Navagraha Day 3

Day 5

1st Half

Kethu – Keezhaperumpallam to Bhudhan (Mercury) – Tiruvenkadu to Chevvai (Mars) – Vaithiswarnkoil to Sirkali

2nd Half
Sirkali to Chindambram
History /Importance of Kethu – Keezhaperumpallam

Navagraha : Kethu
Deity : Kethu Bagwan
Location : Kheezhperumpallam

Kilperumpallam (Keezaperumpallam), Near Poompuhar - on Mayiladuthurai- Poompuhar road
Keezhperumpallam is also called Vanagiri. Kethu bagavan prayed to Naaganaadhaswami and was blessed and rid of his sins by Lord Siva. It is rare to find Kethu with his head. At this sthalam , he can be seen worshipping Naaganaadhaswami with his folded hands held high. Kethu Bagavan is draped in multicolor, it is believed that offering pooja to KethuBagavan with red lily flower, kollu and fancy cloth will cure illness, prevent poverty


History /Importance of Bhudhan (Mercury) – Tiruvenkadu
Navagraha : Budhan (Mercury)




Temple Entrance.


Deity : Budha
Location : Thiruvenkadu

Thiruvenkadu is located near Mayiladuthurai and is 10 km from Vaitheeswaran Koil and Seerkazhi railway stations. Pilgrims can alight at any of these stations to reach the temple. The temple is situated in a sprawling area of 2,45,520 sq. ft. surrounded by five prakarams known as pancha prakarams. Apart from the presiding deity, the Lord is consecrated in His forms as Aghoramurthi and Nataraja. The Nataraja image bears the seven instruments and weapons - Vetalam, Khadgam, Udukku, Mani, Kedayam, Kapalam and Trisulam. Devi in Her divine form of Bhadra Kali has a separate shrine. There are two shrines of Ashta Lakshmi, four in each.

History /Importance of Chevvai (Mars) – Vaithiswarnkoil
Navagraha : Angarahan (Mars)
Deity : Anagarahan
Location : Vaithiswarankoil

Vaitheeswaran Temple is located in Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It is one of the nine Navagraha Temples and the planet Mars (Angaraka) is also worshipped here. Believed to be the site of the curing of Angaraka of leprosy
There is a bronze image of Angaraka, which is placed in this shrine and is taken out in procession every Tuesday. Mars at Vaitheeswaran Kovil. Mars faces the south, and Lord Dhandayuthapani who is in the east facing Mars.

Vaitheeswaran Koil is approximately 22 kilometers from Chidambaram, 110 kilometers from Thanjavur and 16 km from Mayiladuthurai. There is also a train to Mayiladuthurai from Mysore (Mysore Express) via Bangalore, Salem, Erode, Trichy, Tanjore and Kumbakonam.
On the south, we have the temple tank, known as the Sidhdha-amrita-theertham, whose water is considered divine and is believed to cure many incurable diseases. For some strange reason there are no frogs, nor there are snakes in and around the tank.
Offerings of salt and pepper are made in this shrine. Offerings of unrefined sugar are placed in the temple tank Siddhamrita Theertham.

Siddhamrita Theertham

This site is known for its Naadi astrologers.

Nadi Astrology (nāḍi jyotiṣa) is a form of Hindu astrology practiced in Tamil Nadu, India. It is based on the belief that the past, present and the future lives of all humans were foreseen by Hindu sages in ancient times and written down as Palm Leaf Manuscripts (nāḍi grantha).


History /Importance of Sirkali

Sirkali Bhramapureeswarar is a ancient temple complex with 3 different Shiva Shrines. The Bhramapureeswarar shrine is housed in the lower level. The second level houses Periyanakar with Periyanayaki on a 'Thoni', hence the name Thoniappar. Sattainathar/Vatukanathar is also housed here. From the steps leading to the Toniappar and the Vatukanathar shrine, one can grasp the entire layout of this vast temple and its towers and mandapams. There are 22 Theerthams associated with this shrine. Three different forms of Shiva are worshipped here, the Shivalingam (Bhrammapureeswarar), a colossal image of Uma Maheswarar (Toniappar) at the upper level, and Bhairavar (Sattanathar) again at the upper level.


The temple has 3 vast courtyards with high walls of enclosure. There are two sets of 7 tiered gopurams in the outer walls of the enclosure. The original shrine during the period of the Nayanmars included the shrine of Bhrammapureeswarar, on the southern bund of the temple tank; the Toniappar shrine on a mound west of the central shrine, and the Sattanathar shrine in the second floor reached from the southern prakaram of the Toniappar shrine by a flight of steps.

