A trip to the Navagraha Temples was one of the must-do's when my parents visited me. While a few of them has already been explored by yours truly and blogged about, revisiting them again was a spiritual high. We ended the trip savoring every aspect of all the temples pertaining to the 9 planets. Each temple had a nuanced story or a legend. While many legends are supported by manuscripts or carvings, what held us in awe was the popular belief of the locals. Truly, faith and hope is what runs the world around.
Situated near Poompuhar in Sirkazhi Taluk, Nagapattinam District, Thiruvengadu housing Budhan, (Planet Mercury) is also called as Adhi Chidambaram and Kings Aaditya Chola & Rajaraja Chola have contributed immensely in its development. Visiting this temple is said to be equivalent to visiting Kashi.
This temple has the distinction of being praised and sung paeans to by the royal 4 – Appar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar and Thirugnanasambandar.The temple is a huge structure and houses 3 big ponds/teerthams and 5 praharams (perimeter). The 3 ponds are agni teertham, surya teertham and Chandra teertham.
Lord Swetaranyeshwarar is the presiding deity while Brahma Vidya Nayagi is his consort. There's a huge Nandi(Bull) before the Lord's Sanctum that just stuns you with it's well carved structure.
Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraj looks stunning and he is said to have performed 7 forms of dance in this temple. His dance is called as the Hasti nadanam and the 7 forms are Anandha Tandavam, Sandhya Tandavam, Samhara Tandavam,Tirupuranadha Tandavam, Bhujanga Thandavam,Urdhava TandvM nd Lalitha Tandavam.
The reason this place is called as Adhi Chidambaram is because like in chidambaram there is a sanctum for Lord Vishnu right behind Lord Shiva's.
There is a separate space for Lord Shiva as Agoramurthy(with a beast head and bird’s body) also called as veerabhadrar. The idol is a good 6 ft tall and is under a vanni maram(vanni tree).Legend goes that a demon named Maruthuvan recklessly tortured saints and devas after receiving a boon from Brahma. The Devas went to Shiva for helping them out. Lord Shiva took the form of Agoramurthy and destroyed the evil demon.
Other than the above there are many idols of Goddess Kali/ Durga including a serene Pillai Idukkai Amman. The Goddess is portrayed holding a child and hence the name.The story behind is the renowned poet Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple and found it to be akin to Shivloka with various shivlings scattered around. Unable to place his foot for fear of stamping on those lingas, he called out aloud to Shakthi who appeared in the form of Goddess Periyanayagi. She lifted him like a mother would lift her child and the same is portrayed.
A separate sanctum for Budhan is our next stop.Just opposite to the idol of Budhan is that of Planet Chandra (father of Budhan). Budhan if appeased is said to bestow skills in art, music and education. medicine, wisdom, knowledge. The planet is appeased by offerings of Green Clot or Green Mung Dal.
Budhan Mantra and it's meaning:-(Source:here)
Just outside the temple there is another must-visit abode of knowledge and wisdom.
It also houses a vedapada salai where young boys are tutored all the vedas & shastras thereby enlightening them with profound knowledge.
Thiruvengadu is for Budhan (புதன் )/ Planet Mercury.
This temple has the distinction of being praised and sung paeans to by the royal 4 – Appar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar and Thirugnanasambandar.The temple is a huge structure and houses 3 big ponds/teerthams and 5 praharams (perimeter). The 3 ponds are agni teertham, surya teertham and Chandra teertham.
Lord Swetaranyeshwarar is the presiding deity while Brahma Vidya Nayagi is his consort. There's a huge Nandi(Bull) before the Lord's Sanctum that just stuns you with it's well carved structure.
Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraj looks stunning and he is said to have performed 7 forms of dance in this temple. His dance is called as the Hasti nadanam and the 7 forms are Anandha Tandavam, Sandhya Tandavam, Samhara Tandavam,Tirupuranadha Tandavam, Bhujanga Thandavam,Urdhava TandvM nd Lalitha Tandavam.
The reason this place is called as Adhi Chidambaram is because like in chidambaram there is a sanctum for Lord Vishnu right behind Lord Shiva's.
There is a separate space for Lord Shiva as Agoramurthy(with a beast head and bird’s body) also called as veerabhadrar. The idol is a good 6 ft tall and is under a vanni maram(vanni tree).Legend goes that a demon named Maruthuvan recklessly tortured saints and devas after receiving a boon from Brahma. The Devas went to Shiva for helping them out. Lord Shiva took the form of Agoramurthy and destroyed the evil demon.
Other than the above there are many idols of Goddess Kali/ Durga including a serene Pillai Idukkai Amman. The Goddess is portrayed holding a child and hence the name.The story behind is the renowned poet Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple and found it to be akin to Shivloka with various shivlings scattered around. Unable to place his foot for fear of stamping on those lingas, he called out aloud to Shakthi who appeared in the form of Goddess Periyanayagi. She lifted him like a mother would lift her child and the same is portrayed.
A separate sanctum for Budhan is our next stop.Just opposite to the idol of Budhan is that of Planet Chandra (father of Budhan). Budhan if appeased is said to bestow skills in art, music and education. medicine, wisdom, knowledge. The planet is appeased by offerings of Green Clot or Green Mung Dal.
Budhan Mantra and it's meaning:-(Source:here)
Priyangu Kalika Shyamam
Roopena Prathimam Budham
Soumyam Soumya Gunopetham
Namami Shashinam Sutham
O Son of the Moon and Representer of all academic Knowledge ! My salutations
to Thee !
----------------------------------------------------------------*************************************-----------------------------------------------------------Just outside the temple there is another must-visit abode of knowledge and wisdom.
Sir Mahaperiyava Thirukovil and Sri Rama mada Veda Vyasa Ashramam
The building houses a whole lot of treasures including various photographs of Maha Periyava including a life like statue of HIM.
It also houses a vedapada salai where young boys are tutored all the vedas & shastras thereby enlightening them with profound knowledge.
Visiting this temple and the vedapadasalai was spiritually enlightening.
Thank you for taking us on this amazing trip with you
ReplyDeleteI love visiting places that are so rich in cultural and historic places to visit