Upload
lamkhanh
View
246
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Introduction
What are the Navagrahas?
This article is part one of a two-part full-length
feature on the Navagraha Sthallas - unique
temples around Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, that
are dedicated to the worship of the Navagrahas
(nine planets). Each one of these Navagrahas
temples is dedicated to individual graha. This
article provides information about the Navagrahas
and these one-of-a-kind nine temples. It contains
details of each Navagraha and the astrological,
mythological and historical angles associated with
its temple.
The Navagrahas, nine grahas or celestial bodies
are :-
• Surya (Sun)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Mangal (Mars)
• Budha (Mercury)
• Guru (Jupiter)
• Shukra (Venus)
• Shani (Saturn)
• Rahu & Ketu (The two nodes of the Solar
and Lunar eclipses)
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not included in the
Navagrahas either because they were probably
not known to exist or were thought to be too far
away to exert any influence.
For the believer Navagrahas permeate all aspects
of life. The Navagrahas occupy a unique niche in
the Hindu pantheon. The Navagrahas are neither a
part of the triumvirate of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
and nor a part of other major deities of Hinduism
like the goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati
or other deities such as Hanuman, Ganesh and
Kartikeya.
continued on page 2
- Corporate Logos8 Parle-G Biscuits
10- Vedic IndiaKumbh Mela
u Volume 55 u Pages 16u March 2013 www.vaastuyogam.com
EDITORIAL
stC o n n e c t i n g V a a s t u t o t h e 21 C e n t u r y
VaastuyogamNEWSLETTER
Welcome to the March 2013 issue of Vaastuyogam.
In response to regular and repeated requests from
readers, to explain India’s age old festivals,
pilgrimages and customs in pictures and in text.
Vaastuyogam , this month, carries in-depth articles
on Kumbh and Navagrahashas.
The problem is that Hindu ways and means have
stayed undocumented or lost in arcane texts known
only to reticent individuals praying silently in the
carved corridors of ancient temples. The cut-and-
thrust of modern lifestyles has pushed our scant
knowledge of our ancient customs even further into
the shadows.
It is our mission at Vaastuyogam to research this
deeply interesting and useful knowledge and make
it accessible in English to the public at large.
Our two articles one on The Kumbh Mela and the
other ‘Belief is Relief’ on the grahas and their
propitiation at the Navagraha Stallams around
Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, hope to achieve
these very objectives.
The Kumbh is the world’s single largest religious
congregation and in the words of Mark Tully is an
awe-inspiring demonstration of simple piety.
Those lucky enough to visit the Mela know this to be
true.
Happy reading.
- Jyotisha1Nava Graha
jyotishajyotisha
jyotisha
The Navagrahas move in the celestial
sphere with reference to the stellar
constellations known as Nakshatra. There
are twenty-seven Nakshatras which are
repeated in the Hindu calendar every
month. The movement of the Navagrahas in
respect Nakshatras are said to control a
person’s destiny including his/her thoughts
and deeds, status and prosperity.
The Navagrahas are considered to be
intermediaries between the principal deity in
the temple – almost always Shiva and the
worshipper. Each of the Navagrahas is in
charge of specific areas that concern the
devotee. It could be health, wealth,
knowledge, marital bliss and just about
anything about everything else.
The Navagrahas are said to affect the
physical and mental condition of human
beings. They are considered to have
malevolent as well as benevolent influences
on the day-to-day activities of the individual.
It is deemed to be in one’s best interest to be
in the good books of the Navagrahs and
never – ever – to provoke them. It could be
solving a petty problem or a major
encumbrance it is believed that worshipping
a specific graha for a specific need will get
the devotee what he craves.
Each graha is assigned a specific day of the
u March 2013
continued on page 3
week to ensure remembrance and worship.
For Surya it is Sunday; for Chandra it is
Monday; for Mangal it is Tuesday; for Budha
its Wednesday; for Guru it is Thursday; for
Shukra it is Friday and for Shani it is
Saturday. No day of the week is specifically
associated with Rahu and Ketu because
Rahu and Ketu do not have any physical
presence.
Each graha has assigned to itself a specific
color, grain, metal, vehicle and gem-stone.
