Tamil Nadu Temples

Varadharaja Perumal Temple – Timings, Significance, and History

September 13, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 9 Comments Filed Under: Tamil Nadu Temples Tagged With: Vishnu Temples

Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in the holy city of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India This is also known as Hastigiri and its original name refers to as Attiyuran.

The actual image of the Perumal was developed from the Attimaram or the fig tree and it is worshipped for 10 days once in every 40 years.

This holy shrine is considered to be one of the ‘Divya Desams’ temples, the 108 Lord Vishnu temples are believed to have been visited by the 12 poet saints or Alwars. These people used to sing in praise of the Lord. It is located beside the Vedapureswarar Temple and is administered by the same Trust as well.

Varadharaja is reffered as the King of Devas who is a boon giver.

Varadharaja Perumal Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Vishnu
Location	Nethaji Nagar, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501
Best Time to Visit	365 Days
Darshan Timings	6:00 AM – 12:00 PM 4:30 PM- 8:30 PM
Dress Code	Traditional Wear
Festivals	Vaikunta Ekadashi, Rath Yatra, Adhyayana Utsavam during Margazhi, Rama Navami, Chitra Pournami, Pongal, Aadi Velli, Navaratri & Deepavali, Purattasi Saturdays are celebrated for Paruthiyur Anjaneya.

Varadharaja Perumal Temple Timings

Timings	From	To
Morning	6 AM	12 PM
Evening	4:30 PM	8:30 PM

The fee charged at Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Purpose	Entry Fee
To visit 100 pillared Mantap	Rs. 5
For Photography	Rs. 50
For Video shooting	Rs. 100

Poojas and Rituals at Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Varadharaja Perumal Temple follows the Vaikasana Agama tradition of worship.
The priests in this temple offer four devotion services and are said to be descendants of Yagna Valkyar. The four temple rituals start with:-
- ‘Kalasanthi’at 8:00 a.m.,
- ‘Uchikalam’ at 12:00 p.m.,
- ‘Sayarakshai’ at 5:00 p.m., and
- ends with ‘Sayarakshai’ at 8:00 p.m.
Each ritual has three steps:
- ‘Alangaram’(decoration),
- ‘Neivethanam’ (food offering) and
- ‘Deepa Aradanai’ (waving of lamps) for both Varadaraja Perumal and Perundevi.
There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in Varadharaja Perumal Temple.

Varadharaja Perumal Temple Food Timings

Kanchipuram Idli is a special Prasadam that is available in this temple. It is actually a big Idli which is added with various spices.
Panakam, Buttermilk, and Sundal are the popular Prasadams that are prepared and distributed during the festive seasons for the devotees.
A pilgrim can relish the unique taste of the Prasad after 12 P.M.
Devotees also offer sweet pudding to the deity during special occasions.

What is the significance of the Varadharaja Perumal Temple?

The significance of the Varadharaja Perumal Temple lies in:-

Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a huge one that had been built on a 23 acres complex and stands out among the popular pilgrimage destinations in India.
The upper Prakaram where Lord Varadharaja resides is beautiful. The 180 feet high tower is also wonderfully carved. Beneath the samadhi lies the shrine of Lord Narasimha. A separate shrine is present for Perundevi Thayar.
The architecture of this temple derives its inspiration from the Chola and the Vijayanagara kingdom. The stone chains of a hundred pillared mandapam are carved out of a single rock and speak volumes about its structural design.
To reach the Varadharaja Perumal’s and Perundevi Thayar samadhi one has to climb a fleet of steps.
The sanctum consists of the idol of Varadharaja and on the exterior part of the inner sanctum lays the sculpted lizard images. These are covered with silver and gold sheets. The engravings of the sun and moon are also visible.
Pilgrims are allowed to touch these lizards which are believed to wash away their sins. This popular shrine is famous for its sculptures.
There are many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu, and hence, it is also called as Shivakanchi, Vishnukanchi. Ma Kamakshi temple is the Shakti-Peeth of this place.
The sanctum lies atop a hill which is encircled with double-storied, covered verandahs with a terrace which takes the form of a beautiful courtyard around the auspicious shrine.
The ancient Athi Varadharaja Perumal idol is 40 feet long in a reclining posture and once in 40 years, it is open to the devotees for darshan.
This temple as a protected monument is maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Varadharaja Perumal Temple Kanchipuram Golden and Silver Lizard

Sage Bringi had two sons who were also the disciples of Sage Gautama.
They use to fill pooja vessels regularly with water.
One day, a lizard fell into the Pooja vessel which was filled with water.
Unknowingly, disciples placed this vessel in front of the sage.
Gautham Rishi noticed the lizard in the vessel while offering prayers to the Lord.
Sage got angry and cursed them to become lizards.
As advised, the two disciples reached Kanchipuram and stayed here as lizards for a long.
Disciples got relieved from their curse, when Indra who was cursed by Goddess Saraswathi, came here as an elephant and prayed for Lord Varadaraja.
Disciples attained salvation but their mortal coil remained here.
It is believed that who prays Lord Varadhaja and touches these two lizards on their way out will be relieved from all chronic diseases.

Legends of Varadharaja Temple

There is a common legend associated with most of the Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram.

