Temples of Tamilnadu - 39 - Navagraha Temples in Chennai - Day 1

We wanted to cover the Navagraha temples in chennai in a day. Then we found that it could be tedious and we will not be doing justice if we do in a hurry. hence we split the travel into two sundays forenoon and covered them comfortably with excellent darshan every where. Since we were visiting Kundrathur, we also had the joy of going to the Murugan temple and having his wonderful darshan.

Pozhichalur Agastheeswarar Temple - Saneeswaran Sthalam

Phone :: 04422631410, 93818 17940 

Timings : 5.30 a.m. -1.00 p.m. -4.00 p.m. -8.30 p.m.

When we wanted to cover the Navagraha temples in Chennai, some suggested doing it a day. Since we wanted to cover it more leisurely, we did on two mornings of two sundays.Our first stop was at Sri Aananda valli Sametha Agatheeswarar Temple, also the remedial sthalam for Sani Bhagavan We also covered Kunrathur Murugan temple when we prayed at Nageswaran temple at Kunrathur.

Saturn God has different phases like Kanda Sani, Janma Sani, Ezharai Sani impacting the devotees. To get relief out of these sins in view of the troubles and hardships caused to others, Sani bhagavan, prayed at this shrine by creating a holy pond called “Nallar Sani Theertham”. He got relieved of his sins and is the prime diety here like Thirunallar. 

There is a practice that people in order to be rid of the adverse impact of God Sani, feed the crows, cattle, dog hoping to get themselves relieved off their sins.

An ancient temple with a swayambu Lingam.  During his return from Himalayas, Agasthya had stayed here for a short period of time prayed the Lord and hence he is known Agastheeswarar and the goddess is Aananthavalli. 

While the God faces east, The Goddess is facing the South in this temple. On 7^th, 8^th & 9^th day of Chithirai month, at the time of sunrise, the rays fall on the lingam inside this temple.

Kundrathur Nageswaran temple - Raahu Sthalam

Phone No: 24780436,  Mobile : 9382889000

Temple timings : 6.30-12.00-5.00-9.00

The king made Sekkizhaar his minister at his capital. Sekkizhaar was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and used to regularly worship Lord Shiva at Thirunaageswaram near Kumbakonam when he was the minister of King  Kulothunga Chola

Hence Sekkizhaar built a temple with a magnificent dwajasthambam for Lord Shiva at Kunrathur in line with style of  Thirunaageswaram temple. The deity has a Naagaabaranam (snake as an ornament) around the Shiva Lingam and hence named as Sri Nageswarar. He also has a shrine here.

Known  as Vada Thirunaageswaram, This is one of the Raahu Sthalam among 9 Navagraha Temples of Chennai.  The temple is very vast and looks beautiful. Lord faces east and his consort kamakshi the south..

Parihaarams can be done here for Raahu during Raahu Kethu Peyarchi and also during Raahu Kaalam (4.30 pm to 06.00 pm) on Sundays.

Facing east towards the sanctum and seated in a small stone is Nandhigeswarar 

Sthala Viruksham        - Shenbaga Tree

Theertham                   - Surya Pushkarani

Somangalam Somanatheswar temple - Chandran Sthalam

Phone : 27178330 

Timings : 8.00-10.00-5.00-7.00

In the beautiful village of Somangalam is found an ancient temple for Lord Shiva where the main deity here is Sri Somanaadheeswarar and Goddess is Sri Kamakshi Amman.

This temple is dedicated to Chandran. As a result of  Dhakshan’s curse, Chandran lost his beauty and charm besides his mastery of all arts. He Prayed to Lord Shiva here by creating the Soma Theertham and got back his virtues. Hence the Lord here is called Somanaadheeswarar and the place Somangalam

This temple built by Chola king Kulothunga is a Parihaara for Chandran who has a separate shrine in the temple, facing west.

There are some  interesting inscriptions found in this temple. The inscription refer this place as ‘Jayamkonda Chozha Mandalathu Senkaattu Kottathu Maaganoor Naattu Somangalamaana Rajasigaamani Chathurvedhi Mangalam” as in those the places gifted (tax free) to Vedic Brahmins by ancient kings were called Chathurvedhi Mangalams.

King Somakaanthan wanted to build 108 Shiva temples and when he was in midst of it, His enemies attacked him. The king was unprepared as he had engaged all the people including his army for the temple work and hence prayed to the Lord and on his instructions, Nandhigeswarar turned towards east and blew away the entire army with his forceful breath. He was then made to face east permanently to prevent any further invasion by enemies

There is a separate shrine for Sri Kamakshi Amman, facing south. While Sri Vinayagar, Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Sri Mahavishnu, Sri Brahma, Sri Durgai and Sri Sandigeswarar are on the outer walls, Subramanyar and Bhairavar have separate shrines on the outer praakaaram.

Lord Natarajar here is seen in a very unique form of Chathura Thaandava Murthy. Chozha architecture is famous for building in Gajabrishta style and the sanctum is here is of that style looking like the back of a sleeping elephant.

Sarakkonrai is the sthala vriksham with a small lingam below called Viruksha Lingam. The image of a tree is also found carved on stone above this Lingam.

Jyeshta Devi considered to be the elder sister of Sri Mahalakshmi, evolving earlier to Sri Mahalakshmi at the time the ocean was churned, is also seen.

Sandigesware created the Theertham here and hence called Sandigeswara Theertham.  Soma Theertham created by Moon God is also present near the temple.

Kunrathur Murugan temple

Phone : 044 - 24780436.

Timings : 6.00-1.00-3.30-8.30

After conquering the demons in Tiruporur, Lord Muruga on the way to Tiruthani after his battle with the demons in tiruporur, installed a Shiva Linga and did pooja. Kulothunga Chozha built the Kandleeswarar temple later. 

The unique design of the sanctum sanctorum is such that the devotee can see the Lord alone if he/she is just in front of the shrine. Looked at the shrine from either side, we can have darshan of the Lord either with Mother Valli or Mother Deivanai. Seen are the Dwarapalakas (securities) at the entrance holding the weapons Vajram and trident. The Prasad here is abishek Vibhuti (sacred ash).

As this is the birth place of Sekkizhar, the author of Peria Puranam, a temple has been built at the foot of the hills.

During the Skanda Sashti festival, demon Surapanma is destroyed on the sixth day, valli wedding on 7^th and Deivanai on the 8^th.  As the place has a hill (Kundru in Tamil), it is named Kundrathur.