2nd Half Travel to Chindambram

2nd Gopuram of the temple

Temple Gopuram


The name Chidambaram comes from chid–human thinking, consciousness, and ambaram–the expanse of the skies or heaven, or “expanding consciousness.” It is near the coast, 60km south of Pondicherry on the way to Thanjavur. It is the home of the famous Sabhanayaka Nataraja Temple, which was built by Vira Chola Raja in the 10th century. Nataraja is a deity of dancing Siva. From 907 to 1310 Chidambaram was the capital of the Chola kings.
This is the original temple dedicated to the Nataraja form of Lord Siva (the Celestial Dancer), where Lord Siva is found in his famous Ananda Tandavam dancing pose, with one leg in the air and having four arms. He defeated goddess Kali in a dance contest. It is a huge temple, which takes up an area of about 40 acres

Lord Shiva's unsual Pose

Local Temples Around Kumbakonam

Day 4 - Visit to Temples around Kumbakonam

Srimushnam





Temple's main entrance

Nitya Puskarni

Sri Boovaragaswami Temple, is situated at Srimushnam. a village near Chidhambaram of Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu, India.
The original image in marble is said to have been taken away by Krishna Deva Wodeyar of Mysore and installed it at Srirengapattinam. The front Mandapam called Purushasukara Mandapam built in the 17th century looks like a chariot with elegantly carved figures of warriors riding the horses and elephants.
The main deity is not a sculpted idol but an udbhavamurthy of saligrama shilai. It is said that lord vishnu resides in this particular place in three forms. One in the form of tree outside the temple, as the banks of the sacred tank (nithya pushkarni) and in the form of Bhoovaraha Swamy.
'Pavana Vimanam' shelters the Almighty inside the temple complex. Several images of the gods and goddesses adorn the Vahanam. There are many sacred tanks - punya theerthams - embracing the temple. A holy dip in every tank is said to redeem us of our sins.
It is a popular belief that Lord Bhuvarahan is manifested in Ashwatha form. The Ashwatha tree and the 'Nithya Pushkarani' are by the south-eastern corner of the temple. This divine tree is supposed to have withstood the vicissitudes of time, because it has been there from day one. It is believed that childless couples will be blessed with progeny if they circumambulate the tree with devotion. The place has been under the control of Madhwa Brahmins and Lord Hanuman stands as a sentinel near this holy place.

Thiru Velliyangudi
Temple - Kolavilli Raman



Importance - Darsham of the Lord will be equal to the worship of 108Vaishnava sthalas.


Shri Prathiyangera Devi temple,Ayyavadi

Ayyavadi is located 10 Kms from Kumbakonam and 2 Kms from Thirunageswaram (Ragu Sthalam).

Temple entrance


Sri Pratyangira Devi is also associated with Sri Chakra. She is considered to be a powerful repellent of the influences generated by witch-craft. In Sri Cakra worship, she protects the devotees against all odds and guides him/her along the right path.
She is also associated with Bhairava, and she has a variant form viz Atharvana-Bhadra-Kali. In this temple, Goddess is black draped, with weapon in Her hands. Her mobility is by four lions (Simma Vahanam) .

Natchiyarkoil

Temple - Stone Garudha & Srinivasa Perumal fame
Importance - Birth place of Nachiyar.

(Sri Devi) On Thursdays God gives Dharsan with his family (seated) on the stone Garuda. Desires will be fulfilled, if pooja performed.
Mahavishnu's mode of transport, Garuda (celestial bird), is treated on a par with the presiding deity - Thirunaraiyur Nambi - in Nachiyarkoil.

Uppiliappan temple

Temple entrance

Sculptures on gopuram

The Uppiliappan Temple which is also called Thiruvinnagar is a Vishnu temple located near the village of Thirunaageshwaram, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity in this temple is Lord Uppiliappan Perumal with his consort Bhumi Devi and her father sage Markandeya. It is regarded as one of the 108 Divya Desams.
Lord Oppliyappan Temple is one of the main pilgrimage centres of South India. Oppiliyappan Sannidhi is one of the most important of the 108 sacred Vaishnavite shrines. It is also called "South Tirupathi".
Salt is not included in any of the offerings made to the deity; hence also, the name Uppiliappan.

Jyothi taking blessing from elephant.


Nageswara temple

Temple entrance.

Possibly the oldest in Kumbakonam, the Nageshwara temple, one of the finest early Chola temples, noted for the quality of its sculpture
The Nataraja shrine here is shaped in the form of a chariot, and the shrine dedicated to the Sun God is of great sculptural significance. So imposing is the shrine to Nataraja, that the hymns of Appar are addressed to Aadalvallar of Kudandai Keezhkottam in awe.
Though the temple is small but it is known for its marvellous architecture that exceeds many of the other Chola temples. The Nritta Sabha, or the dance hall, has an elevated Mandapam with a flight of steps. The 12 zodiac signs, 2 mammoth horses, 4 elephants all in stone adorn the Nataraja shrine

Sarangapani temple

Temple Chariot

Carvings on chariot

The Sarangapani temple is the principal and largest of the Vishnu temples in Kumbakonam dating to the thirteenth-century. It is among the 108 Tirupatis and is given third place next to Srirangam and Tirupati. The shrine is in form of a chariot. A beautiful tank called Hema Pushkarni separates this shrine and the Adi Kumbeshwara temple. The sanctum is designed to resemble a charriot with wheels and horsees.