According to Brahmanda Purana, Brahma once was very unhappy In order to overcome his sorrow, He did severe penance on the banks of the Ganga.
A heavenly voice ordained Brahma to perform 1,000 Yagas to rid himself of the mental pollution.
He knew that he won’t be able to complete the 1,000 Yagas during His lifetime.
So, Brahma chose to perform the Yagas at the Satyavrata Kshetra, where doing one Yaga was considered equivalent to 1,000 Yagas.
Meanwhile, His consort Saraswathi, who was angry with him on the issue of Brahma rating Lakshmi over her, tried to disturb the Yaga.
She assumed the form of river Vegavathi and started flooding the area.
Brahma invoked the intervention of Lord Vishnu. As the Yaga began, the Lord appeared as Yathoktakari Perumal and lay across the river, thus helping Brahma to complete the Yaga.
At the end of the Yaga, Lord Vishnu appeared as Devarajaswami and taught all the Vedas to Brahma.
On the request of Brahma, Lord Vishnu remained there as Varadhara to bless His devotees for all time to come.

Iravath (God’s Indra vehicle) lifted Lord Varadharaja as a Mount, Athi Mount. There are 24 steps to Atthigiri Temple.

Varadharaja Temple History

The Temple history states that:-

It was built by the Cholas in 1053 which was later expanded during the reigns of the great Chola kings Kulottunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola.
During the 14^th century, another wall and a gopuram were built by the later Chola kings. Kanchipuram is home to many admired Lord Vishnu temples.
Ramanuja, the great Hindu scholar is supposed to have whispered to reside in this temple.

Varadharaja history — Ramanuja is supposed to have whispered to reside in this temple.

According to legends, Lord Brahma worshipped Lord Varadharaja Swamy in Krita Yuja, Gajendra in Treta Yuga, Brihaspati in Dvapara Yuga and Ananta Shesha in Kali Yuga.
Airavata, the elephant of Indra in the form of a hill is believed to bear the image of the deity. The greatness of this holy place and Lord Sri Varadharaja is supposed to be present in many forms in the nearby temples of Kanchipuram.
The holy text of ‘Sri Hastigiri Mahatmayam’ has all the elaborations about this temple.

100 pilliared mantap comes on the left after passing Raja Gopuram, is astonishing with beautiful sculptures.

Festivals celebrated at Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Vaikunta Ekadashi:– One of the most popular festivals that are celebrated in Varadharaja Perumal Temple can be referred to as the Vaikunta Ekadashi. A large number of devotees gather to take part in the festivity.
Moreover, Aadi Velli, Navaratri & Deepavali call for great days of celebration for Paruthiyur Mahalakshmi.
Garuda Seva and Rath Yatra are also very famous festivals among the devotees. Adhyayana Utsavam during Margazhi is also popular.
Purattasi Saturdays are celebrated for Paruthiyur Anjaneya.
Rama Navami consists of a grand 10 day Utsavam in this temple premises. It celebrates the birthday of Lord Sri Ram.
It is during the Chitra Pournami and Pongal that the holy being is taken out to the adjacent areas.

How to Reach: Road, Rail, and Air

Air– For all domestic and international tourists, Chennai is the nearest airport that one can find to reach Kanchipuram (58.8 KM).
Train- Kanchipuram has its own railway station and has a good transport system that connects it from Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tirupati, and Bangalore.
Road– Kanchipuram is 75 km from Chennai and is well connected with major national and state highways. There are regular buses that travel between Chennai and Kanchipuram.

Hotels in Tamil Nadu: Where to stay

When on a visit to Kanchipuram, a traveler need not worry about accommodation. There are many affordable yet high-quality lodging services available in this place. Most of the hotels are situated near the city bus stand. There are some expensive guesthouses that provide both modern facilities and a peaceful environment for the pilgrims.

From deluxe rooms to air-conditioned spaces, there’s every option presented to suit the needs of a devotee. In addition, the hotels in Kanchipuram are known for their traditional warmth and hospitality. The cost of the rooms varies as per the services that a visitor opts for.

Where to eat

Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu offers a wide range of delicacies when it comes to fulfilling a traveler’s appetite. Each part of India stands unique for its own taste and flavor and this holds true when you come to Tamil Nadu as well.

From traditional South Indian food like rice, sambhar, rasam to awesome breakfast options like poha, upma, dosa and vada, there are countless recipes worth trying.

You can taste the same from local eateries or can opt for fine dining as well. And for those individuals who are looking to try out some international cuisines, this southern state will take you by surprise. From Chinese to Italian, Thai and Mexican, a food lover is surely spoilt for choices.

Along with the variety of food, the dishes are also moderately priced. Tourists are recommended to try the famous coffee that is prepared with fresh milk and simultaneously loved by every person who visits this place.