For instance, the colour for Surya is red; the
grain for Chandra is paddy; the vehicle for
Budha is a horse; the metal for Shukra is
silver and the gem for Shani is sapphire.
Of the Navagrahas Mangal (Mars), Shani
(Saturn) plus Rahu and Ketu are said to be
malefic.
Navaratna is a Sanskrit word which means
“nine gems” and is related to the nine
planets or Navagraha in Hindu Vedic
astrology. The word Nava means ‘nine’ and
Ratna means ‘gem’. Each gemstone is
related to one Graha among the Navgrahas.
Navaratna gemstones are considered
auspicious and believed to give good health,
prosperity, happiness and peace of mind to
those who wear it. It protects against
negative energies or malefic effects of
planets and strengthens the positive
influences of the gems.
Diamond, ruby, emerald, blue sapphire and
pearl are named as Maharatnas as they are
considered to be superior to other gem.
Navaratna Nine Gems in Hindu Astrology
The Navagrahas and The Nine Unique Temples in Tamil Nadu Dedicated to Their Worship.
- Part One
1
Usually people wear Navaratnas in the form
of rings. The positions of planets keep on
changing, accordingly the dasa and
mahadasas of the planets. Astrology says
that the malefic effects of Planets can be
balanced by the effect of beneficial planets
when one wears the Navaratna Jewellery.
1) Ruby – Manikkam or Manek – Lord Surya
or Sun
2) Pearl – Moti – Lord Chandra or Moon
3) Red Coral – Moonga – Lord Kuja or
Planet Mars
4) Emerald – Marakatam or Panna – Lord
Budh or Mercury
5) Yellow Sapphire – Pukharaj – Jupiter or
Lord Guru
6) Diamond – Heera or Vairam – Venus or
Lord Shukra
7) Blue Sapphire – Neelam – Saturn or Lord
Shani
8) Hessonite – Gomedh – Lord Rahu
9) Cat’s Eye – Vaiduryam – Lord Ketu
The Navagraha pujas are mostly performed
at home by engaging a knowledgeable and
senior priest. It is also a tradition – especially
in the southern India – to install Nava
Grahams on a platform in a separate
Navaratna Gemstones and their Planetary
Representations
Worship of the Navagrahas
BELIEF IS RELIEF
Navagraha, British Museum originally from Konark, Orissa. From left: Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Brihaspati, Shukra, Shani, Rahu, Ketu
jyotisha
enclosure in Shiva and Devi temples. In
most of the Shiva temples, particularly in
south India, one can see the Navagraha
shrines worshipped as secondary deities
enshrined in a corner of the temple.
However, in the state of Tamil Nadu there
are nine unique temples to be found in a
radius of 70 kilometers around the temple
town Kumbakonam that are dedicated to the
worship of each individual of the
Navagrahas.
The nine planets are invariably found in
every Saiva temple in South India. In many
North Indian temples they are depicted on
the lintels of doors, to protect the temple and
all those who enter it. They may also be
housed in a separate Mandapa (a small
pavilion) or at least a platform where the
images of these nine Grahas are installed in
such a way that no two of them will face each
other. It is sometimes stated that the images
of the planets are set up in the temples in the
order in which they are in the
zodiacal circle at the time of
the construction of the temple.
In Indian Astrology, movement
o f t h e N a v a g r a h a s i s
considered to have a major
role in influencing the fortunes
of any individual. In order to
mitigate the negative effects of
a planet which is debilated in
the birth chart or to provide
more potency to a planet that
is in an exalted state, believers
undertake pilgrimage to
d e s i g n a t e d N a v a g r a h a
temples.
Navagraha Temp les in
Tamilnadu are the 9 temples
dedicated to Navagrahas – the
nine celestial planets of Hindu
ast ronomy. These n ine
Navagraha temples are
Navagraha temples
located near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.
Each of these Navagraha shrines is situated
in a different village, and is dedicated to one
of the 9 Navagrahas. That is, the first temple
Sooriyanar Kovil is dedicated to Lord Surya,
while the second temple Thingaloor
Chandra Navagrahastalam is dedicated to
Lord Chandra likewise. However, an
interesting aspect is that majority of the
temples enshrine Lord Shiva and his
consort goddess Parvati are the primary
deities though they both have different
names at the different temples.
