On 26th morning keeping our base as my dear Radha Neelakantan's house at Govindapuram we started our visit to the Important Navagraha shrines around Kumbakonam.
We were group of four adults and two children. That is myself, Venkataraman, Ravi, Archana and our little darlings Vaageesh and Vaibhav.
To start with we had no much idea of what to expect from a Navagraha temple . Our mind was like a blank slate about the temples and their importance. Hence the whole thing was a discovery.
Brahma murari tripurantakari
bhanuh sasi bhumisuto bidhascha
gurusch `sukrah `sani rahu ketavah
sarve grahah santikara bhavantu
We got ourselves armed with some books and maps to guide us and to travel Ravi's Innova car along with a driver. Later we found taking the driver turned out as a blessing ( generally we travel without a driver) as we started moving from one temple to another all of which are around a radius of 50km around Kumbakonam. We found the crowd in each temple really swelling, we had to park in most of the temples about half to one km away and walk to the shrine as the roads are narrow and they are jammed with vehicles negotiating to the temple. Taking the vehicle near the temple would ahve costed a lot of time. So we were getting down where ever we could and walk with the children to and fro. Further in each temple we had to negotiate the temple line which was not very orderly or regulated. But each of the temples were unique representing a particular `graha. We learned in the process how much each of the `graha play roles in individual life and it is important to get aquainted with the powerful `grahas and the temple where which is specially designed for their worship at least once in a life time.However it would be wiser to visit them on lean period and not on prime holidays like chirtsmas holidays which is what we did.
This is 35 kms from Kumbakonam and 10 kms from Tanjaore.
Festivals celebrated are - Holi poornima, sharad poornima, Guru poornima.
Our next halt was at RAHU Navgraha temple at THIRUNAGESHWARAM
Ardhakaryam mahaviryam, chndraditya Vimardhanam,
Simhika garbha sambootham, tham Rahum Pranamamyaham
It is comparatively a non discriptive temple close to famous Poompuhar .
Vaitheswaran kovil
We were group of four adults and two children. That is myself, Venkataraman, Ravi, Archana and our little darlings Vaageesh and Vaibhav.
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| Venkat with Vaageesh & Vaibhav |
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| After a bath in Kaveri |
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| Archana in the pond |
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| self & Vaageesh |
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| Ravi at Sukran temple |
To start with we had no much idea of what to expect from a Navagraha temple . Our mind was like a blank slate about the temples and their importance. Hence the whole thing was a discovery.
Brahma murari tripurantakari
bhanuh sasi bhumisuto bidhascha
gurusch `sukrah `sani rahu ketavah
sarve grahah santikara bhavantu
We got ourselves armed with some books and maps to guide us and to travel Ravi's Innova car along with a driver. Later we found taking the driver turned out as a blessing ( generally we travel without a driver) as we started moving from one temple to another all of which are around a radius of 50km around Kumbakonam. We found the crowd in each temple really swelling, we had to park in most of the temples about half to one km away and walk to the shrine as the roads are narrow and they are jammed with vehicles negotiating to the temple. Taking the vehicle near the temple would ahve costed a lot of time. So we were getting down where ever we could and walk with the children to and fro. Further in each temple we had to negotiate the temple line which was not very orderly or regulated. But each of the temples were unique representing a particular `graha. We learned in the process how much each of the `graha play roles in individual life and it is important to get aquainted with the powerful `grahas and the temple where which is specially designed for their worship at least once in a life time.However it would be wiser to visit them on lean period and not on prime holidays like chirtsmas holidays which is what we did.
CHANDRAN
The fist temple we visited was MOON god's temple and Thingaloor |
| At Thingaloor |
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| Chandran temple |
This is 35 kms from Kumbakonam and 10 kms from Tanjaore.
In all temples the main deity is LOrd Shiva and Goddess Parvathi known by different names.
Here Lord Shiva is - Kailainathar Parvathi - Periyanayagi
CHANDRAN STHUTHI
Dadhishankha Thusharabham , Kshirordarnava Sambhavan
Namai Shashinam somam Shambhar Mukhhuta Bhooshanam
Chndran rules our mind , our blood and the relationship with our mother.
Prosperity, travel abroad, intelligence, happiness, fame, beauty, good smells, enjoyment of wealth are all dependent on `chandra balam in our horoscope.