Nearby Temples

Sri Yathothakaari Perumal Temple- It is located at a distance of only 1 km from the Varadharaja shrine. The deity refers to the YaaThotha Gaari Perumal and it is opened from 8 A.M. to 11 A.M. It again reopens at 5 P.M. and finally closes at 8 P.M.
Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple- This is another popular shrine that is visited by pilgrims who visit the Varadharaja temple. This place of worship has three Divya Desams namely; Neeragam, Karagam, and Kaaravannam. The Vimanam and Pushkarani are found to be damaged.
Sri Deepa Prakasar Perumal Temple- This sacred shrine is only ½ km Ashtabhujam temple in Kanchipuram. The Moolavar of this shrine is Sri Deepa Prakasar. He is also called as “Vilakkoli Perumal, Divya Pirakasar”. Moolavar can be viewed in a standing position and faces in the west direction. Additionally, this is a big temple with huge Vaagana Mandapam.
Sri Azhagiya Singar Perumal Temple– This old temple is located near the Ashtabhujam shrine and is in a damaged condition. The name of the shrine distinctly points out that the Perumal is there to help the devotees. ‘Vel’ means wish and ‘Irukkai’ means staying there. Since the Perumal itself wished to stay there to help his followers, this place is known as ‘Vellukkai’.
Sri Pavala Vannar Temple– In this temple, both the Pacchai and Pavala Vannan Perumal needs to be worshipped. It is located near the Railway station and stands close to the Sri Kamakshi Ammam temple.
Sri Thirukkar Vannar Temple– This sacred place is located inside the Pragharam of Ooragathan Temple, Kanchipuram. While ‘Kaar’ means clouds and ‘Neer’ means rain (or) water, God states that the water in this world is the resemblance of him and the Kaar.
Sri Karunakara Perumal Temple- The Perumal here refers to Karunakara and he is providing Seva by facing the southern direction. This path belongs to the cool breeze and he can be found along with Padmamani Naachiyaar clarifying to the world that he is the clouds that bring rains to enrich the wealth of the earth.
Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple– The temple can be found in Big Kanchipuram. It is only ½ miles from the Kanchipuram Railway Station. This temple follows the three partition system of the Ashtanga Vimana style.
Sri Nilathingal Thundathan Temple- A visitor can find this placed as a small samadhi inside Ekambareshwarar temple in Big Kanchipuram. The Moolavar of this place refers to the Nilathingal Thundathan. He is also known as “Chandira Chuda Perumal”. He can be found in a standing position and faces towards the west direction.

Frequently Asked Questions about Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Is the Temple closed between 12 PM to 4 PM?

Yes, the temple is closed between 12 PM to 4 PM.

Is it possible to do Darshan in a Single Day?

Yes, It is possible to do Darshan in a Single Day.

Is there any private Queue for the people with Disability?

Yes, there is a private Queue for people with disabilities and for senior citizens.

How much is required for Exploration?

In the morning, 5-6 hours and in the evening it takes 3-4 hours.

Is there any Perumal statue inside the temple?

Yes, Varadharaja Perumal statue is places inside the Temple.

What are the timings of the Temple?

6:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM- 8:30 PM are the timings of the Temple.

If you have any questions about the Varadharaja Perumal Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.

Sooriyanar Kovil

August 29, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Tamil Nadu Temples Tagged With: Navagraha Temples, Shiva Temples

Sooriyanar Kovil is the first of the 9 Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu, about 1 km from Tirumangalakkudi. The presiding deity is Suriyanar, the Sun and his consorts Usha Devi and Pradyusha Devi. Sooriyanar Kovil Temple also has separate shrines for the other eight planetary deities.

Sooriyanar Kovil is one of the few historic temples in honor to Sun god and is also the only temple in Tamil Nadu which has shrines for all the planetary deities.

What is the history of Sooriyanar Kovil?

According to history Kulothunga Chola I built Sooriyanar Kovil Temple in 1100 AD. It features a huge tower with three tiers and five domes at the top. The sanctum and the ardhamandapam consist of stone. This is the only Navagraha temple where all the nine grahas are in separate Sanctums.

Once upon a time a great sage called Kaalava rishi was living in Himalayas region. He realized he will get a deadly disease of leprosy in the future and he worried about it. His fellow sages advised him to worship all the navagrahas (nine gods for each planet).

Kaalava rishi also did a very dedicated penance towards the navagrahas and they appeared as he wished. He told his concerns about leprosy and he prayed that the navagrahas should help him to get out of the deadly disease. The navagrahas granted the boon the rishi won’t get the disease.

Later the God of creator, Brahma came to know this and called upon all the nine devas (navagrahas). He told them, the human beings have to face all the happy and sad incidents in their life and nobody can change it. As navagrahas awarded the kaalava rishi navagrahas will get the disease on behalf of him and they should do a twelve weeks penance at south part of India.

Based on this curse all the navagrahas arrived to south India and did a penance to get rid of Brahma’s curse. Then, as god of Sun (Sooriyan) was heading this penance he was at the center in this temple and the other eight planet gods were surrounded by him at this temple.

What is the significance of the Sooriyanar Kovil?

Here’s the significance of the Sooriyanar Kovil:

Those 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. Also, Father, Athma, physical strength, right eye, governmental largesse are the beneficial aspects of this planet.

Devotees also believe that if one bathes in the nine ghats in this place continuously for 12 Sundays, they will be has a peaceful and prosperous life.

There are shrines of Kasi Vishwanath, Visalakshi and Brihaspati(Guru) within the sanctum while shrines for the other celestial bodies are outside. The Kol Theertha Vinayakar shrine is very important. Malefic effects due to Dasa bukthi and gochara will be nullified by worshipping here.

The peculiarity of this temple is that the eight other planets here, faces towards the Surya god. The Vahanam (vehicle) of Lord Suryanar is horse, which is called by the name “Saptha”, which refers to number “seven” in Sanskrit. Several horses draw the chariot of Lord Suryanar.

Sree Surya Puranam is the first Puranam when the world came into existence, the first sound that reverberated was ‘Ohm’. Surya was born from this ‘Omkhara naadham’. Sree Markandeya Puranam has explained this factor. Suryan was the son of Sage Kashyapa and was the grandson of Sage Maarisi. Surya married Soorvarsala, the daughter of Vishwakarma. Vaivasvatha Manu and Yamadharmaraja were his sons and Yamuna, his daughter.

What are the timings of Sooriyanar Kovil Temple?

Here are the timings of Sooriyanar Kovil Temple:

Timings	From	To
Morning Darshan	6:00 AM	12:30 PM
Evening Darshan	4:00 PM	8:00 PM

What are the festivals celebrated at the Sooriyanar Kovil?