The Navagraha Temples of Tamil Nadu are
located in Nagapattinam, Tiruvaru and
Thanjavur Districts. This lush green district,
through which the Cauvery flows, has these
nine Shiva temples. Each of these temple
enshrines a Navagraha. Six of the
Navagraha temples are situated on the
northern bank of Cauvery and three on the
southern bank.
There is unfortunately no way of dating
these temples (except Suriyanar Koil which
was built in 1100 AD) due to lack of concrete
written evidence. We can only go by
circumstantial evidence, one method being
the compositions of the Nayanmars who
Age of the temples
composed and sang hymns about the
Navagraha temples around 7th Century AD.
There the assumption is that all these
temples were in existence around 7th
Century AD.
1) Suriyanar Koil of Sun God : Suriyanar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu Sun God and
is situated 3 km from Aduthurai, which is on
the Kumbakonam - Mayiladuthurai Road in
Tamil Nadu.
2) Thingaloor Temple : Thingaloor
Kailasanathar Temple is dedicated to Lord
Chandra or Moon God and is situated 1.5
km f rom Thi rupayhanam, on the
Kumbakonam - Thiruvayyaru Road.
3) Vaitheeswaran Kovil: Vaitheeswaran
Temple is dedicated to Angaraka (Sewai or
Chowa) and is situated 4 km from
Mayiladuthurai, on the Chidambaram Road.
4) Thiruvenkadu Temple: Thiruvenkadu
Swetharanyeswarar Temple is dedicated to
Lord Budha and is situated 10 km south-
east of Sirkali.
5 ) A l a n g u d i Te m p l e : A l a n g u d i
Navagraha Temples and Their Location
u March 2013 3
2
continued on page 4
Route map of Navagraha Temples near Kumbakonam
jyotisha
4 Vaastuyogam u March 2013
3
Abathsahayeswarar Temple is dedicated to
Brihaspati (Guru or Vyazhan or Planet
Jupiter) and is about 15 km from
K u m b a k o n a m o n t h e w a y t o
Needamangalam.
6) Kan janoor Temple : Kan janoor
Agneeswarar Temple is dedicated to Sukran
(Velli or Planet Venus) and is located at an
interior village on the Mayiladuthurai -
Kathiramangalam Road.
7) Thirunal lar Temple: Thirunal lar
Darbaranyeswarar Temple is dedicated to
Lord Shani (Sani or Saturn) and is located 5
km on the way to Peralam - Karaikkal.
8 ) T h i r u n a g e s w a r a m Te m p l e :
Thirunageswaram Naganathaswamy
Temple is dedicated to Lord Rahu and is
situated about 7 km from Kumbakonam -
Karaikkal Road.
9 ) K e e z h p e r u m p a l l a m Te m p l e :
Keezhperumpallam Temple is dedicated to
Lord Kethu and is situated near Poompuhar
on the Mayiladuthurai - Poompuhar Road.
Lord Surya or the Sun God occupies the
central place amongst the Navagrahas
facing the east. Also known as Ravi, Surya is
the Lord of ‘Simha Rashi’ or Leo sign in
Zodiac. Surya’s vahana is a chariot drawn
by seven horses. The seven horses
represent the seven colors of the white light
and seven days of a week. He presides over
‘Raviwar’ or Sunday, his color is red and
gemstone is ruby.
Surya is, by himself, a very powerful deity.
He bestows health, success and prosperity.
SURYA
My salutations to Surya, creator of the
splendorous day, son of the sage Kashyapa
and destroyer of ignorance and all
sins
- Navagraha Stotram
He ensures victory over ill-wishers. Valmiki
writes in the Ramayana that when Lord
Rama had to go to war against Ravana,
Rishi Agasatya taught him the Aditya
Hrudaya Stotra in order to invoke Surya to
aid his campaign.
The Mahabharata says that Surya is the son
of the sage Kashyapa and Aditi, daughter of
Daksha. Hence, he is also known as Aditya.
