NAVAGRAHASTHALAS IN TAMILNADU

1.Trace the history of Navagrahasthalas in Tamilnadu

Story - Once Rishi Kalva Muni had leprosy. He prayed to the Navagrahas for cure, the Navagrahas came to his help.He was cured.But this caused the anger in Lord Brahma as he felt the Navagrahas should not have taken this jobs of deciding some ones karma. Hence he cursed them and send them to earth.

They all prayed ardently to Lord Shiva who took pity on them and blessed them that even if they are sent to earth , they will be given importance by the people of earth who will do temples to them and do their prayers.

Thus with the help of Lord Shiva’s blessing they were installed first at the Suryanar Kovil 12 km off Kumbakonam. Here there are 9 Sannathi for each Navagrahas , separately for each one of the Navagrahas.

Suryanarayana Temple -

This is dedicated to Lord Surya. Here the deity is Suryanarayana.It is 3 km from Adudhurai and 18 kms along the Mailadudurai route.

The adidevata of Surya is Shiva.

( Surya is the son a of Kashyapa Maharishi and Aditi Devi.Since he is Aditi's son he is called Aditya.He is Aswathi Nakashtram and Kashyapa Gotham. The mention of Lord Surya Narayana and stories connected are written in Markandeya puranam, Uttara Ramayana and Mahabaharatha. He has two wives Usha  & Prathusha .

His wife Usha / Sanjana is the daughter of Vaivastha Manu.From Sanjana he had Manu, Yama, Yamunadevi and Asvathi Kumar. From Chaya he had Sani ,Savarna and Tapti . he also fathered Vasista, suggreeva and Karna)

Surya is worshipped with ‘erukusamith and Rudra abishekam as Shiva is His adidevata.The flower is Red lotus.
Earth goes around Surya in one month

CHANDRA -  Thingalur Kovil - It is 1.5 km from Thirupayahanam along the Kumbhakonam Thiruvyyaru route. Here the Lord is worshipped as Kailasanathar.

( The story of Appar reviving the son of Appoothi adigal from snake bite is well known.Appoothi adigal was a fan of Thirunavukarasar.Once the Appar Thqirunavukarasar himself came to his house. He made food for him and send his son to get plantain leaf from the back yard. The son got bitten by snake . The Appar on knowing that took the son to Lord Shiva in Thingalur and sang Thirupadigam and revived him.)

Why Chandra is in the lock of Lord Shiva.- Atri  Maharishi was a doing his meditation ,when as a bright light Lord Chandra came out of his lock. The Digbalas took it and threw it into the sea. Later when the sea /pal kadal was churned with the Mandira malai and Vasuki snake, Lord  Chandra emerged out and helped the devas against the venom of Vasuki and also partook the amurith got from the palkadal. However he was instrumental in getting the ire of assura Chitaveni as he reported the secret partaking of the Amurith when it was distributed. The Asura was cut in to two as Rahu and Ketu and they always surround Lord Chandra.

Lord Chandra later married the 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapathi who are depicted as 27 Nakashatras. However he was fond of Rohini most. This.caused the displeasure of Daksha Prajapathi. To get out of his anger Chandra took asylum with Lord Shiva who kept him in his crown.

Once Lord Chandra laughed at Vinayaka seeing his plight of large body and he fell from his Mooshika when a snake crossed their way. This caused the anger of mother Parvathi who cursed Chandra and hence anyone who sees him on Chaturthi will not be good.

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Another legend- Lord Chandra married secretly Devi Tara who was the wife of Brihaspati ‘ Guru, From their union was born Budha .)

Chandra represent mind and his son Budha represent Mentality /intellect.

Chandra is born in Atreya Gotham . He is drawn by 10 horses in a 3 wheeled chariot.He goes around zodiac in 28.5 days.

Lord Chandras tales are found in Markandeya puranam and Brahma Vasista puranam.

CHEVVAI - VAITHESWARAN KOVIL
He is found here as Angaraka in Vaitheshwaran Kovil .This temple is found near Chirgazi 4 km from Mailadudurai temple.

The lord came here as Vaidya and cured Angaraka from Leprosy. Lord Muruga is also worshipped here as he is the close associate of CHEVVAI graha.

The birth of Angaraka - Once Lord Shiva meditated and from the perspiration of his third eye came the Angaraka - Chevvai BUDHA

Here the Lord is Vaitheeswaran and His escort is Thiyal Nayaki.

THIRUVENKADU -BUDHA
It is found 10 km south of Sirkazhi
Lord Shiva shrine is Swethnarayana.The Goddess is Brahma Vidhyambika

Lord saved a devotee called Swetaketu from the clutches of Yama . For the sake of his devotee Siva danced all his seven Thandavams.The Lord assumed the form of Agoramurthi the furious aspect of Shiva and vanquished a demon Marthwasura.

The image of Lord Shiva here has five faces.

The adidevata is Mahavishnu. The Gothram for Buddha is Athreya Gotham.

Buddha was born of Lord Chandra and and Goddess Tara .

Buddha married Vaivastha manus daughter Ila and had a son called Puraravan.

He has a chariot consisting of 10 horses and in a white Ratam.

ALANGUDI - 15 kms from Kumbakonam

TThe Lord is Abathsagaeshwar and the godess is Umai ammai.

