Aduthurai Suriyanar Koil Lord Suriyan is the center of Navagraha Gods. The main calculation of “laganam” (ascendant) of a birth chart is derived from his position only. As per astrology he is the father of all children giving the effects of “Atma” of an individual. This is like gene in our body carrying information of our ancestors. Aduthurai Suriyanar Koil is very authentic temple for Surya Pariharam and is very near to Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.Temple informationSuriyanar Koil is the only Surya temple in Tamil Nadu and the first of all the Navagraha temples to visit. It was built by King Kulothunga Chola in the year 1100 AD. Inscriptions from the period of Kulottunga Chola I (1075-1120) refer to this temple as the Kulottunga Chola Martanda Alayam .Suriyanar Koil is the only Navagraha temple having small shrines for all the Navagrahas. By visiting and performing rituals in this temple devotees can fulfill their prayers for all the Navagrahas. In Indian astrology, Lord Suryan Sun) is referred to as the Atma Karaka (Soul vitalizer).The devotees can worship all the Navagrahas in this temple and the Navagrahas – the nine planets – are the main deities in this temple.Lord Sun appears as calm and graceful due to lord guru is facing him in this temple. All the Navagrahas are in a blessing posture and devotees are relieved of their sins and misfortunes. The temple belongs to “Thiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam”.Festivals:Rathasapthami (the turning of the Rath of Sun from south towards north in the Tamil month of Thai – January-February marking the six months called Utharayana) on the 10day of Thai is an important festival in the temple.Special pujas are performed on all Sundays to Sivasuriyanar. This is known as Maha Abishek. Also the transit days of Saturn and Jupiter are celebrated very devotionally in the temple.

Location Suryanar Koil is around 15km from Kumbakonam, near Aduthurai. The temple is located in a small village called as SuryanarKoil and is about 2Km. north of Aduthurai town. Suryanarkoil can be reached from Kumbakonam and Mayavaram by local buses.The Location of Suryanar Koil is 21K.M from Swamimalai, 18 K.M.,  from Kumbakonam, on Kumbakonam – Mayavaram route, 3 K.M from Aduthurai which is on Kumbakonam – Mayavaram route and 23 K.M from Mayavaram.Other nearby Temples are Kanjanur Sukran temple at just 3 K.M from here, Lord Shiva temple at Thiruvidaimarudhur and Thirupananthal.

Bus facilities are available from Mayiladuthurai, Aduthurai, Anaikarai and Thirupananthal. The pilgrims should get down at the Thirumangalakudi Kaliamman bus stop and has to walk for 10 minutes eastward to reach Suriyanarkoil. NearestRailway stations are Aduthurai, Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai. Nearest Airport is Trichy.Suriyanar Koil Temple Timings:6:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PMSuriyanar Koil Temple Address:Arulmigu Siva Suriyaperuman Temple,Suriyanarkoil,Thirumangalakudi P.OThiruvidaimaruthur taluk,Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.Ph : 0435-2472349,

SpecialitySuriyanar Koil is a rare temple which faces the western direction. It was built by King Kulothunga Chola in the year 1100 AD. The temple’s Raja Gopuram is about 15.5 Meters high and has 3 stages with 5 kalasams on top.Suriyanar Koil temple is designed like a chariot like vimana, representing the sun’s chariot. The holy tank here is called as Surya Pushkarni which is in the north side of Raja Gopuram. God Surya is accompanied by his wives Usha and Chayadevi in this temple. The shrine of “Koltheertha Vinayakar” is in the right side which whose blessings devotees start their rituals. On the north Prakaram the shrine of “Thejas Satikeswarar” is present.There are “ Artha Mantapam”, “ Guru Mantapam” and “ Saba Nayakar Mantapam” in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Inside the” Karuvarai” the Sun God Surya with his wives Usha and Prathusha (Chaya) give dharshan to devotees in a standing position.Sun god holds two lotus flowers in his hands. To bless the devotees Navagraha god Guru or Jupiter is just opposite to Surya. The statue of Horse, the vehicle of Surya, the Navagraha God is placed opposite to Surya dev similar to the Nandi statue is placed in the shrines of Lord Siva.There are also shrines dedicated to Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Guru Bhagavan in the sanctum. Shrines for the other Navagraha Gods are located outside of the sanctum. “Vellerukku” (Madar Plant) is the temple tree or “Sthala Vriksham”. Lord Ganesha made out of the Vellerukku is sold in the shops here. It is a very holy possession and protects from the evil forces.Offerings of wheat & Archana with red lotus are the specialty of this temple to please the Navagraha God Surya. Devotees who are unable to visit any of the other Navagraha temples can perform the necessary parihara poojas to the respective planet at this temple. On Sundays, preferably dressed in clean red clothes, offering lotus flower to the Sun God, facing the east and recite the Moola mantras of the Lord Surya to attain maximum blessings.

