AGNISHWARAR TEMPLE - SUKRAN

AGNISHWARAR TEMPLE - SUKRAN - KANJANUR

Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur – Sukran ( Venus)

The Agniswarar Temple  is a Shiva temple in the village of Kanjanur, 18 kilometres north-east of Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Sukra (Venus). The main idol in the temple is that of "Agniswarar" or shiva lingam. In concordance with the Saivite belief that Shiva is all-pervading, Sukra is believed to be located within the stomach of the idol of Shiva. The lingam is also a Bramha lingam as Lord bramha himself has prayed to Lord shiva here. There is no separate shrine for Sukran. The name Agniswarar is derived from the lore that Lord agni prayed to lord shiva here.

The temple was built by the Medieval Cholas and renovated by the kings of the Vijayanagara empire Kings. The temple has a 5-tier Rajagopuram surrounded by two Praharams (closed precincts of a temple). Legend is that Siva blessed Parasara muni(sage) here with cosmic dance. It is believed that Shiva appeared in the form of Sukra to propitiate himself off the dosha of Sukran. 

During vamana Avathar, lord vishnu took the form of a small brahmin boy and asked Bali for three paces of land. Bali’s Guru Sukracharya had a premonition that the boy was Vishnu and asked him to deny the boon. The virtuous king Bali against his Guru’s advice, wanted to grant the wish of the Lord. Sukracharya took the form of a bee and hid in the mouth of the Kamandalu for preventing the water to flow for Bali to donate the three paces of land. When water did not flow from the kamandalam, Vishnu pricked Sukracharya with a Darbha grass, who lost his eye, and had to come out in pain. His wish fulfilled, Vamana took his huge form(Vishwaroopam) and measured out the Earth and the Sky, and as the 3rd step, placed his foot on Bali’s Head ,blessing him. 

Sukracharya however was angry with Vishnu, and cursed him. It is belived that Vishnu prayed to Shiva at Kanjanur, where he was relieved of the curse. Shiva not only blessed Vishnu here, he promised to remain and bless those who came with prayers to Sukran.

Kanjanur is one of the nine Navagraha sthalas located in the Cauvery Delta region dedicated to planet Venus, called Sukra. Unlike other Navagraha temples, the main deity, Agniswarar in the form of lingam depicts Lord Sukra.

Comments

DHARBHARANYESHWARAR TEMPLE - SHANI ( SATURN) - TIRUNALLAR

Dharbharanyeswarar Temple,Tirunallar –Shani(Saturn) Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbharanyeswarar Temple is a Shiva temple dedicated to Lord Dharbharanyeswar. There is a shrine dedicated to Shani (saturn) located in the Temple in Tirunallar town in Karaikal district of Pondicherry. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, ( Dharbaranyeswar) and the place Tirunallar was historically called Dharbaranyam. The presiding deity, Lord Shiva in the form of a swayambhu lingam coming out of Darbha grass hence known as Dharbaranyeswarar. His consort is Praneshwari. The worship is also centered around the icon of planet saturn, called Shani, originally treated as the door keeper of the shrine. According to Hinduism, saturn resides in each rasi (zodiac) for two and half years. The tradition is to worship Shani before entering the inner sanctum of Lord Siva. Kings in the past had donated milch cows for the upkeep of the temple. From the cowherd community a cowherd(Idayan) was selected

KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE - THE NAVEL OF GODDESS SHAKTHI - KANCHIPURAM

Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple - The Navel of Goddess Shakthi. Bhandasura the evil Asura was tormenting Indra and the devas. The devas prayed to Shakti in the form of a Parrot, residing on a Champaka Vriksha (Magnolia Champaka) at Kanchi. Hearing the plea of the devas, the goddess Kamakshi appeared from the Bila Dwara and destroyed the evil asura in this place. The bila dvara leading to bilakasha or Mahameru can be seen today in front of the tapomagna kamakshI sannidhi inside the garbhagriha of the Kamkshi Temple. The Kamakshi AmmanTemple is an ancient Temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, the ultimate form of Shakthi. It is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram The Temple in all probability was built by the Pallava Kings, whose capital was Kanchipuram. The temple is one of the 51 Shakthi Peetham and is associated with the Navel of the Goddess, the Goddess was prayed to by Adi Shankara. Kamakshi, Meenakshi & Akilandeswari from Kanchipuram, Madurai & Thiruvanaikoil re

ELEPHANTA CAVES PART 3 - THE CELESTIAL MARRIAGE - SHIVA - GHARAPURI -

GHARAPURI - ELEPHANTA CAVES 3 THE MARRIAGE OF SHIVA AND PARVATHI - attended by relatives, Gana’s, Rishi’s and Deva’s. SHIVA's marriage to PARVATHI, who is standing to his right. SATI who is reborn as PARVATHI to a father who adores her, does penance to LORD SHIVA to attain him, SHIVA is pleased with the Penance of Parvathi and decides to marry her King HIMAVAN the father, who loves UMA or PARVATHI his daughter, gives her in marriage to SHIVA as SUNDARA. Parvathi Stands on the right hand side of Shiva before marriage. HIMAVAN along with his wife MENA ( MAINA) placing Uma’s hand in the hands of the LORD SUNDARA. PARVATHI’s brother MT. MAINAK with a Kalash (Pot) in his hand and CHANDRA (MOON) behind him. Parvathi is bedecked in Jewels and even Shiva is crowned and jeweled with necklace and he is holding the sash of his garment which is flowing up to his ankle. A coy PARVATHI bedecked with jewels,SHIVA with a beautiful crown,necklace and yagyopavitham. Sitt

SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

Search This Blog