It is  Swambu lingam

The devas when churning the `palkadal for nector with the help of Mantra malai and Vasuki snake were very much getting affected by the poisonous fumes.Lord Shiva consumed that poison  ( A; Visham) thus giving rise to the name Alan gudi.

Ambal took severe penance and married Lord Shiva here and hence this place is called Thirumana Mangalam.

Guru is born to Angiriasa muni and Swaroopa devil in Angirasa gothram..

SHUKRAN -  Kanchanur. The deity is Agnishwara, consort is Karpagambal. Friday’s are very auspicious, people worship with white flowers.

It is 24 km in Mailaduthurai route.

It is 3 km from Suryanarayan Kovil.

Lord Sukarn is the Asura guru and is aware of Amrutha Sanjivini mantras. His legends are saving Asura with the Sanjeevini mantram. This made Devas to take asylum of Lord Shiva who swallowed Shukacharya. But after hibernation inside Lord Shiva Shukracharya came out of the semen of Lord Shiva and became stronger.

Another legend, in Vamana avathara, Sukracharya was the guru of Asura king Mahabali, he understood the deceit of MahaVishnu as Vamana and sat as a bee inside the kamandalam of Mahabali , so that he may stop from giving ‘Arkhyam, but Maha Vishnu poked his eye with darba grass and got the water out and later took over the kingdom and Mahabali himself as part of donation.

Praying to Lord Shukra will bestow one with wealth, pleasure, wife, prosperity and help to decrease Kalathra dosham.

THIRUNALLAR

Saneeswaran kovil - 48 km along the Kumbakonam Karaikal route, 5 km from Karaikal.

Lord here is Dharbaranyeswara.He is a Shyambu lingam. His wives are Neela Devi and Manga Devi .  
Here the legend of King Nala is told, King Nala aspected by Saneeswara is recounted.

King Nala was in a good situation till he got aspected by Saneeswara. It all happened when he did not wash back of his feet while preparing for his prayers. Lord Sani then entered into his being, Lord Nala then lost his kingdom in a game of dice and departed to the forest with his wife Damayanti after handing over his children to his relations. However in the forest he  deserted his wife Damayanti after being bit by the snake Karkodagam and made him ugly.

After years of roaming around , he got united to his wife Damayanti when she kept a Swayamvara from her fathers place to locate Nala. In the meanwhile King Nala had become a charioteer of another king and was spotted by Damayanti and they were united. Later on the advice of sage Bharatwaja muni he went to Thirunallar and took bath in the Brahma Thirtham of the temple and entered the sanctum of the Saneeswara temple when Sani took leave of him and he got back his old position.

This is to indicate when Sani if in a bad position in the chart it can do lot of bad when it aspects the native.  

In each Rasi Sani stays fro 2and half years.

When Sanishwaran resides in 12th ,1st and 2nd he is said to be transiting 71/2 yrs ‘ezarai sani.

When he is in 4th he is called Arhashtama sani

When he is in 8th he is called Ashtama Sani

Lord Saneeshwaran is both a giver and a destroyer. A person who prays to Saneeswaran will be blessed with not only riddance from the problems and worries faced but a life that one desires.

Problems from Govt. peers, wife, children, slowdown in business, loss of property, many diseases are caused by transit of Sani.

OTHER TEMPLES OF SANI -

Thiru Kollikadu - Pongu Saniswaran near Thiruthuraipoondi in Thiruvarur district.

Kucchanur in Theni district has also a famous Saneeshwaran temple.

THIRUNAGESWARAM

This is 8 to 10 km in Kumbakonam Karaikal route.

This is a Shiva shrine dedicated to Nagananaadar and Girigujaambigai.

RAHU, the king of Nagas  worshipped Lord Shiva here on Shivaratri day hence this place got the name Thirunageswaram.

The milk changes into blue when offered for Abishekam. It is close to Oppiliappan temple known as ‘South Thirupathi’.

Legend - The Asura ‘ Chitranemi disguised as Deva try to take Amruth when it was distributed by Lord Vishnu after churning of the ‘PAL  Kadal. It was taken note by Lord Sun and Moon who reported the matter to Lord Vishnu, who in anger hit on the Asura’s head and he became into two portion. However as he had taken amruth he did not die. One portion became Rahu and another Ketu..

Rahu is a source of plenty. Kalathradosham, Puttra dosham, diseases, mental disorder, fall from grace etc are cleared on praying to Rahu. It helps a person to get rid of poisonous life forms Trip to holy places , Gnanamarkam are the beneficial aspects.

Here great luminaries like Surya, Vinayaghar, Nala, Parasaran, Pandavas, Vasista, Indran, Brahma, Bageerathan, Adiseshan, Karkodagam have prayed in this place.

KIZHA PERUMPALLAM

This is near Poombhuhaar and 6 km from Thiruvengadu. Ketu here prayed to Naganathanswamy and was rid of his sins by Lord Shiva.

The presiding deity is Naaganaadaswamy and his wife is Chitralekha (Ambal)

Legend - Same as Rahu , the lower part became Ketu . It is also a form f snake.

Persons afflicted with Ketu dosham are stricken with fears of dacoity, bad habits, loss of property, loss of face, Puttra dosham etc.    

By praying to Ketu Bhagawan one can get rid of the doshams, get moksham, property, land, gold, vehicle, fame, wife, children, happiness.