Thiruagnishwarar Temple at Kanjanoor - Temple of Shukra (Venus)

This is a navagraha temple representing the planet Shukra. This Shiva temple is one of the 275 temples revered by Nayanmars. This temple is located at Kanjanoor in Tanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. The temple is presumed to be more than 2000 years old. 

Mulavar (Main deity): Agnishwarar

Devi (Consort): Karpagambal

Kshetra Vruksha: Jackfruit tree and Palash tree

Sacred Teertha: Agni Teertha, Parashar Teertha, Brahma Teertha (Kaveri), Chandra Teertha, Anjaneya Teertha and Manikarnika Teertha

Puranik Names of the place: Palasha aranyam, Parashapuram, Brahmapuri, Agnipuram, Kamsapuram

Lord Shiva is a swayambhu linga at this place. 

Features of this kshetra:

This is a navagraha place for Lord Shukra and is one of the places where Shukra performed worship. There is a separate shrine for Lord Shukra. The unique feature at this temple is that Lord Shiva and Parvati are together. They gave darshan to Lord Brahma at this place in their bridal form. Therefore Parvati is found to the right of Lord Shiva in the idol. Lord Shiva gave mukti to Sage Parashar in his Tandav form. Hence the idol of Lord Nataraja at this place is known as Mukti Tandav murti. Lord Shukra is known as Kanjan. That’s why the place got the name Kanjanoor. 

Shukra is also known as Bhargava as he is the son of Sage Bhrigu and Puloma. Shukra is also known as Kavi. 

Lord Chandra was relieved of his curse at this place. Agni worshiped the Lord here on the advice of Sage Vyasa and was cured of his ailment. So Lord Shiva is known as Agnishwarar. 

King Kamsa of Mathurapuri was advised by Sage Shukracharya to pray at this place to get rid of his ailments and he got cured at this place by doing so. As Kamsa worshiped at this place this place is known as Kamsapuram. This is the place where the greatness of the Panchakshara mantra was brought out by Haradattashivacharya. 

Idols in the temple:

The koshta murtis i.e. Narthan Vinayaka, Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, Durga and Chandikeshwarar are found on the outer walls of Koshtam. 

1. Near the shrine of Goddess Parvati, we find the idol of Adi Karpagambal. 
2. The shrines of Vinayaka, Mayur Subramanya and Mahalakshmi are found in the parikrama
3. The agasthiwarar lingam is located under the Palash tree.
4. Idols of Manakkancharar, Kulikamar, Suraikai Bhaktar and his wife are found near Shiva Linga.
5. In mahamandap we have the idols of Bhairav, Surya, Chandra, Navagrahas and Nalvars (great Shaiva saints).

Legends:

According to Puran, once Shukracharya cursed Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was affected by Shukra Dosha and he worshiped Lord Shiva at this place under the name of Haridattashivacharya.

Sudarshan was the child who was born to a staunch vaishnav Vasudev. But the child exclusively worshiped Lord Shiva. There is a separate sculpture of Sudarshan seated on a red hot iron stool and reciting the name of Lord Shiva in this temple. There is another sculpture which shows Haridattashivacharya as Dakshinamurti.

Once a brahmin was responsible for the death of a cow. Hence the other brahmins sent him out of the cast as he had caused the death of a cow. By the grace of Haridattashivacharya who made a Nandi of stone to eat the grass so that Brahmin could be taken back into the cast. 

According to the Scriptures, Shukra (Shukracharya) was the Guru of demons and had the Sanjeevani mantra by which he would bring to life demons who had died in a fight.

Once, Brahma performed penance at this place to see ShivaParvati in their wedding attire and for others to witness the glorious vision too. Because of this, the Shiva temple is to the right and Parvati temple is to the left.

Local folklore has it that sugarcane and honey were plentiful here – rivers of honey – therefore the name Kanjanur. It is further believed that AadiParaShakti (Parvati) created the TriMurtis (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh) at this place.

According to history, Chandra (Moon), Parashar Muni, Kamsa (Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle) had worshipped Lord Shiva here. Hence, there are three separate Shiva-Lingams present here.

There are three Punya-Teerth or sacred ponds here – 1. Brahma Teerth created by Brahma, 2. Agni Teerth created by Agni and 3. Parash Teerth created by Parashar Muni. River Cauvery runs nearby and it is also considered a Teerth.

History of Shukra Graha:

According to Scriptures, Shukra is the son of Bhrigu Rishi and his wife Pulomisha. When Shukracharya was performing penance to get Sanjeevani mantra, Indra’s daughter Jayanti performed seva (service) to Shukracharya. After the birth of their daughter Devayani, Jayanti went back to Devalok.

Shukra got his name because of his (silver) light complexion. Shukracharya had obtained the Sanjeevani mantra from Lord Shiva by which he could bring to life the dead demons. Brihaspati (Guru of Devas) sent his son Kacha to learn the Sanjeevani mantra from Shukracharya. Kacha served Shukracharya with all his might and won over the hearts of Shukracharya and his daughter Devayani. Because of this, the demons killed Kacha and mixed his ashes in water and gave it to Shukracharya to drink. Because of Devayani’s insistence, Shukracharya got Kacha out of his stomach. In the process, the Sanjeevani mantra lost its power.

Shukracharya had three wives, one son and two daughters. He wrote a book (in Sanskrit/ North-Indian language) on law known as Shukra Neeti.

Shukracharya went to Kashi, performed penance and got a boon to become a Graham (Celestial Body).

Festivals

1. In the Tamil month of Adi and in the nakshatra Purva Phalguni (Pooram in Tamil)
2. Masi magha festival in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-March)
3. The festival of Haridattashivachary in the Tamil of Thai (Jan-Feb)
4. Navaratri festival in Purattassi (Sept-Oct)
5. Thiruvaduthurai festival in Margazhi (dec-Jan)
6. Besides this, festivals for Anjaneya and pradosha puja are also performed