Powerful Shukra kshetram. Presiding Deity is Shkra Bhagawan himself as shiva (Agneeswarar), a form of Shiva with His consort, Shukra Devi. The vigraham is made of gold and it is beautiful to have darshan. Goddess has a separate sannidhi and is beautiful too. Temple is within 30 minutes drive from Kumbakonam & very close to Suriyanar Kovil This is one of the temples in the Navagraha circuit.
If the planet is weak or malefic in your horoscope, or if you are passing through the planet's Mahadasha/antardasha/bhukti etc - you should visit this temple and offer prayers to appease Him. If the planet is strong in your horoscope, visiting will strengthen it further and give you additional benefits.
Wear White colour clothes if possible during the visit. Visiting on Fridays is good & they also have a homam in the morning I think - although it might be crowded,. You can visit during Shukra horai (if possible) on any day and it will also be beneficial.
The priest, Sri Vaidyanatha Gurukkal, was very kind and gave sthala puranam and about the different puja etc.
They have a goshala too inside temple. Help for the upkeep of cows and the caretaker if possible. While most people feed the cows, the caretakers are ignored. They are paid very less - so help them if possible.
Shukra is Kalathra-karaka - for spouse/marriage, love, pleasure and arts - and is responsible for success in these areas. People with marriage delays or who have marital disputes/discord etc should visit this temple and pray. He also governs the kidneys, reproductive organs, throat and skin - so when one has these health issues, one must definitely visit here.
You can do archana if you want. Else just pray sincerely. I usually don't do archana in all temples - we will be staying in hotel and would not know what to do with the coconut etc.
Keep mentally chanting throughout your visit - Om Shukraya Namaha - it is a simple but very powerful mantra.
One should spend minimum of 30 minutes here and pray. These temples are believed to have powerful yantras (or) they themselves are designed like a yantra. So, do not engage in chitchat/mobile browsing etc while in the temple. Pray in silence and experience inner peace. Chant any shloka/stotra/mantra of the Presiding Deity. If you are initiated in any mantra of the deity, then sit and do atleast 1 maalaa japam (108 times).
Dovotees must light at least 1-2 pure cow ghee lamps in the temple. It is believed that pure cow ghee lamps lit in clay diyas at such potent temples bestow one with all the goodness, ward off the malefic effects of the navagrahas and one's prayers are answered. People are now lighting certain count in each navagraha temple for certain prayer - if you don't want to light say 11, 18 etc - just light 2 or so. It will give you the same benefit - the prayerful thought and sincerity is very important than the number.
Beware of the cow ghee lamps sold in most temples - they may not be real ghee at all. One should use only edible pure cow ghee. Carry it with you if possible (ghee, lamps, wicks, match box and a cleaning cloth etc) - you will save money and have peace of mind about the quality...
Read moreAgneeswarar Temple at Kanjanoor or Agniswara Swami Temple at Kanjanur is one of the nine Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu and is associated with Lord Sukran (Planet Venus), the sixth of Navagraha planets. Also known as Sukran Navagraha Sthalam, Agniswarar temple is located around 18 km from Kumbakonam and 2 km to the east from Sooriyanayanar Kovil, on the Kallanai – Poompuhar road, in Tamilnadu.
Lord Shiva and Parvati in Kanjanur are worshipped as Agneeswarar and Karpagavalli Amman. Lord Shiva Himself is worshipped as Sukran and therefore the absence of a separate shrine for the Navagraha, Sukra. Unlike other Navagraha temples, the main deity, Agneeswarar in the form of lingam depicts Lord Sukra. A special feature of the Linga of Agneeeswarar is that it absorbs all the oil poured on it during the process of Abishekam.
Agneeswarar temple is also referred to as Palaasavanam, Bhrammapuri and Agnistalam. Kanjanur is considered to be the 36th in the series of the Tevara Stalams located in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri.
Agneeswarar temple was built by the Medieval Cholas and renovated by the kings of the Vijayanagar Empire. It has a 5-tier rajagopuram surrounded by two prakarams (closed precincts of a temple). e)
Stone pictures of Natarajar and Sivakami are seen during this temple within the Nataraja Sabai remarked because the Mukthi Mandapam. The Shiva Thandavam here is remarked as Mukthi Thandavam. Legend has it that Shiva blessed Paraasara muni with a vision of the cosmic dance – Mukti thandavam here. Appar is alleged to own visited Kanjanur on his thanks to Tirukkodikka from Edirkolpaadi.
Stone images of Natarajan and Sivakami are seen in this temple in the Nataraja Sabha referred to as the Mukti Mandapam. The stone idol of Natarajar at the Agneeswarar temple ia a rare piece of architecture. There is a separate shrine for Sukran (Venus). There are also shrines to Maanakkanjaarar Nayanmaar and Kalikkaamar here.
Haradatta Sivacharayar, originally a Vaishnava by the name of Sudarshana underwent nice ordeals to prove his devotion towards Shiva to his fellow Vaishnavites here. There are varieties of pictures within the temple Pragaram relating his story and therefore the ordeals he underwent.
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. Instead of this standard practice,we can find the image of Haradatta worshipping Dakshinamurthy, which is a unique feature of this temple.
The sacred water bodies in the temple are called ‘Agni theertham’ and ‘Parasara theertham’. The sacred tree in the temple is called ‘Palasa Maram’. One of the important features of the temple is that the Vilva leaf (Bilwa Leaf) seen here is 5 in number, which is...
Read moreAt a distance of 3 km from Suryanar Kovil and 18 km from Kumbakonam Railway Station, The Agneeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Kanjanur in Tamil Nadu.
The presiding deities of temple are Lord Shiva as Agneeswarar and Goddess Parvathi as Karpagambal. Kanjanur is one of the nine Navagraha sthalas located in the Cauvery Delta region dedicated to planet Venus, called Sukran. Unlike other Navagraha temples, the main deity, Agneeswarar in the form of lingam depicts Lord Sukran.
The temple was built by the Medieval Cholas and renovated by the kings of the Vijayanagar Empire. Lord Brahma is said to have been blessed with a vision of Shiva's marriage with Parvathi here. Agni is said to have worshipped Shiva here, hence the name Agneeswarar. This shrine is also referred to as Palaasavanam, Brahmapuri, Agnistalam and Neelakudi. The important feature is that the oil Abishekam performed to the main Siva lingam is fully absorbed by the idol.
This temple has a five tiered Rajagopuram and two prakarams. Haradatta Sivacharyar is said to have composed many works in Sanskrit here. Stone images of Natarajar and Sivakami are seen in this temple. The Shiva Tandavam here is referred to as Mukti Tandavam. Legend has it that Shiva blessed Paraasara muni with a vision of the cosmic dance here. The temple also houses the deities of Maanakkanjaarar Nayanmaar and Kalikkaamar, in separate shrines.
Sukran is the second most beneficial planet after Guru. Friday is the day of Sukran and worship on Fridays is considered very special. Mahasivaratri, Arudra Darisanam, Navaratri and Aadi Pooram are celebrated grandly at...
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