Some of the festivals celebrated at the Sooriyanar Kovil are:

Ratha Saptami: Ratha Saptami is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Hindu Sun God. As per the tradition in Hinduism, Lord Surya rides a chariot driven by seven horses – devotees worship this form during Rathasaptami puja and festival.
Vijaya Dashami: It is celebrated in the lunar month of Ashwin (usually in September or October). Vijayadashami is the victory of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana and also triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo Demon Mahishasura. In the southern part of India Vijaya Dashami is includes the worship of Chamundeshwari or Durga.
Brahmotsavam festival: The Brahmothsavam is performed in the month of Asweeja (according to the hindu calendar) when the Sun is in the Kanya Rashi. The festival commences with ceremony- the Dhwajarohanam or the hoisting of the flag. Further, in the center of the outer court of the temple stands a huge stone-pillar called the flag-stand (Dhwajasthamba).

What are the Poojas and Rituals of Sooriyanar Kovil?

Poojas and rituals of Sooriyanar Kovil are:

To offer worship at Sooriyanar Temple, one has to reach the Rajagopuram (Main Entrance) and more towards North where Pushkarani of temple is present.

One can take bath in the tank or sprinkle holy water in the head as purification. Next after the bath one has to offer prayers at the RajaGopuram before entering the temple. After entering the temple, one has to turn towards Southeren side where Koltheertha Vinayagar is there.

One also has to do the Sankalpam and Archana as Hindus find Vinayagar as turnover of all obstacles. After worshipping Vinayagar, one has to climb steps to reach ‘Narthana Mandapam’ at Northern Side. And then more towards ‘Sabanayakar Mandapam’ where one can offer prayers to ‘Urchava Moorthi’.

After Sabanayakar Mandapam one can reach ‘Main Mandapam’ and offer prayers to SriKasivisvanathar and Smt. Visalakshi. Also, next to Main Mandapam, there is Maha Mandapam where Sannathi to Sun-God, there is Guru Bhavan(lord Jupitee) stands there.

People do the Archana for Guru and offer prayers to lord Sun. One has to move South wards to come out of Sanctum to reach the lord Saturn (Sani). Lord Kuja, lord Mars are present separately then more northwards to offer prayers to lord Moon and Kethu.

Next movement would be towards west where lord Sukra and Raghu are present. Finally one has to offer prayers to Sandikeswarar. After finishing prayers at Sandikeswarar, one has to come clockwise to reach the vinayakar to give final prayers.

How to Reach Sooriyanar Kovil?

Here’s how to reach Sooriyanar Kovil:

Air: The nearest airport is Trichy airport, 58km from Thanjavur.
Rail: The nearest railway station is the Aduthurai Railway Station.
Road: Suryanar Koil is about 21 km from Swamimalai and 15 km from Kumbakonam. It is about 20 km from Mayiladuthurai on the Kumbakonam – Aduthurai – Mayiladuthurai Road.

Where to stay near near Sooriyanar Kovil temple?

Some of the places where one can stay near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple are:

Sivamurugan Hotels Contact: 60 Feet Main Road | Near New Bus Stand,, Kumbakonam 612001
Mantra Veppathur Resort Contact: 536/537A,No.1, Bagavathapuram Main Road Extension, | Srii Sailapathipuram Village, Veppathur,, Kumbakonam 612103
Hotel Le Garden Contact: Thiruvidaimaruthur Road, Kumbakonam 612001
DSR Madhanam Inn Contact: 75/3 Asoor By Pass Nh 45c | near Karuppur By Pass,Kumbakonam 612002
Hotel Riverside Resort & Spa Contact: 32 College Road, Kumbakonam 612001
Quality Inn VIHA Contact: #2, New Railway Road | Kumbakonam, Tanjore Dist,Kumbakonam 612001

Where to eat near Sooriyanar Kovil temple?

Some of the places where one can eat near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple are:

Thanmayi Restaurant Contact: New Railway Road, Kumbakonam, India
Raya’s Restaurant Contact: 18,19 Head Post Office Rd, Kumbakonam 612001
Habibi RestaurantContact: 29/921 Sarangapani East Street, Kumbakonam
Dosa Plaza Kumbakonam Contact: 332 Nageshwaran North Street Kurinchi Metro Bazzar

What are some temples near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple?

Some of the temples near Sooriyanar kovil temple are:

Brihadeeswara Temple: The Brihadeeswara Temple or the Peruvudaiyar Kovil is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Moreover, Raja Raja Chola I had this temple constructed in 1010 AD. Also, the presiding deity is Shiva in the form of a Lingam, Peruvudaiya, Rasjarajeshwaramudvya.

Neelamega Perumal Temple: Thiru Thanjaimaamani temple or Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple is situated in Vennathankarai village of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and also one of the 108 Divya Desam Temples. Further, the Lord in this temple appears in sitting posture as Veera SingaPerumal and Narashimar. Sri Yoga Narasimha is also in the front Mandap.

Sarangapani Temple: This is an important divya desam of Vishnu and is also known as Tiru Kudanthai. This is also one of the Pancha Ranga Khestras. Moreover, Sarangapani temple is the biggest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam and it belongs to 13th century. The temple sanctum also has design like a chariot with wheels which horses and elephants pull.

