SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

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

Naganathar Temple, Kizhaperumpallam- Kethu(South Lunar Node – Shadow planet)   Kizhaperumpallam  is a village panchayat situated on the south bank of the  Kaveri  River in Nagai district, Tamil Nadu. The village name is a combination of three Tamil words: the first  Kizha  denote east side to MelaPerumPallam, the second part  Perum denotes  big , and the last part  Pallam  means  pit .   Another story is related to the ValamPuriNathar  Shiva . Shiva have a one small V-shaped pit on his head so these two adjacent villages are called with pallam. The Naganathar Shiva temple is famous for Navagraha worship of Kethu. It is located on the south bank of Cauvery River near the bay of Bengal. The almighty Shiva is called Naganatha and goddess, Soundaryanayaki.   The shiva temple is also called Kizhaperumpallam Kethu temple. The shrine of the deity Kethu is located north-east of this shiva temple.     Devas(Gods) and Asuras( Demons) churned the ocean of milk to derive nectar.

Swetharanyeswarar Temple – Tiruvenkadam, Budhan (Mercury) Swetharanyeswarar Temple   is a Hindu temple located in the town of Thiruvenkadam near Sirkazhi. The main deity is  Swetharanyeswarar , Shiva in the form of a lingam and  Brahmavidya Ambal  as the consort. There is a separate  Sannidhi  for Budhan(Mercury). Swetha (White) Aranya (forest) Eswara (Lord). The lord of white flower forest. This temple is especially known for its unique incarnation of Shiva called "Agora Murthi" or Rudra. Thiruvenkadu village is also famous for its unique structure of pools in the temples. This temple has 3 pools, 3 Gods. Swetharanyeswarar is the main God in this temple. It is said that Agora Murthi is an incarnation of fury of Lord Shiva (Rudra murthi). There was a demon named "Maruthuvasuran" in Thiruvengadu. He meditated on Lord Bramha for power’s. Pleased with his devotion Lord Bramha offered him super powers. The asura used the powers for evil by torturing   the saints

Suryanar Kovil -   Suriyan (Sun)   Suryanar Kovil  (also called  Suryanar Temple ) is a temple dedicated to the deity Surya Sun-God, located in Suryanar Kovil village near the Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Suriyanar, the Sun and his consorts Ushadevi and Pratyusha Devi. The temple also has separate shrines for the other eight planetary deities The temple is the only temple in Tamil Nadu which has shrines for all the planetary deities. The present masonry structure was built during the reign of Kullothunga Chola (AD 1060-1118) in the 11th century with later additions from the Vijaynagara Period. The temple has a five-tiered Rajagopuram, the gateway tower and a granite wall enclosing all the shrines of the temple. As per Hindu legend, Sage Kalava was suffering from serious ailments along with leprosy. He prayed to the  Navagrahas , the nine planet deities. The planets were pleased by his devotion and offered cure to the sage. Bramha, the god of creation, was angered as he

Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur – Chandran(Moon) The  Chandiranaar Temple  is a Shiva temple in the village of Thingalur, 33 kilometres from Kumbakonam.. The presiding deity is Soma (moon). However, the main idol in the temple is that of "Kailasanathar" or Shva. There is a separate shrine for Chandran Lord Moon. Thingal (Monday) also means the moon and the place Thingalur derives its name from this. Devas(Gods) and Asuras( Demons) churned the ocean of milk to derive nectar. Vishnu in the form of Mohini (Female enchantess) ensured the nectar was consumed only by the Devas, During the distribution of nector, one of the Asura’s demon consumed the nectar, which was noticed by Chandra (Moon) & Surya ( Sun). On complaining to lord Vishnu, he cut of the head of the Asura, the head joined with the body of a snake to become Rahu and the body joined with head of the snake to become Kethu. Rahu in his anger started consuming the moon Chandra. The moon prayed to Lord Shiva here

  Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi –Guru(Jupiter) DAKSHINAMURTHY Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi or Guru Sthalam is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the village of Alangudi. Shiva is worshipped as Apathsahyesvarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Tribuvananayagi. The temple complex covers two acres and it houses two gateway tower’s known as gopurams, one facing the Apathsaheswarar shrine and other towards North. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Apathsaheswarar and his consort Elavarkuzhali being the most prominent. The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas during the 10th Century, while the present masonry structure was built by the Nayak’s of Madurai during the 16th century. The temple has a 5-tier rajagopuram surrounded by two prakarams(closed precincts of a temple).Lord Shiva consumed the deadly poison Halahala, giving rise to the name of the place Alangudi and the deity being Apatsahayesvarar,

  Tirunageswaram Naganathar Temple – Rahu (North Lunar Node – Shadow planet) Tirunageswaram Naganathar Temple also known as Rahu Sthalam is a temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Tirunageswaram, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam. It is one of the temples associated with, the Navagraha Sthalas, and specifically Rahu. Shiva is worshiped as Naganathar, and is represented by the Lingam. His consort Parvathi is depicted as Piraisoodi Amman. There is also a shrine for Rahu and Girigujambal in the form of Swayambhu. The milk turns from white to blue during the abhishekam to the lord in this temple. It houses four Gopurams. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Naganathar, Rahu and Piraisoodi Amman being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the ornamental entrance hall built during the Nayak’s of Tanjore. Many serpents, including Adisesha, Takshaka and Karkotaka, worshipped Shiva at this place, leading to the name "Tirun

  Vaitheeswaran Koil – Angarakan(Mars) Vaitheeswaran Kovil or Pullirukkuvelur is a temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva, located in Vaideeswaran kovil town in Nagai district. Shiva is worshipped as Vaidyanathar or Vaitheeswaran meaning the "God of healing" and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. Vaitheeswaran is a Tamil derivative from vaidya (Doctor) and Ishvara (God/Master). The presiding deity is Sri vaidyanathan. He is the God of Healing. When pronouncing in Tamil, it sounds like "vaideeswaran". It is one of the nine Navagraha (nine planets) temples and is associated with the planet Mars (Angarakan). The holy waters of the Siddhamirtham tank within the temple complex contains nectar, and a holy dip is believed to cure all diseases. One of the nine planets, Angaraka (Mars), suffered from leprosy and was cured by Vaidhyanathaswamy and from then on it is treated as one of the Navagraha Temple for planet Angaraka. Parvathi, the consort of

  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 S