Our lagna when we are born as in horoscope is connected to pace of moon when we are born. Thus our entire horoscope is dependent on Chnadra position.
Chndradasa is present in person's life for 10 yrs.
Important informations about Chndran -
Rasi - Kadakam (Cancer)
Adidevatha - water
Color - White
Food - Rice
Gem - Pearl
Naivedyam - Curd rice
Metal - `iyam
Samit - Murungai trees samit
Affects - Mind and blood
On wordship - get beauty, sweetness, good mind.
Festivals celebrated are - Holi poornima, sharad poornima, Guru poornima.
RAHU
Our next halt was at RAHU Navgraha temple at THIRUNAGESHWARAM
Ardhakaryam mahaviryam, chndraditya Vimardhanam,
Simhika garbha sambootham, tham Rahum Pranamamyaham
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| Thirunageswaram |
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| RAHU TEMPLE |
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It is an imposing temple with a lot of sculpture work of Chola periodThe main diety Shiva is called Senbakarnyeswararand the Goddess is called Grigujambikai.
SUNNext we moved to SURYANAR -SUN TEMPLE Japaa kusuma Sankaasham Kashyapeyam Mahadyuthim Thamorim Sarva Papaghnam Pranathosmi Divakaram.    Suryanaar Koil - The Sun temple is in Aduthurai lies between Kumbakonam(15km) and Myladuthurai (20km) Lord Shiva is worshiped as Viswanathan and the Goddess is Visalakshi.All the nine grahams are established here. Hence visiting Suryanar kovil and praying to the rest of the grahams can also be equivalent to visiting navagrahams Surya is connected to Atma, bones and father. Rasi - Simham (Leo)Adi devatai -Agni, ShivanPratyathi devathai - Uruthran Color - Red Food - Wheat Gem -Ruby Metal - Copper Worshiping Sun --Helps in Eyes sight, Life span, Improvement of health. The Sun was already dimming by the time we left Suryanar Kovil . Next we moved to SUKRANSUKRAN KOVIL AT KANJANOOR   |
Lord Shiva - Agnipureswarar and Goddess - Karpagambikai
Himakunda mrinalabham, daithyanam paramam gurum
Sarva sashtra pravaktaram, Bhargavam Pranamamyaham
It was night fall by the time we reached there. Being winter month the evening was closing in early. Distance wise it is just 2km from Suryanar kovil.
Rasi - Rishibam (Tarus)
Adidevatha - Indrani
Pratyathi devathai - Indran in vaitdhyan form
Color - white
Food - `mochai kottai
flower - White lotus
Gem - Diamond
Samith - athi
Metal - silver
Bird - Eagle,`Garudan
Body connected - Love feeling
On worshipping the Navagraha - Good partner, prosperity , fame
GOVINDAPURAM & KAVERI
We retired back to Govindapuram, settled ourselves in the pristine settings of our dear friend Radha's house. The river Kaveri flows just at her backyard. In the two days we stayed there we made several visit to the river and Ravi & children took bath with glee in a noncrowded banks of the river. Further her house is virtually surrounded by imp.temples . Just next door is the `Anushtanam ( samadhi place) of 59th pontiff of Kanchi Sankaracharya Sri. Bogendhar. He lived here in his last days close to river Kaveri and some point immersed himself in the sand and did his dhyan undisturbed. Finally he took his samadhi here. Thus this place is most holy. Also there are magnificent temples like Vittal kovil just next doors. Thus the place is just right for a spiritual retreat.
Refreshing bath in river Kaveri
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| Bath in Kaveri |
BUDHAN
Now on the second day our first halt was at BUDHAN KOVIL AT THIRUVENGADU
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BUDHAN KOVILIt is a magnificient temple with intricate scriptures and many temple ponds.Taking bath in these ponds with `shraddha and worshiping the dieties will help the childless couple to get children |
Priyangu Kalika shyamam, RoopenaprathimumBudham
Soumyam, soumya gunopetam, tham Budam Pranamamyaham
Main diety : Swetharaneyeswar , Goddess - Brahma Vidyambika
The temple with its large praharams was crowded with devotees who were doing no of pujas. We ofcourse were not well initiated into the rituals, so we restricted in most of the temples to Archana tickets.It may require more visits in leisure to understand the age old practices and beliefs.