[wl_faceted_search]

Kanjanur

May 4, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 1 Comment Filed Under: Tamil Nadu Temples Tagged With: Navagraha Temples, Shiva Temples

Agneeswarar Temple at Kanjanur is one of the nine Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu. It is associated with Lord Sukran (Planet Venus), the sixth of Navagraha planets. Lord Agneeswarar in this temple is there in the form of a Lingam, an infinite nature of Lord Shiva, which depicts Shukra.

Also, the Thayaar of Agneeswarar Temple is Goddess Karpagambigai (Goddess Parvati). The other deities of the temple are Lord Karpaga Vinayagar, Lord Dhakshinamoorthy, Lord Natarajar as well as Pullunda Nandhi. Moreover, the special feature of this temple is that Lord shiva blessed the sage Parasara Muni with His divine cosmic dance. Also, according to Shaivites, followers of Lord Shiva, Shukra is within the stomach of Lord Shiva.

What is the history of Kanjanur?

According to history of Kanjanur, Sukracharya was the son of Brigu Maharishi. During a war between devas and asuras, Brigu Maharishi’s wife, was accidentally beheaded by Vishnu’s chakram (discus). An angry Sukracharya cursed Vishnu. As a result of the curse, He was born as Sudarsanar to Vasudeva, a Vaishnava Brahmin.

Sudarsanar was a staunch Shiva devotee and was popular as Haradatta Shivacharyar. There are stories of the ordeals of Haradatta to prove his devotion for Shiva. Images pertaining to these are there in this temple and also in the Vishnu temple in the village. Haradatta used to spend much of his time meditating before the Dakshinamurthy.

The presiding deity Agneeswarar is the embodiment of Sukran. Sukran was the Guru of asuras. He had got the blessings from Lord Siva after severe penances. In the Vamana Avataram of Lord Vishnu, Vamana sought three footsteps of land from Mahabali, an asura king.

Realising Vamana to be no mere mortal, Sukrachariyar assumed the form of a bee and tried to block the flow of water from the kamandalam. Vamana picking up a pavithram blinds Sukracharya in one eye while trying to unclog the hole in the kamandalam.

Sukracharyar also has the prowess to bring the dead to living by virtue of his knowledge of Amirtha Sanjeevini Mantra. Using this mantra, in the asura war against the devas, he revived the slain asuras. Hence, this helped the asura army swell.

The devas prayed to Lord Siva for help, who swallowed up Sukracharya in a fit of rage. After residing in Lord Siva’s stomach in a siddha state, he emerged from Lord Siva’s stomach.

What is the significance of the Kanjanur Temple?

The significance of the Kanjanur Temple is that Lord Dakshinamurthy (Guru) is always seen with a demon being crushed under his feet. The demon signifies ignorance. It means that Dakshinamurthy leads us from ignorance to the knowledge of self. The image of Haradatta worshipping Dakshinamurthy is a unique feature.

Sukra endows those who pray to him will be blessed with wealth, pleasure, wife, prosperity as well as vehicles. He is alsothe next most beneficial planet after Guru. Moreover, if in a person’s horoscope, Sukra is well placed, then the person will enjoy pleasure, beautiful wife, wealth, house, vehicle, good food, fame, love, affection, marriage, siblings, governmental help, chance to govern the country/state and hold influential status.

What are the timings of Kanjanur Temple Temple?

Here are the timings of Kanjanur Temple:

Timings	From	To
Morning Darshan	6 AM	12.00 PM
Evening Darshan	4 PM	9 PM

What are the festivals celebrated at the Kanjanur Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Kanjanur Temple are:

Mahasivaratri: Mahashivratri is celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva or Shankara. Priests wash the Shivalinga every three hours that day with cow’s milk, curd ,honey , cow ghee ,water. Women pray for the well being of their husbands and children, girls keep fast so that they get good and understanding husband.

Aadi Pooram: Aadi Pooram, also called as ‘Aandal Jayanti’ is a prime festival of Tamilians. This festival is for Goddess Andal, an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Aadi Pooram is a 10-day festival in all Lord Vishnu temples in the state of Tamil Nadu. Of these, the last day (10th day) is ‘Aadi Pooram’ and a grand marriage ceremony of Goddess Andal and Sri Ranganathaswamy takes place.

Arudara Darshan: Arudara Darshan occurs in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December – January). It is essentially a Shaivite festival and hence celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva in the Nataraja form. Women keep fast for husband’s well being while girls for a good marriage. Also, Ardra darshan is in early morning and devotees decorate the temple with flowers and diyas.

Navaratri: The festival of Navratri is marked by the celebrations of nine days. On each day the worship of one of the nine incarnations of the Goddess Shakti takes place. Chaitra Navratri occurs after Holi and during Chaitra Shukla Paksha. This starts from the first day and ends on the ninth day which is also Ram Navmi.

What are the poojas and Rituals of Kanjanur?

The poojas and rituals of Kanjanur are:

There are six worships for the Lord in Kanjanur. Lord Shukra’s worship usually takes place with white lotus, white cloth, diamond, ‘mochai’ powder and athi to ward off evil effects owing to the malefic planetary effects.

By praying to Lord Sukra one can solve these problems. Arts, sculpture, love, vehicles are the beneficial aspects of Sukra.

The temple offers Six worship services daily. Fridays are auspicious to pray Lord Sukra. Sukran, the next most beneficial planet after Guru (Brihaspati), bestows his devotees with wealth and prosperity. If in a person’s horoscope, Sukra is in a good position, then the person enjoys better life and wealth.