The Aditya Hrudaya Stotra details Surya’s
other names: Savita, Bhanu, Pushan,
Divakara, Haridasuvan, Sahasrachis,
Saptasapti, Marthanda, Bhaskara, Ravi,
Mahatejas and Lokasakshi. Prayers to
Surya are believed to be effacious in the
curing of ailments such as problems with the
eyes, weak bones, fevers of long duration
and skin problems. He is believed to control
the well-being of one’s father.
Surya is portrayed as seated in a single-
wheeled chariot drawn by seven horses
denoting the seven days of the week. A halo
usually emanates from the image, signifying
Surya’s power as also the light he emits. The
charioteer is Aruna, the dawn.
Suryanar Koil, Suryanar Temple or
Sooriyanaar Koil, is the first of the 9
Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu, located
about 1 km from Tirumangalakkudi which
l i e s b e t w e e n K u m b a k o n a m a n d
Mayavaram, near Thanjavur, in Tamilnadu.
Popular known as Surya Sthalam,
Suryanaar Kovil is dedicated to the Sun God
or Lord Surya, the first of Navagrahas. This
is the only temple in South India dedicated
Suryanar Temple - Navagraha Temple of
Sun God
continued on page 5
In the Hindu Mythology, the Navagrahas have an exalted position in a persons life as they
exert a great influence and it is said that the proper worship of these 9 planets can greatly
tone down their malefic influence and thus grant peace and prosperity in a persons life.
The entire place where the Navagraha is installed in a temple is a black granite stand and
the Navagrahas are also black granite with the facial features not so well formed, but they
are well decorated with the most favored colored cloth of the particular planet. Entire
pedestal that they are placed on has small channels that lead the water, milk, curd, yoghurt
and oil abhisheka that the idols are regularly done to a clean place. The oil from shani puja
/ abhishek is collected to light the lamps in the temple. So on and so forth.
As per Hindu customs, the Navagraha are typically placed in a single square with the Sun
(Surya) in the center and the other deities surrounding Surya; no two of them are made to
face each other. In South India, their images are generally found in all important Saiva
temples. They are invariably placed in a separate hall, on a pedestal of about three feet in
height, usually to the north-east of the sanctum sanctorum.
jyotisha
4
exclusively to Surya (Sun God). In the
sanctum, Brihaspati is depicted as
worshipping Lord Shiva Suryanarayana.
The other planets are enshrined separately.
The presiding deity, Sri Suryanarayana
swamy, is found in a lying posture inside the
sanctum sanctorum with his consorts Sri
Usha Devi and Sri Pratyusha Devi. The
other eight Navagrahas are seen facing the
Sun God. Besides, Suriyanar Temple also
embodies the shrines of Kasi Vishwanath,
Visalakshi and Brihaspati (Guru) within the
sanctum. The Kol Theertha Vinayakar
(Ganesha or Pillayar) shrine is a prominent
sculpture here.
Lord Surya Bhagawan is known as the giver
of health, success and prosperity. It is
believed that those who are affected by
'Graha Dhosham' and negative influence of
Lord Shani (Planet Saturn), Ashtama Shani
(Shani in 8th house) and Janma Shani
(Shani in 1st house) can visit Suryanar Koil
to get relieved of their sufferings. Wheat,
Red Lotus, Erukku (Madar Plant) and
Sakkarai Pongal are some of the offerings to
worship the Lord.
Sooriyanar Temple History and Architecture
Sooriyanar Kovil faces west and is built in
such a way to receive maximum beneficial
rays from the planets. Built by Chola King,
Kulothunga Chola I in the year 1100 AD, the
temple features a huge tower with three tiers
and five domes at the top. The sanctum and
the ardhamandapam are built of stone. This
is the only Navagraha temple where all the
nine grahas (nine planets) can be found in
separate sannadhis (Sanctums).
There is a tank called Surya Pushkarni,
which lies to the north of the Rajagopuram.
This is considered as a sacred bathing ghat.
There are around 15 theerthams in the
Suryanar Temple. The one which is located
inside the temple is called as Jnana
Koopam. The inscriptions from the period of
Krishna Deva Raya speak about the
endowments made to this temple. Nearby
the temple is the Poolaivala River. A
sacrificial platform (bali peetam) is seen at
the entrance and to its east lies a mandap.