Brahman Koil :

Bramman temple, also known as Shri Vedanarayana Perumal, is located at the heart of Kumbakonam. The prime deities in this temple are Shri Bramman, Shri Vedhanaraya Perumal, Shri Narasimha moorthy, Elumalayaan Srinivasa Perumal and Shri Aandaal.

Mahamakam Tank

A major festival is held at the sacred Mahamakam Tank once every 12 years, on the full moon day in the month of Magh (Jan/Feb), when Jupiter passes over Leo. At this time the waters of the Ganges, Yamuna, and seven other sacred rivers (Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Narmada, Saraswati, Tungabhadra, and Sarayu) are supposed to flow into the tank.

Navagraha temples day 2

Day 3

Temples Visited during 1st Half of the day :

Guru( Jupiter) – Alangudi to Shani(Saturn) - Tirunallar to- Karikkal (Port City)

2nd Half

Rahu - Thirunageswarm- Darasuram – Local Kumbakonam temples

History /Importance of Guru (Jupiter) - Kanjanur

Guru Temple
Navagraha : Guru (Jupiter)
Deity : Guru Bagwan
Location : Alangudi (Kumbakonam)

Temple's Main entrance

2nd Entrance

Carvings on Gopuram


Temple is located at 19 Kms towards Mannargudi route from Kumbakonam on the way to NeedaMangalam.
The Siva temple at Alangudi near Kumbakonam is the fifth of the Navagraha temple. It is known as the Abatsakayar temple. This place is well known as `Gurusthalam`, where Jupiter (Dakshinamurthi or Guru) is worshipped.

History /Importance of Sani (Saturn) - Thirunallar
Navagraha : Sani (Saturn)
Deity : Sanneswarar
Location : Thirunallar (Karaikal)

Shani Temple Main entrance

Shani Temple Gopuram


Thirunallar is around 65km from Kumbakonam, near the Old French town of Karaikkal.
The main deities in Thirunallar are Dharbaranyeshwarar (Shiva) and Ponmulaiyal (Parvati).
Legend has it that King Nala was relieved of his suffering, after worshiping this shrine. The inscriptions in this temple date back to 12th century AD, and is said to have built during Chola period. Lord Shani is believed to be the most powerful of all the navagrahas. The holy tank in this temple is called Nala theertham or Brahma theertham.

Karaikkal- Beach

Several explanations are offered for the word 'Karaikal'. The imperial Gazetteer gives it the meaning 'fish pass'. According to Julien vinson the town is said to have known as Karaigiri in Sanskrit. However, the name Karaikal is no doubt a combination of two words 'Karai' and 'Kal'. Both the words ‘Karai and 'Kal' have several meanings, of which the more acceptable ones are 'lime mix' and 'canal' respectively. Hence it has been suggested that the name may mean a canal built of lime mix.


History /Importance of Rahu - Thirunallar

Navagraha : Raghu
Deity : Raghu Bagwan
Location : Thirunageswaram (Kumbakonam)

Raahu Temple Main entrance

Temple Gopuram

1st Gopuram of Raahu Temple

Thirunageshwaram is known as the Rahu Sthalam. Lord Rahu, the serpent king, can be seen along with his two consorts Nagavalli and Nagakanni in this temple. The main deities are Naganathaswamy (Shiva) and Girigujambigai (Parvati). The holy tank of this temple is Surya pushkarani. Though Rahu is usually associated with ill effects, he also bestows good financial and social status. When milk is poured over the idol of Rahu, it miraculously turns into blue color denoting snake's poison. Pujas on Sundays, and milk abhishekam during Rahu Kaal are considered to be auspicious.

Rahu and Ketu do not have any physical or celestial bodies like the other planets. Of the two places where the Moon crosses the ecliptic (the path of the Sun), the north point is called Rahu and the corresponding South point which is exactly 180 degrees away from the former is called Ketu.


Darasuram

Main Entrance

This temple is a storehouse of art and architecture. The vimana is 85 feet high. The front mandapam itself is in the form of a huge chariot drawn by horses. The temple has some exquisite stone carvings. The main deity's consort Periya Nayaki Amman temple is situated adjacent to Airavateshwarar temple.
The legend is that Airavata, the white elephant of Indra, worshipped Lord Siva in this temple; so did also the King of Death, Yama. Tradition has it that the presiding deity Airavateswarar cured Yama himself (the God of Death) who was suffering under a Rishi's curse from a burning sensation all over the body. Yama took a bath in the sacred tank and was rid of the burning sensation. Since then the tank is known as Yamateertham. It gets its supply of fresh water from the river Kaveri and is 228 feet in width.