Kanjanur is the temple for performing “Kalathira Dosha Pariharam” for Lord Sukiran. Lord Shiva as Agneeswarar is the presiding deity while his consort is Goddess Karpagambal. Lord Agni one of the “AshtadhikBalakars” worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the name Agneeswarar

How to reach Kanjanur?

Here’s how to reach Kanjanur:

Air: Nearest airport to Agneeswarar Temple in Thanjavur airport, which is 46 Km away from the temple.
Rail: Nearest railway station to Agneeswarar Temple is Mayiladuthurai railway station which is 18 Km away.
Road: There are direct local bus services to Agneeswarar Temple from Mayavaram, Aduthurai, Thiruvidaimarudhur and Kumbakonam.

Where to stay in Kanjanur?

Some of the places where one can stay in Kanjanur are:

Mantra Veppathur Resort Contact: 536/537A,No.1, Bagavathapuram Main Road Extension, | Srii Sailapathipuram Village, Veppathur,, Kumbakonam 612103, India
Sivamurugan Hotels Contact: 60 Feet Main Road | Near New Bus Stand, Kumbakonam 612001, India
Sara Regency Contact: 45/1 Chennai Road, Kumbakonam 612002, India
Quality Inn VIHA Contact: #2, New Railway Road | Kumbakonam, Tanjore Dist, Kumbakonam 612001, India
Hotel Metro Contact: 19/11 Sarangapani Sannithi Street, Kumbakonam 612001, India

Where to eat in Kanjanur?

Some of the places where one can eat in Kanjanur are:

Dosa Plaza Kumbakonam Contact: 332 Nageshwaran North Street | Kurinchi Metro Bazz
Habibi Restaurant Contact: 29/921 Sarangapani East Street, Kumbakonam
Raya’s Restaurant Contact: 18,19 Head Post Office Rd, Kumbakonam 612001
Venkataramana Contact: near Municipal office, Kumbakonam, India
Sri Mangalambiga Vilas Contact: Adi Kumbeswarar Temple Complex, Kumbakonam

What are some temples near the Kanjanur Temple?

Some of the temples near the Kanjanur Temple are:

Suryanar Koil: Suryanar Temple is one of the Navagraha temples, which houses the Sun God (Surya god). further, to offer worship at Sooriyanar Temple, one has to reach the Rajagopuram (Main Entrance) and more towards North where Pushkarani of temple is present. One can also take bath in the tank or sprinkle holy water in the head as purification.

Sri Sarabeswarar Temple: Sri Kambaheswarar Temple (or) Sarabeswarar Temple has located at Thirubuvanam village of Kumbakonam taluk, Thanjavur district. The main God of this temple is Lord Shiva as Kambaheswarar as well as Goddess Parvathi. The Chola King Kulothunga Chola had built this temple for his victory of North Indian battle.

Sri Mahalinga Swami Temple: Mahalinga swamy temple has located at Thiruvidaimaruthur, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district.The holy tree Marutham had found in this region like forest. Therefore, this place has known as Maruthur. This Temple was at the middle of the Maruthur so it was popular as Thiruvidaimaruthur. Appar, Sundarar and Thirugnana Sambandhar visited this temple. They sang many songs about Mahalinga Swamy.

Kalyanasundara Swamy Temple: It is believed that unmarried boy or girl will enter into wedlock if they propitiate the presiding deity Kalyanasundarar and his divine consort- Kokilambal. Parvathi Devi performed Tapas in this sthalam to marry Shiva Perumaan and finally married in this sthalam.

[wl_faceted_search]

Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple – Timings, Poojas and History

July 23, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 2 Comments Filed Under: Tamil Nadu Temples Tagged With: Other Temples

Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple is situated nearby Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. This Hindu temple is famous for its worshiping of the King of Serpents or Nagaraja – Vasuki. Also, Nagercoil town derives its name from this very temple. This temple also has a huge number of naga statues from all over India.

What are the timings of Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple?

Here are the timings of Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple:

Timings	From	To
Morning Darshan	4:30 am	11:30 am
Evening Darshan	5:00 pm	8:15 pm

What is the history of Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple?

History of Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple is that Nagas are children of Kashyapa and Kadru. Among prominent nagas are Manasa, Sesha, and Vasuki and Nagaraja. Devotees believe that Nagaraja Temple was earlier a Jain temple because of the images of Jain Tirthankaras, Mahavira and Parswanatha on the pillars of the temple.

However, there is no authentic epigraph to help us understand its chronology. The mountain Mahendragiri in the Kanyakumari district is also popular as the abode of Nagas in the Ramayana of Valmiki. From this, one can presume that the origin of Naga influence in the area goes back to legendary times.

But there is a local story that goes around. Once there was a girl who was cutting paddy when suddenly she cut her hand and blood began to spurt out. Soon she saw that the sickle had cut into a five headed serpent. The girl was afraid and went to the village. She then told the villagers about this miracle. So, they all came to see this peculiar event and they cleared the space allotting it to the Lord.

What is the significance of Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple?

Significance of Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple is that Nagaraja deity, which originated itself , is below ground level in a square plot which is a wet place. The deity has five faces and only the place where the Nagaraja sits is wet. The soil here underneath the Prathishta has a saffron colour.

It is because of the blood that oozed form the head of the idol. The temple also gives the soil as Prasada.

The temple has a distinct style of their own by the lavish use of wood, stone and metals. The surrounding walls of temple also consist of mud. Moreover, the roof has coconut leaves and bamboo poles. Devotees also believe that this soil is a good medicine for skin diseases.