Surya PariharamThe persons who suffer the ill effects of Kalathara Dosham, Vivaha Paribandha Dosham, Puthra Dosham, Puthra Paribandha Dosham, Vidhya Paribandha Dosham, Udyoga Padhibandha Dosham, Surya dasai, Surya bukthi would benefit from worshipping at this temple.

Devotees must consult with an astrologer about his present Jyotish periods as per the chart. There are two factors which cause human to suffer due to the Navagraha Surya God. 1. Position of Surya in the birth Chart or Kundli, either favorable or not. 2. Dasa or Bukthi periods of God Surya s per the Vimshothri dasa calculations.1. Position of Surya in the jathagam:A favorably positioned Sun in the horoscope manifests as intelligence, perception, strength of will and character in the people. It creates endurance, stamina, vitality, positive spirit, direction, courage, conviction, confidence, leadership, independence and straight- forwardness.An unfavorably positioned Sun results in lack of intelligence, poor perception, weakness of will and character. Surya’s worship will benefit for improving strength, health, good eyesight, intelligence, relief from skin ailments and long life.2. Dasa or Bukthi periods of God Surya:Vimshothri dasa periods are calculated according to the birth star balance time at the time of birth of a person. Surya dasa is period of 6 years after the Shukra dasa for all. If devotees offer prayers at the Suriyanar Koil during the time of Surya dasa, they will get the bad effects of Surya dasa reduced and live peacefully.During the major dasa periods of all the Navagrahas a portion is allotted to God Surya called as Surya Bukthi. For example the portion of Surya bukthi in the Shukra dasa is one year after the Shukra bukthi. . If devotees offer prayers at the suryanakoil during the time of Surya bukthi, they will get the bad effects of Surya dasa reduced and live peacefully.Procedure of Worship:Devotees are first required to have the dharshan of Prananatheswarar and Mangalambigai at Thirumangalakudi before visiting Suryanar Koil. Thirumangalakudi is known as Panchamangala Kshetra. The name of the place is Mangalakudi.

Thirumangalakudi Lord Shiva temple:The Goddess is Mangalambika. The tower is Mangala Vimanam. The Holy Water is Mangala Theertham. The Vinayaka is Mangala Vinayaka. Everything in the temple is named as Mangala meaning Prosperity. The Lord Shiva has three faces representing human, animal and birds in one form, a rare one not found in other temples. Here, Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Protector, Sage Agasthya, Sun, Akashvani, Mother Earth worshipped the Lord.Procedure of prayers in the Suriyanar Koil:There is a specific way of offering prayers to the Navagrahas in this temple different from other temples as per the temple Ahama rules.

I. 1.Devotees are first required to have the dharshan of Prananatheswarar and Mangalambigai at Thirumangalakudi before visiting SuriyanarThis temple is just 1 km from Suriyanar Koil, and is situated in the same village.

II. 2.Devotees should first worship the Kol Vinai theerthaHe is called by this name because He helped the Navagrahas get rid of their problems. Thus, Kol Vinai Theertha Vinayakar is a VERY IMPORTANT deity.