An idol of a horse, the Sun God’s vaahanam
(vehicle), is seen here. The steps in front of
Guru Bhagwan lead to the idols of other
grahas.
The annual Ratha Saptami festival
(Rathasapthami) during the Tamil month of
Thai (January – February) is one of the main
festival celebrated here. The first Sundays in
the months of Aavani (Leo) and Kartikai
(Scorpio) is also considered very
auspicious. Vijaya Dashami and annual
Brahmotsavam festival (Bhrammotsavam)
are also held with much devotion.
Suryanar Temple is opened from 6:00 AM to
12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Suryanar Koil is about 21 km from
Swamimalai and 15 km from Kumbakonam.
It is about 20 km from Mayiladuthurai on the
Suryanar Temple Festivals
Temple Timings
How to reach Suryanar Temple
Kumbakonam - Aduthurai – Mayiladuthurai
Road. Aduthurai Railway Station is the
nearest railway station.
Note: According to prescribed procedure
one must visit the Thirumangalakudi temple
before worshiping at Suryanar Temple. The
visit to Thirumangalakudi is necessary and
without it the entire trip to the Navagraha
temples – especially Suryanar Temple – will
remain incomplete.
Chandra is a lunar deity and is also known
as Soma. The Moon represents the mind,
feminine nature, beauty and happiness. He
is believed to ride his chariot across the sky
every night, pulled by ten white horses or an
antelope. He is also called ‘Nishadipati’ and
‘Kshuparaka’. Lord Chandra is also one of
the Gods of Fertility. Chandra is the god of
Karka rashi or cancer zodiac sign. The
mental stability and well-being of a person
largely depends on the placement of the
moon in his horoscope. As Soma he
presides over ‘Somavar’ or Monday and
gemstone is pearl.
When the celestial of Ocean of milk was
being churned, Chandra was one of the first
to emerge from it. He has pride of place in
Lord Shiva’s matted hair. This powerful
Graham is next only to Surya in his strength
and power to bestow favors on his
worshippers. He is Lord Shiva’s left eye
while Surya is the right eye. Chandra grants
a comfortable long life and fame. He cures
eye ailments (especially those of the left
eye) and skin diseases. Most importantly,
Chandra is the graha who helps remove
stress and sorrow. People suffering from
mental ailments seek a cure from him.
Chandra is believed to control the well-being
of one’s mother. Those with strained family
relations pray to him to remove frictions
within the family.
Kailasanathar Temple, the second of the 9
CHANDRA
Thingaloor Kailasanathar Temple –
Navagraha Temple of Lord Chandra
I bow to the Moon god who adorns the crest
of Shiva, white like snow who emerged out of
the Ocean of Milk.
- Navagraha Stotram
u March 2013 5
continued on page 6
The Navagrahas are considered to be intermediaries between the principal deity in the temple – almost always Shiva and the worshipper. Each of the Navagrahas is in charge of specific areas that concern the devotee. It could be health, wealth, knowledge, marital bliss and just about anything about everything else.
jyotisha
6 Vaastuyogam u March 2013
5
Navagraham Temples in Tamilnadu,
dedicated to Lord Chandra (Moon God), the
second graha of the Navagrahas. This
Chandra Navagraha Stalam is located at
Thingaloor which is about 8 km from
Tiruvaiyaru near Thanjavur in Tamilnadu.
Thingaloor is named after the Tamil word,
‘Thingal’, which means Chandra or Moon.
As most of the other Navagraha Temples of
Tamilnadu, Kailasanathar Temple is also a
Shiva Stalam and the main deities
worshipped here are Kailasanathar and
Goddess Periyanakiamman.
Legend says that the Lord Chandra
worshipped Lord Shiva here to save him
from a curse and gained his blessings.
Hence it is believed that those who have any
Chandra Dosha in their horoscopes can get
relief from suffering by offering prayers and
perfoming pujas to Lord Kailasanathar,
Goddess Periyanayaki and Chandra
Bhagwan. Devotees who worship Lord
Chandra are blessed with good health,
mother’s welfare, and get rid of the stress
and sorrow in daily life.
