NAVAGRAHA TEMPLES (NINE PLANETS)
The meaning of Navagraha is nine planets (Nava means nine; graha means planets) and Navagraha temples dedicated to the nine extraterrestrial bodies, with manifestation of God for each of those nine planets are found in and around Nagapattinam and Thanjavur District, Tamilnadu, South India. Navagraha or the Nine Planets has great importance in Hinduism, Hindu Astrology and Hindu
rituals. Navagrahas are considered to play a major role in deciding the destiny of man. The Navagrahas are Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (North Lunar Node) and Ketu (South Lunar Node). It is believed that these nine planetary deities influence human lives and is responsible for all good or bad times, one faces in life. Thus majority of the Hindus visit Navagraha Temples
Navagraha templeswith the nine planets
2. Chandiran (Moon) – Thingaloor Koil
3. Chevaai (Mars) – Vaitheeswaran Koil
4. Budhan (Mercury) – Thiruvenkadu
5. Guru (Jupiter) – Alangudi
6. Shukran (Venus) – Kanchanoor
7. Shani (Saturn) – Thirunallar
8. Raahu – Tirunageswaram
9. Kethu – Keezhaperumpallam
1. SURIYANAR KOIL, AUDUTHURAI
Holy Water: Surya Theertham Color : Copper Gem Stone: Ruby Season: Summer
Suriyanar Koil (the sun temple) is 21 Kms from Swami Malai and 58 Kms from Thanjavur. It is
believed to have been built by Chola King Kulothunga I in 1100 AD, and the temple has been patronized by the King of Srivijayam, the current day Indonesia. This depicts the religious
connection between the two countries and the temple is dedicated to Lord Suriyan [Sun] which is believed to confer health, success and prosperity. In the state of Tamil Nadu, the Pongal
Festival is celebrated as Harvest Festival and Thanks giving to Lord Suriyan (Sun).
The temple is believed to be the place where all the nine planetary divinities were forced to live by the curse of Lord Brahma and as a result of their hard penance, all the nine planetary deities regained their original power and bliss. The nine planets were directed by Lord Shiva to stay at the same place and they bless the devotees who worshipping them. Among all, this temple is principally worshipped for the Sun God.
Suriyanar Koil (the sun temple) is the only temple in Tamil Nadu, where we found separate shrines for all the nine planetary deities and the temple is a 900 years old Dravidian Architecture built by the Chola King Kulothunga Cholan. In this temple, the presiding deity is the Sun God and his consorts are Usha and Chayadevi. According to Markandeya purana, the Sun (the Lord Suriyan) was created by Brahma, to drive out the darkness of the universe and Lord Sun married the daughter of Thuvashta, Sanjeehai also known as Usha. They gave birth to Vaithasumanu, Yaman and Aswini. As Usha could not tolerate the radiating heat from her husband, Sun, she created a shadow of herself called Sayadevi to be with him and she left him and Sayadevi is known as Prathyuksha. She lived with
Sun without revealing her true identity and they gave birth to two sons, Savarnimanu and Sani and a daughter named Pathirai. Lord Sun finally came to know that the Usha had left him. He went in loo k for of her. In a forest
he saw her doing a selfpunishment in the form of a horse and he convinced her with kind words and took her back with him. Afterwards, these two devis, namely Usha(Sanjeehai) and Saya are always together with the Sun and it can be inferred that ‘Usha kalam’ the sunrise and ‘Saya kalam’ , the sunset are considered as the two devis.