III. 3.Next worship the Nataraja in Narthana

IV. 4.Then at the main sanctum worship Visalakshmi & Kasi Vishvanthan (this is a small lingam on your left hand side as you approach Lord Surya’s Shrine) before worshiping Lord

V. 5.After worshiping Suriyan, worship Guru Bhagavan who is facing the Navagraha Surya.

VI. 6.Start going around the temple or the Pradakshanam procedure, which is very different from other

VII. 7.Start the round in an anticlockwise direction and worship the small shrines of Saneeswaran, Budhan, Angarakan, Chandran, Kethu, Shukra and Rahu before worshiping Chandikeswarar in the same order as

VIII. 8.After the shrine of “Chandikeswarar”proceed in a clockwise direction and return to worship Kol Vinai Theertha

IX. 9.This may seem very confusing but there are signboards at the temple to guide the

X. 10.After this prostrate or do a Namaskaram near theXI. 11.Then it is devotees must to do 9 pradakshanams of

the outer

Surya Moola Mantram:“Aum hram hrim hraum sah suryaya namah”.Surya Gayathri: “Om Ashwadhwajaaya Vidmahae Padma Hasthaaya Dheemahi Tanno Surya: Prachodayaath”. 

Temple StoriesKalamunivar the saint astrologer: Once in a Vedic period, few sages and saints, who were scholars in four Vedas, Six Shastras, Eighteen Puranas, Twenty Eight Agamas, Sixty four arts and Ninety six Philosophies were sitting and doing their penance.Among the Sages there was one Saint called 'KalaMunivar'. He was able to predict all the three periods of human beings. He was great astrologer and used to predict and guide peoples.Kala Devan’s Question to Kalamunivar:One day a young saint came to Kalamunivar and enquired about his future. Kalamunivar was predicting the life of the Young saint. The young Saint asked the Kalammunivar whether he knows about his own future and smiled teasingly.KalaMunivar was surprised as no one dared to ask him such a question. Kalamunivar was willing to know more about the young Saint and asked him who he was. The young Saint replied that he was 'Kala Devan' and disappeared.KalaMunivar started predicting about his past and future. He predicted that in future he would eat the legs of Crabs and for which he was bound to get leprosy. Kalamunivar was filled with grief and sad about his future. Observing his sadness the other saints enquired him the reason.

Kalamunivar explained to them about his prediction and the disease he was about to get due to his sin.The other Saints advised him that none can escape from the fate and only it can be reduced to lesser extent. They told him that Navagrahas are the ones who inflict the cruel hands to fate on human beings and advised him to offer prayers to Navagrahas.Navagraha Pujas by Kalamunivar:KalaMunivar moved from Himalayas to the Southern part of India. After fixing auspicious date, he started a rigorous meditation, rituals and Yagna. As yagna continued, the heat and cosmic power was generated which made the Navagrahas to appear before Kalamunivar to reduce the temperature.KalaMunivar prostrated before them and prayed them. Navagrahas asked the Kalamunivar to express his desire to fulfill. KalaMunivar explained them his predictions about his future and save him from the dreadful disease. Navagrahas pleased with his prayers granted his prayer and blessed him.This news reached the Brahma Deva and naturally Lord Brahma got angry. He ordered all the Navagraha Gods to appear before him. He told them about their disobedience by blessing the saint and changing his future and remained them of their role as punishing the humans for their sins. Brahma cursed them and punished that they have to take birth in the earth individually and undergo the punishment of suffering from leprosy, the disease Kalamunivar should have undergone.Lord Brahma’s curse:Navagrahas sought forgiveness from lord Brahma Deva, the creator of the Universe. They pleaded their ignorance and forgiveness. Brahma wished to bless them from his curse. He advised the Navagrahas:1. Navagrahas must go to 'Arghavanam' known as Velerukkakadu in south India where Cauvery is flowing.2. Navagrahas must stay there and offer worship from the first Sunday of Tamil month Karthigai for 12 weeks in total of 78 days on Mondays.3. They must take a holy bath before sunrise in Cauvery and offer prayers to Prarivaradhan and MangalaNayaki within 2 1/2hours after sunrise.4. Navagrahas must eat only curd rice in 'Arka leaf’ on every Monday.5. On the other days they have to be in fast to get relived from the punishment.Navagrahas reached the earth and came to a place called Thirumangalakudi at present days, with the guidance of the great saint ‘Agasthiar’. Everybody took bath in Cauvery and worshipped Lord Pranavaradhan and Mangalambigai. Saint Agasthiar stretched his hand on Cauvery took waters and poured on the lord.Guidance from Saint Agasthiar:All the Navagraha were afflicted with the disease of leprosy as per Lord Brahma’s curse. Slowly their body began to shrink and started smelling bad. They asked Agasthiar to guide them on their mode of worship.Agasthiar asked them to choose north-east corner as per Vastu Shastra and place a statue of Lord Vinayagar to remove and avoid obstacles for them and start doing their penance from Sunday, Agasthiar asked them to choose nine water spots and each one of them should take bath daily from it.

