Navagraha Temples

Nine temples, which are famous for each of the Navagraha are situated around Mayiladuthurai. One can visit all the 9 temples in a day, starting from Mayuram and it has become quite a popular tourist circuit today.

Suriyanar koil - Sun - Suriyan
This is about 20kms west of Mayuram, near Aduthurai. Surya resides with his wives Chaya and Suvarcha in this holy place. 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, on the way to Chidambaram. This town is also called as Pull-irukku-Veloor. Jadayu - the eagle who made a gallant attempt to stop Ravana from proceeding to Lanka with Sita, got relieved of his wings by Ravana, fell down here and eventually got Moksha. Even today we can see the place where Jadayu was cremated - 'Jadayu Kundam'.

Vaidheeswaran koil is a crowd puller for many reasons along with the Angarakan. Vaidyanadha Swamy ( shiva ) is believed to cure illness of the ardent devotees. Lot of people throng here everyday, offer their prayers for regaining their health with the grace of the deity. 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 sanctorum for Angaraka is a speciality out here as you cannot find it elsewhere.

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 is supposed to be done in kasi. We can find a separate sanctum sanctorum for bhudan. Bhudan holds the portfolio of Education and Arts and it is the next popular place students prefer to go after Tuition centers.

Alangudi - Jupiter - Guru
This is about 40 kms from Mayuram near Needamangalam. The speciality here is that 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, to get themselves 'Sukra Dasa', who is believed to get them wealth.

Thirunallaru - Saturn - Shani
This is the most sought Navagraham, which is about 30 kms east of Mayuram on the way to Thiruvarur. There is a separate sanctum sanctoram for Lord Shani. This is the place where Shani left from the body of Nala Maharaja. This is one of the 'Sapta Vidanga Kshetras' ( where Musukunda Chakravarthy installed the deity of Thyagaraja ). It is believed that holy dip in the 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 is 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 miraculously changes to blue colour. People having Ragu dosha come here during Ragu kalam and perform Abishekas.

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

Home | About Me | Interests | Projects | Articles & Fun | Music Centre | Temples | Travelogue | Favourites

1