What are the festivals celebrated at Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at nagercoil nagaraja Temple are:

Thai Brahmmotsavam in January-February; Aavani Sundays and Aavani Aslesha (Aayilyam) star day and Krishna Jayanthi in August-September.
Navarathri in September-October and Tirukarthikai in November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

How to reach Nagercoil?

Here’s how to reach Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple:

Air: Nearby airport is Madurai, Thiruvanathapuram.
Rrail: Nagercoil junction is the nearby railway station. One can easily take trains from here.
Road: The temple is 1km far from Nagercoil Vadaseri and from Meenakshipuram bus stand. Adequate road facilities are available to reach Nagercoil from all parts of the state.

Where to stay near Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple?

Some of the places where one can stay near Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple are:

Hotel Sahana Castle at Distillery road, vadaseri is a great place with suitable accommodations, according to reviews. It is opposite to the Omni bus stand.
Hotel Udupi International is another grand place to check in. It is about 20 km away from Kanyakumari. It has splendid facilities including its advantageous position making communications available at its doorstep.

What are some places to visit nearby?

Some of the places that one can visit near Nagercoil Nagaraja temple are:

Padmanabhapuram Palace, is one of the chief attractions of Tamil Nadu in Padmanabhapuram village of Kanyakumari District about 15 km from Nagercoil. King Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal built it around 1601 A. D. which is famous for its antique and tricky woodworks.
Vivekananda Rock Memorial is also a popular tourist attraction in Kanyakumari in honor of Swami Vivekananda and his teachings.
Further, Devi Kanya Kumari temple is one among the 108 Shakthi Peethas in the world. Sage Parshurama built it around 3000 year ago for the goddess Bhagavathy Amman.

Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

August 2, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 48 Comments Filed Under: Tamil Nadu Temples Tagged With: Navagraha Temples, Shiva Temples

Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple of Sri Darbaraneswarar in Tamil Nadu is one of the Navagrahas. The main deities of the shrine are Lord Shiva, his consort Goddess Parvati, and Lord Shani Bhagawan. In the Thirunallar Temple, Lord Shiva is Darbaraneswara while Goddess Parvati is popular as Pranamambika or Bogamartha Poon Mulayal (Poonmulalammal).

Planning to visit the Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple? Have a look at our Navagraha Temple Tour Package.

Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Shani (Saneeswaran)
Location	Thirunallar, Tamil Nadu
Significance	Navagraha
Tours	Navagraha Temple Tour
Darshan Timings	6:00 AM to 12:30 PM; 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Entry Fee	General Darshan: Free; VIP Darshan: Rs. 150 per person.
Poojas	Til Pooja
Dress Code	Traditional wear
Best Time to Visit	September to February
Festivals	Sanipeyarchi

What are the timings of Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple?

Here are the darshan timings of Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple:

Ritual	From	To
Morning Darshan	6:00 AM	12:30 PM
Evening Darshan	4:00 PM	8:30 PM

What are the sevas and poojas at Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple?

Thirunallar Saneeswaran Pooja — There are several poojas that take place at the Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple.

The devotees believe that they can get rid of their curses and spells of bad luck if they pray in this temple. Hence, pilgrims take a dip in the Nala Theertha and offer worship at the temple. The worship here also includes lighting holy lamps with til (gingelly) seeds and oil. After prayers, balls of cooked rice are offered to the Crow, the mount of Saniswara.

Apply Gingelly oil on the head before the bath an leave the clothes there. After dressing up, visit the nearby Kali Theertha Vinayakar shrine and offer prayers and break coconuts.

Devotees can also donate for the poojas to the temple. Also, there are two ways to do poojas. One is the devotees themselves should collect all the materials for the pooja and handover to the concerned temple authorities. One can also send the money directly to temple authorities

What is the significance of Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple?

Lord Saneeswaran — It is believed that Lord Shani is extremely powerful and his blessings can reduce the ill effects of the Grahas.

The significance of the Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple is that offering prayers at this temple are believed to reduce the ill effects of Lord Shani and increase the positive effects. Also, for over thousand years Hindus have visited this temple and have found their misfortunes and bad luck to decrease as this is the only temple in the world where Lord Shani lost his power to Lord Shiva.

Saturn is popular as the Celestial Taskmaster and the Grand Teacher. Worshipping of Lord Shani helps people to develop a positive mindset even during the harshest of Shani periods. It will help us benefit from great difficulties, challenges and limitations. While it is true that offering worship here decreases the difficult effects and increases the positive effects of Saturn it does not completely eliminate the hardships we will face due to Shani Bhagawan.

Since the principal Deity Lord Dharbaranyeswara and his consort “Bhogamartha Poon Mulayal” have the power to offer benediction to the devotees, hundreds of people visit this temple daily. The other deities of the shrine are Swarna Vinayaka, Lord Subramaneswara Swamy and Thyagaraja. The image of Lord Saneeswara is there in a graceful standing pose in Niche on the left side of the Lord Dharbaranyeswara.

There is also an additional attraction in the shape of holy tanks which exists here possess healing powers literally and metaphorically. Also, the place was originally a forest of Dharba grass and it is stated that the Shiva Lingam even now has impressions left by the Dharba weeds within which it was situated.

The official website of the Thirunallar Sanesswaran Temple is:
http://thirunallartemple.com/

What is the history of Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple?

According to the history of the Thirunallar temple, the famous King Nala and the Queen Damayanthi liked each other and got married. However, Devas wanted to marry the queen Damayanthi. So after this marriage, Devas got angry and jealous of Nala. Devas reached out Saneeswaran and asked him to help them out.

