Suryanar Kovil - Temple of Surya

This navagraha temple is for the planet Sun (surya). It is parihar sthala not only for Sun but for other planets as well. This temple is about 2000 years old and is the only navagraha sthala where the main deity is not Lord Shiva but Lord Surya (Sun).

Mulavar (Main deity): Shivasuryan (Lord Surya)

Devi (Consorts): Ushadevi, Pratyushadevi (Chhayadevi)

Kshetra vruksha: Argha tree (Arghavan) (Rui in Marathi)

Sacred teertha : Surya teertha

Place: Suryanar Kovil, District: Tanjavur

How to reach the Temple:

One can travel by road to SURYANAR KOVIL from KUMBHAKONAM or MAYILADUTHURAI. One can also take a train to ADUTHURAI station but it is not so convenient. The temple is 3 km north of ADUTHURAI railway station by road.

Special features: 

This is one of the three famous Sun temples in India. In the sanctum sanctorum of this temple Lord Surya is facing the west with Usha Devi on his left and Chhaya devi on his right in her bridal form. He is in a standing position carrying a red lotus flower on his hands. His mount (horse) is standing in front of (his) idol. Lord Jupiter (Guru) is facing Lord Surya as if to pacify him i.e. reduce his heat. This is the only temple where we can come across all navagrahas in separate shrines at the same place. In this place all navagrahas are anugraha devatas and all of them are without their mounts. 

Legend(s):

History of Surya Graha Temple:

According to the Scriptures, once upon a time, there was a rishi named Kaal Rishi (Samaya/ Time) who studied his own horoscope. While studying, he found that he had Graha Doshas. To remove these doshas he performed penance and pleased the nine celestial bodies (NavaGraha) and got their blessings, that his descendants will not suffer from these Graha Doshas. Thus, he and his family were relieved from Pitru Dosha. Pitru Dosha comes from ancestry.

After knowing about this boon given by NavaGrahas, the presiding deities of NavaGrahas, namely Shiva, Parvati, Kartik Swami (Murugan), Thirumal (Vishnu), Brahma, Valli (wife of Kartik Swami) got angry. They chided the NavaGrahas that they (the NavaGrahas) do not have the right to grant boon to forgive the Graha Doshas. Therefore, their presiding deities ordained that the NavaGrahas will suffer from leprosy. Realizing that they had gone beyond their limits to grant the boon, the NavaGrahas asked for forgiveness from their presiding deities. Finding the NavaGrahas to be genuinely repentant, they were told to go to Arghyavanam and to perform penance there. They were told to take vow to fast, to take a bath in the Teertha (pond / lake) for 11 (eleven) Sundays and afterwards worship Lord Shiva and Parvati and on Monday take only curd rice on the leaf of Mandara. By doing these, they can get rid of their sin. The NavaGrahas did this penance and got rid of their sin. Thus there are 9 holy places, one for each of the Grahams, where they performed their penance and attained their salvation.

Lord Shiva bade them to stand at this place and help those devotees to get rid of their Graha doshas and other difficulties i.e. to act as anugraha devatas. 

Other deities: Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha

Festivals:

1. A 10 days festival is held on ratha saptami in February
2. Special abhishek and archana is done for Lord Surya on the first Sunday of every Tamil month
3. Special worships are done during the transit of Guru and Saturn