Navagraha temples - Guru

Information about Guru (Jupiter) graha

Temple Information:
Temple Name: APATSAHAYESVARAR Temple, Alangudi
Deity at place: Sri Apatsahayeswarar
Goddess: Elavarkuzhali Ammai or Umayammai
Ganapati: Kaatha Vinayakar
Village Location: ALANGUDI, Tamil Nadu 612801, India
Historical/ Scriptural Name: APATSAHAYESVARAR Temple, Alangudi
Other Deities: 1. Ravi/ Sun, 2. Sapta Linga 3. Murugan, 4. Lakshmi, 5. NavaGraha, 6. Kaal Bhairava and 7. Guru Dakshinamoorthy (main idol)

How to reach the Temple:

It is on the KUMBHAKONAM – NEEDAMANGALAM highway, about 17 kms south of KUMBHAKONAM.

History of Guru Graha Temple:

According to Scriptures:

1. Once when Goddess Parvati was playing with a ball made of flowers and had thrown it up, and had raised Her hands to catch it, the Sun-God who was passing by, mistook the raised hands as a signal to stop and he stopped out of reverence. Sun’s stopping, however brief, was a cause for great turmoil for all in the universe (Sun is in constant relative motion with Earth). When Lord Shiva came to know of this inadvertent folly, He asked Parvati to take birth and she followed.

This temple is where Goddess Parvati did Her penance to please Lord Shiva and eventually remarried with Him. During this marriage, all Gods were present – Ganesh, Murugan etc. This
temple, created by Parvati, was known as KashiAranya and the place considered equivalent to Kashi.

2. Lord Shiva drank the poison that (Alam) came out during the churning of the ocean by the Suras (Gods) and Asuras (Demons). It is believed that this is the place where Parvati had pressed her hand on Lord Shiva’s throat to stop the flow of poison. That is why this place is known as Alangudi (in Tamil, Alam = Poison and Kudi = Drink).

3. A demon named Gajamukha was troubling people and Gods. Lord Shiva sent His son Ganapati to punish him. Therefore, there is a Ganapati temple here and Ganapati is known as Kaatha Vinayakar (Kaatha = Protector, Vinayak = Ganapati and Aakar = Form).
Inside the temple compound there are temples for 1. Ravi/ Sun, 2. Sapta Linga 3. Murugan, 4. Lakshmi, 5. NavaGraha, 6. Kaal Bhairava and 7. Guru Dakshinamoorthy (main idol) which is
considered to be The Guru. There is no separate idol for Guru. Here they light 28 lamps with ghee. The sacred tree here is Poolai shrub.
Punya Teerth (Sacred Ponds): It is said that there were 15 sacred ponds around the temple. Currently, only a few are in existence. Some 9 ponds are in the villages surrounding the temple. All NavaGraha got their PaapaVimochan, their absolution through their penance. Pilgrims stay at a place called Swami Malai (Swami = God and Malai = Hill).

The temple is controlled by the Tamil Nadu Endowment Trust. It is very well maintained.

Importance of Guru Graha:
He gives prospects, peace, progress and health. He rules over higher learning, intelligence, spirituality and long distance travel. It takes 12 years for him to complete one cycle. Guru Mahadasha is for 16 years. He is the Lord of DHANU and MEEN rashi/ zodiac (by Moon based astrology). By Sun based astrology, its SAGITTARIUS and PISCES zodiac. He is Uchcha (Exalted) in Karka (Cancer) and Neech (in Recession) in Makar (Capricorn).

Nivritti (Absolution) from Guru Dosha:

The following remedies are recommended – Fasting on Thursdays; donating turmeric, gur, gram dal, pale yellow cloth and copper on Thursdays; Chanting the mantra of Guru on Thursdays.

NavaGraha Aspect/ Characteristics Summary – Guru (Jupiter):

#	Navagraha Aspect	Jupiter
1	Consort	Tara
2	Cloth color	Yellow/ Gold
3	Gender	Male
4	Element	Sky/ Ether
5	God	Indra/ Brahma
6	Mounts	Elephant
7	Presiding Deity	Dakshinamoorthy
8	Metal	Gold
9	Gemstone	Yellow Sapphire
10	Body Part	Brain
11	Taste	Sweet
12	Grain	Bengal Gram
13	Season	Winter
14	Graha deities face this direction	North
15	Flower	Jasmine/ Jai-Jui
16	Kshetra vruksha (tree)	Alstonia Scholaris/ Indian Pulai/ Devil Tree/ Milky Pine
17	Week day	Thursday
18	Sound	Dha

Rangoli for Guru Graha: 
To be drawn when worshiping Jupiter god

Mantra for Guru Graha:
Below is mantra for Jupiter god. 