Thingaloor Kailasanathar Temple is about
1500 years old. Built in the 7th century by
Pallava King Rajasimha, this ancient
Shaivite shrine reflects the early Dravidian
architecture. A huge Nandi is seen in the
front, facing the temple. The 16-sided Shiva
lingam at the main shrine is made out of
black granite. A unique feature of Thingaloor
Temple is that during the months of Puratasi
(September - October) and Panguni (March
- April), the rays of the moon fall on the Shiva
Lingam.
This Chandra Sthalam is associated with
the life of Tirunavukkarasar, one of the 63
Nayanmars (Saivite saints). Legend says
that there lived a merchant, Appoodi Adikal,
at Thingaloor, who was a devotee of
Tirunavukkarasar. Appoodi Adigal had an
opportunity to host the saint, when he visited
Temple Architecture
Thingaloor Temple History
Thingaloor. At the same time, his son was
bitten by a venomous snake. However, the
merchant continued to serve the saint
without revealing the tragedy. The saint was
inspired by his devotion and restored the
boy’s life by singing songs in praise of Lord
Shiva at this temple. This collection of ten
s o n g s c a m e t o b e k n o w n a s
‘Thirupathikam’.
As Lord Chandran’s color is white, he is
offered with raw rice mixed with jaggery,
white Arali (a flower), and white clothing. It is
believed that this pooja removes obstacles
in life. Besides, special pujas are performed
on all full moon days. Thingaloor is the
shrine where one prays for the health and
prosperity of one’s mother. Kailasnatha
bestows fame on the devotee and cures skin
and eye problems.
The temple is opened from 7:00 AM to 1:00
PM and 4:00PM to 8:00 PM on all days.
Thingaloor Temple is about 36 km from
Kumbakonam, on the way to Tiruvaiyaru. It
is about 1 km from Thirupayhanam which is
on the Kumbakonam - Thiruvayyaru Road.
Kumbakonam Railway Station is the
nearest railway station. Frequent buses are
a l s o a v a i l a b l e . S e t h u E x p r e s s
(Rameswaram to Tambaram) and Tirupati
Express (Tiruchirapalli - Tirupati) passes
through Kumbakonam Railway Station.
Budha is generally represented with four
hands, three of his hands holding a sword, a
shield and a mace respectively while the
fourth one is held in usual varada mudra. He
rides a carpet or an eagle or a chariot drawn
by lions. Mercury represents one’s
intelligence and communication. The planet
governs the nervous system. His color is
green his day is Wednesday or ‘Budhwar’
and his gemstone is Emerald. Budha is the
Temple Offerings
Temple Timings
How to reach Thingaloor Kailasanathar
Temple
BUDHA – PLANET MERCURY
I bow to Budha who is dark of hue, of
unparalleled beauty and of composed
countenance.
- Navagraha Stotram
God of Mithuna Rashi and Kanya Rashi in
Astrology.
In Hindu mythology, Buddha is Buddhi
Nathan ( he who imparts wisdom) or Graha
Peeda Hara ( He who destroys the malefic
influence of other planets) Budha’s
controlling deity being Maha Vishnu or
Narayana, praying either to Budha or
reciting the Vishnu Sahasra Namam ( The
Thousand names of Vishnu) bestows
wisdom, intellect and excellence in
education – both technical and the fine arts –
promotion of the place of work and success
in business ventures.
Budha confers the art of communication well
and also a sense of humor! He controls the
lungs, intestines and the nervous system
and is the one to be prayed for a solution any
problems with these organs. He is in charge
of the well-being of maternal uncles. He is a
gentle planet , peaceful in nature and grants
wealth and vehicles. He is light green in
color and I attired in green robes. Wearing
an emerald or worshiping him on
Wednesdays is considered auspicious.
Budha, is the son of Chandra.
S w e t h a r a n y e s w a r a r Te m p l e a t
Thiruvenkadu, the fourth Navagraha
sthalam of the 9 Navagraha Temples in
Tamil Nadu, is the abode for Bhudhan or
Bhuda (planet Mercury). Thiruvenkadu
Bhudha Sthalam is located near
Poompuhar, around 10 km from Sirkazhi,
24 km east of Mayuram and 59 km from
Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Lord
Shiva as Swedharanyeshwarar and
Goddess Parvati as Brahma Vidya Nayaki
A m b a l ( B r a h m a v i d y a n a y a k i ) .