But after seeing the couple, he decided to make devas understand the Nala’s true love for his queen. Saneeswaran gave a lot of troubles to King Nala and finally, the King reached Thirunallaru. The King worshipped the Lord Dharpaneswara at this temple and hence the lord made him free from curses and doshas.

Nala stayed in place for some time and built the temple. After Nala got back his kingdom. The world Thirunallar is derived from two words – “Nala” means King Nala and “Aru” means “to heel” which means Nala’s place.

Another popular legend states that once, one of the wives of Surya Deva, Usha, couldn’t tolerate the heat of the sun. Hence, she converted her shadow as another woman in the name of “Saya Devi” and lived in that name. Saneeswaran was born to Saya Devi and Surya Deva.

Later when Surya Deva came to know this, he got angry with Usha and he didn’t accept Saneeswaran as part of his family. Saneeswaran then went to Kashi (Varanasi), worshipped Lord Viswanath (Shiva) and become part of one of the Navagrahas.

What are the festivals celebrated at Thirunallar Saneeswaram Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Thirunallar Temple are:

Soorasamharam festival: The popular belief is that Lord Muruga killed Soorapadman with his ‘Vel’ and this divine act is known as Soorasamharam. Then, the next day is Thirukalyanam – the divine marriage of Muruga and Devasena.
Sanipeyarchi festival: On this day Sri Saneeswara Bhagawan transits from Thulam (Libra) to Vrischika (Scorpio). Also, poojas and rituals take place on the day for Shani Dosha Parihara. The day on which Lord Shani transits is Sanipeyarchi Festival in Thirunallar Temple.
Thiruvathirai festival: It is considered to worship Lord Shiva, and the devotees go early morning to temples. Unmarried women observe a partial fast on this day to get good husbands and married women take a fast from the preceding day (Makayiram Nakshatra) and on the day of Thiruvathira for the well being of their husband and family.
Adi Pooram festival: Aadi Pooram, also called as ‘Aandal Jayanti’, is a prime festival of Tamilians. This festival is for Goddess Andal, an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. The day begins with the making of huge kolams (rangoli) in front of the home. Dakshinayana Punyakalam, the night of the Devas, begins on the first day of the month Aadi.

How to reach Thirunallar?

Here’s how to reach Thirunallar:

Air: The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli which is 168 Km.
Road: This temple is 5 KM from the Karaikkal bus stand and 22 KM away from Nagapattinam bus stand.
Rail: The nearest station is Karaikkal. The easiest route is from Chennai to Thirunallar is via Tindivanam, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Tranquebar, Karaikal.

Where to stay at Thirunallar?

Some of the places where one can stay at Thirunallar are:

Holiday Farms & Resorts: Main Road, Akkaraivattam, Karaikal
Kumaran Guest House: 160, Thirunallar Road, Karaikal
Hotel Arya Bhavan: Thirunallar Road, Karaikal, Pondicherry
Government Tourist Home: Near Bus Stand, Koilpathu, Karaikal, Tamil Nadu
Thirunallar Devasthanam Tourist Home: Thirunallar, Karaikal
Hotel Nandha: 207, Kamaraj Salai, Karaikal
Hotel City Plaza: Bharathiar Road, Karaikal
PWD Guest House: Beach Road, Karaikal

Where to eat at Thirunallar?

Some of the places where one can eat at Thirunallar are:

The Richmond: 12, Labourdonnais Street, Pondicherry
Sarovar Hotel: 23, Goubert Avenue, Pondicherry
Subasree Cottage: Near Nalathirtham, Thirunallar Rd
Food Land: 15/3, Market Street, Karaikal – 609602
New Husainiya Restaurant: 65/1, Church Street, Karaikal – 609602,

What are some temples near Thirunallar Temple?

Where is Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple — There are many beautiful temples near the Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple.

Some of the temples near the Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple are:

Kailasanathar Temple: The Kanchi Kailasanathar temple in Kanchipuram is a famous temple of Lord Shiva. Also. the Shiva Lingam in this temple is 10 feet high. Moreover, King Rajasimha, of the Pallava dynasty, built this Shiva temple in the early 8th century. It is an early structural temple and consists of sandstone.
Bhadrakali Temple: The place was initially Ambara-harattur meaning victory over Ambaran, which subsequently became Ambagarathur. Goddess Bhadrakali is also the most efficient goddess in endowing blessings to the followers. It is a religious temple for the Hindus.
Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple: Karaikal Ammaiyar is a small shrine, which is dedicated to Karaikal Ammaiyar, the only woman out of the sixty-three Nayanmars. Further, Malaiperumal Pillai constructed it in 1929. It is also famous for the huge idol of this lady saint. Also popular as Goddess Punithavati, this woman and the episodes of her supernatural powers are famous among natives of the region.

Frequently Asked Questions about Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple

Is the Thirunallar Sanesswaran open throughout the year?

Yes, the Thirunallar Temple is open all 365 days of the year.

What is the entry fee?

The entry to the Thirunallar Temple is free of cost.

Is there any online darshan facility available?

No. There is no facility for online darshan available.

Is there any facility for specially-abled and senior citizen?

No. There is no facility for specially-abled and senior citizens.

What is the weather like during the summers?

The summers in Thirunallar starts from April and continue until June. The summers here can be very hot and dry. Temperatures during the daytime often go up to 45 º C.

What are winters like in Thirunallar?

In Thirunallar, winters start in October and continue until March. The temperatures during this time range from around 20 º C to 28 º C. The weather during this time is slightly warm but pleasant.

If you have any questions about The Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.