Navagraha temples - Budha

Information about Budha (Mercury) graha

Temple Information:

Temple Name: THIRUVENKADU BUDHA Temple
Deities at place (Sthala devata): Lord Shiva as SHWETHARANYESHWARA (Shwetha + Aranya + Ishwara)  and consort Parvati as SHREEBRAHMAVIDHYAMBIKA (Shree + BrahmaVidhya + Ambika)
Graha name: Budhan
Village Location: THIRUVENKADU, Tamil Nadu 609114, India

How to reach the Temple:

It is about 17 kms SouthEast of SIRKAZHI, about 10 kms to the West of POOMBUKAR bus stop (HWY 22) and about 11 kms from VAITHEESWARANKOIL.

History of Budha Graha Temple:

According to Scriptures, a demon known as Maruthuvasuran got a number of boons from the Gods and then went on to engage them in war. So Lord Shiva advised the Gods to stay at Thiruvenkadu in disguise. The demon came to know about this and troubled Gods. Lord Shiva sent Nandi to fight the demon. The demon had acquired a Trishul (Trident) from Lord Shiva as boon. The demon inflicted 9 wounds on the Nandi. When Lord Shiva came to know about the plight of Nandi and the misuse of the trishul, His face took a ferocious countenance. In this ferocious manifestation, He fought with demon. The demon could not withstand Lord Shiva's ferocity and eventually surrendered to Lord Shiva. The temple sculpture portrays this - Lord Shiva in His ferocious manifestation with the demon at His feet and the Nandi alongside with 9 wounds.

On all four sides there are roads for Rathayatra. The RajaGopuram is on both east and west side.

There are 3 teerthas (pond) here. According to fable, when Lord Shiva performed His Celestial Rudra dance, 3 drops of water fell down and formed these 3 kunda/ teerth/ pond, namely Agni Teerth, Surya Teerth and Chandra Teerth.

Sacred Tree: 3 types – 1. Bel/ Bilwa/ Vilwa (Tamil) 2. Vadaval (Tamil) and 3. Konnai (Tamil).

Importance of Budha Graha:
Budha is Jnani (Learned), well versed in all arts. He is son of Chandra and Tara. Chandra had taken Guru (Brihaspathi) as his Guru. Chandra had married 27 daughters of Daksha. He performed a Yagya to please Lord Vishnu. At that time, Guru’s wife Tara was enchanted by the beauty of Chandra and stayed with him. She delivered a son, namely Budha. Under the orders of Brahma, Lord Shiva handed over Tara back to Guru and the boy Budha to Chandra. When Budha grew up, he got dejected with Chandra and went to Himalayas to perform penance. He became well versed in all arts and received a boon from Lord Shiva and became Graham (Celestial Body).

Budha is a ShubhaGraham responsible for knowledge, intelligence, astrological wisdom, debating skills etc.

Nivritti (Absolution) from Budha Dosha:

He is the Lord of Mithun and Kanya rashi/ zodiac (by Chandra/ Moon based astrology). The controlling/ presiding deity (AadhiDevata) is MahaVishnu.

Budha Mahadasha is for 17 years.

When Budha is in the sixth, eighth or twelfth position, generally he gives adverse results. According to Astrology, Budha is responsible for mental disorders, anemia, nervous disorders, leucoderma (white patches), leprosy etc.

NavaGraha Aspect/ Characteristics Summary – Budha (Mercury):

#	Navagraha Aspect	Mercury
1	Consort	Ila
2	Cloth color	Green
3	Gender	Neutral
4	Element	Earth
5	God	Vishnu
6	Mounts	Lion
7	Presiding Deity	Vishnu
8	Metal	Bronze
9	Gemstone	Emerald
10	Body Part	Skin
11	Taste	Mixed
12	Grain	Green Gram
13	Season	Autumn
14	Graha deities face this direction	East
15	Flower	White Oleander/ Kanthal/ Kaner
16	Kshetra vruksha (tree)	Bel/ Bilwa/ Aegle Marmelos/ Wood Apple
17	Week day	Wednesday
18	Sound	Sa

Rangoli for Budha Graha: 
To be drawn when worshiping Mercury god

Mantra for Budha Graha:
Below is mantra for Mercury god.