Rasi - Mithunam(Gemini), kanni(Virgo)
adidevatha - Vishnu
Prathyadi devatha - Narayanan
Color - Green
Food - Green gram
Gem - Emerald
Naivedhyam - Rice mixed with green gram powder , (pachai payaru)
Metal - copper
Body part ruling - Speech, skin
On worshiping Budhan - Increase in Brains and writing skill
KETU
Our next hop was to KETU TEMPLE AT KEELAPRUMPALLAM
It is comparatively a non discriptive temple close to famous Poompuhar .
Main Shiva diety - Naganathaswamy, Goddess - Soundaryanayagi
Palasha pushpa sankasham, taraka grahamasthakam,
Raoudram roudrathmakam ghoram tham ketum pranamamyaham
Like Rahu, Ketu belongs to the snake deity ,but it has the status of `wisdom giver. When Ketu planet is strong in the horoscope the person will gyrate towards wisdom and try to get `moksham.
adidevata - Chitragupta
Pratyadi devatha - Brahma
Vehicle- Eagle
color - multi colored cloth.
Food - `kollu- horse gram
Naivedhyam - food made of kollupodi
Aspects - `gyana karan, Motchakaran
On worshiping Ketu - Good human being, Get Mukti
MARS
It was fast getting past prime time, we were anxious to reach
Vaitheswaran kovil where the `graha MARS OR ANGAHARAN is installed.
~Chevvai as its is popularly known does not have a seperate temple it is installed at Vaitheswaran kovil. We tried to speed through the narrow roads of Kumbakonam to reach the temple by 1.00 p.m at least. However we reached there at 1.10 p.m and thought it may be futile now. However all the temples cater to latecomers by some back door, I would say here it was nice of them. We litreally gate crashed into the temple and to the `Chevvai graha place. The purohidar as there was no much crowd did an eloborate puja and we were mighty pleased. He did special Abhishekam and took the garland from the diety and presented to us. Ofcourse he was looking fro a quick monetary gain and charged us Rs.600/ for the favour. We parted the amount without much whimper and had a good darshan of rest of the temple.
Vaitheswaran kovil
Chevvai place of worship
Main diety - Vaidyanathar Goddess - Thaiyal Nayagi
Dharani Garbha Sambhootham, Vidyutkanthi Samaprabham
Kumaram Sakthi Hastham tam Mangalam Pranamamyaham
A person buys land, house, get victory over enemies if `chevvai favours in his horoscope.
Rasi - Mesham(Aries), Virchikam ( Scorpio)
Adidevatha - Earth, Lord Subramaniar
Prathayadi Devata - Kshetra Balakar
Color - Red
Food - Thuvarai, Thuvar dhal
Gem - Coral
Place in the body - Strength
aspects - Brother relationship, Belongs to earth
Flower - Shenbakam
On worshipping Mars - Courage, Good speech giving abilities, Good strength, winning in disputes etc.
GURU
Guru - Jupiter at Alangudi is 15kms off Kumbakonam. By the time we reached thier the dusk was folding , against the evening backdrop the temple was looking beautiful.
He is a benevolent planet giving lot of goodness and wisdom to the person, good conduct and interest in `shashtras where is he is well placed.
For marriage to take place it is very important to have Guru `balan.
He is also called Brahaspathi.
Main diety - Abathsahayar & Goddess - Aelavarkuzhali
Rasi - Danush(sagittarus) & Meenam ( Pisces)
Adidevatha - Piraman
Prathyadi Devatha - Indran
Color - Yellow
Vehicle - Elephant
Flower- White jasmine
Gem - Pushparag
Food - White Channa
Naivedhyam - White channa rice
Samith - Twigs of arasu plant
Metal - Gold
Place in body - Muscle and fat
Aspects - Wealth and good children
Worshiping Guru one can get - Good children, Good life, Good Buddhi(mind) and Prestige
This completed our Navagraha visit. We had one more Graha to visit. That was `Sani , a formiddable `graha. However we got the report there are unprecedental crowd due to `Sani peyarchi. Further it was a bit far at Karikal. Hence we prayed to Sani and decided to take it up at another time more leisurely.
Visiting the Navagrahas made us relaise how immense is their influence hovering around us. What we understood made us realize is only a tip and there is lot more to fathom understand and worship these Gods in the form of Navagrahas.