Swetharanyeswarar Temple enshrines a
separate sanctum sanctorum for Bhudhan
or Bhudan, one the nine Navagrahas .
The name Thiruvenkadu, also spelled
Thiruvengadu, means ‘sacred white forest’
(Ven means white and Kadu means forest).
It is said that this place was surrounded by
thick forests on all sides and when seen
from a distance, it looked white, and hence
Swetharanyeswarar Temple Thiruvenkadu
Navagraha Sthalam Tamilnadu
Temple History
continued on page 7
jyotisha
6
the name. In Sanskrit it is known as
Swetaranyam (Swetam means white and
Aranyam means forest). The place also
bears various names such as Jnana-
aranya, (forest of wisdom), Patala Kailas
and Aadi Chidambaram.
Thiruvenkadu Temple is surrounded by five
prakarams known as pancha prakarams.
Here the Lord is consecrated in His forms as
Aghoramurthi (manifestation of His wild and
angry form) and Nataraja (a manifestation of
Shiva, assumed as the Lord of Dance). The
Nataraja image holds seven instruments
and weapons, namely, Vetalam, Khadgam,
Udukku, Mani, Kedayam, Kapalam and
Trisulam.
A unique feature about Swetharanyeswarar
Temple is that the image of Lord Shiva has
five faces, Easanam, Tatpurusham,
Aghoram, Vamadevam and Sadyojatam.
The posture of Nandi at the entrance is
another unique feature here. It bears nine
scars on its body and is seated at the
entrance of Devi’s shrine. The face is turned
towards the Lord’s shrine and ears cocked
towards that of Devi, signifying that it is
ready to receive orders from the Divine
Couple. Devi in Her divine form of
Bhadrakali has a separate shrine. Besides,
there are separate shrines for Ashta
Lakhsmis and the Navagrahas.
Swetharanyeswarar Temple has three
theerthams (holy tanks) called as Agni
Theertham, Surya Theertham and Chandra
Theertham which are said to have been
created out of the three drops which fell from
Lord Shiva's eyes when he was dancing.
The sthala vrikshams are also three in
number - Vilvam, Vadaval and Konrai. The
stone inscriptions on the walls of the
temples depict important historical
information on the Chola Dynasty and about
several kings of Vijayanagar. The rivers,
Kaveri and Manikarnika, run near the holy
shrine.
Worship to Lord Shiva's fiery form
Temple Architecture
Worship
Aghoramurthy is considered to be of great
importance especially on Sunday nights.
Budhan is the planetary ruler for knowledge,
music, astrology, Maths, sculpting, medicine
and language skills. Wednesdays are very
auspicious to Budha and offering pooja on
this day is believed to rectify any Budhan
Dhosham in horoscope. Budha is attired in
green and can be offered with green moong
dhal, white kanthal flower and green cloth.
The temple has three water tanks – The
Surya (Sun) kulam, the Soma (Moon) kulam
and the Agni (Fire) kulam named after
Shiva’s three eyes. (Kulam means water
tank) Bathing in these tanks and worshiping
Shiva here for 45 days is believed to be
particularly efficacious for couples praying
for a child.
The most important festival is the float Thiruvenkadu Temple Festivals
festival which is celebrated on the last day of
12 day celebrations in the Tamil month of
Maasi (February - March).
The temple is opened from 6 AM to 12.00
PM and 4 PM to 9 PM
Swetharanyeswarar Temple is situated 23
kilometers away from Mayiladuthurai, on the
Sirkali – Poompuhar linking road. The
temple is 10 km from Sirkazhi and 59 km
from Kumbakonam.
Shiyali Railway Station, Thanjavur is the
nearest railway station, about 9 km from the
temple. Thiruvenkadu is accessible by road
from Vaitheeswaran Koil railway station and
Semponnar Koil railway station as well.
Temple Timings
How to reach Swetharanyeswarar Temple at
Thiruvenkadu
To be continued...
u March 2013 7
jyotisha
The Navagrahas