Navagrahas as directed by Agasthiar followed the rituals strictly on and much to their surprise after they took bath in Cauvery and they found that the disease has cured more than 50%. They offered worship to lord Pranavaradhan and Mangalambikai.Both appeared before them and blessed them as they were satisfied about their prayers. They were completely cured from the disease. Lord asked them to stay in the Argavanam and construct a temple of for blessing the devotees.The Navagraha Shrine at Suriyanar Koil:All the Navagrahas worshipped Lord Vinayagar for his blessings to complete their rituals without any obstacles. They named the Vinayagar as "Koltheertha Vinayagar". Navagrahas requested saint Kalamunivar to build them each temple at Argavanam. KalaMunivar obeyed Navagrahas by building a temple with nine sannadhis for the Navagrahas in the Suriyanar temple (this is the only temple where all the Navagrahas are present with separate sannadhis and Lord Shiva blessed that those who pray here will get relief from their problems.

This procedure was given by Brahmanda Guruji Shri Narendra Babu Sharmaji in his Bruhat Brahmanda programme telecasted in Zee Kannada TV Channel.

SURYANAR KOIL Situated 21 kms from Swamimalai is the Suryanar Koil built by King Kulothunga Chola I in the year 1100 AD. This temple is dedicated to Sun God Surya who is known as the giver of health, success and prosperity. Every year in mid January, the harvest festival is celebrated in thanksgiving and to honour Surya.For more information on this temple : Click Here

Visit this temple for all kind of Heart, Kidney, Eye, Brain and Head problems.

Should carry Wheat (Godhi in Kannada ; Godhumai in Tamil) or any dish made by wheat from your respective homes only. Should not purchase near the temple or anywhere else.

If you want to purchase near the temple you should purchase Navadhanya (are the nine grains that are offered to the Navgrahas) separately.

The Plant liked by Surya or related to Lord Surya Bhagwan is Calotropis gigantea (Arka in Sanskrit ; Bili Yekka in Kannada ; Vellai Erukku in Tamil), hence take Bili Yekka with you.

Divide the Wheat dish into half and offer the first half to temple and offer the other half as dhana to beggars or poor people near the temple premises.

Offer the bili yekka flower to lord vinayakar in the temple.

Along with Navadhanya purchase Navagraha Vastra with 9 Oleander flower garland (Alari Poo in Tamil ; Kanagale Hoovu in Kannada) for each grahas/planets. Offer all this items to Navagrahas located in this temple.

After offering to all Navagrahas visit Suryanar shrine and offer Panchamrita Abhishekam to lord Surya Bhagwan. And offer Shastanga Namaskara in which posture six parts of the body touch the ground and those are knees, toes, hands, temple, nose and chin to lord.Note: Shastanga Namaskara is meant only for Men.

This procedure should be followed every year for 9 years continuously. You should not miss even one year.

Try to wakeup in the morning before sun rise to get rid of diseases.