’. You can take bath in the noobura Ganga theertha near Goddess Rakkayi Amman temple before worshipping Lord Muruga.