Navagraha Temples - Chandra

Information about Chandra (Moon) graha

Temple Information:

Temple Name: Kailasanathar Temple
Deity at place (Sthala devata): Kailasanathar
Goddess: Periya Nayaki
Ganapati: Sankatvimochan Ganapati
Graha name: Chandran
Village Location: Kailasanathar Devasthanam, Thingalur, Tamil Nadu 612204, India

How to reach the Temple:

This place is on the highway Thiruvaiyaru – Kumbhakonam highway in Tamil Nadu, India. It is 2 kms from Thirupazhanam.

History of Chandra Graha Temple:

According to Scriptures, Chandra was very beautiful. So, many girls wanted to marry him. Thakkan, namely Prajapati had 27 beautiful daughters who were enchanted by Chandra’s beauty. Hence they all wanted to marry him. Chandra had more love for his last wife namely Revathi. This broke the agreement he had made with all his other wives and Prajapati. Therefore the girl’s father (Prajapati) cursed him stating that he will lose all of his 16 kalas (arts) one after the other, daily. He surrendered to Lord Shiva and performed penance at this place. It is presumed that the pond on the eastern side of the temple – Chandra Teerth – was created by Chandra himself. He took bath in that pond and worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of his curse. Lord Shiva, on getting pleased by his penance/worship, gave him a boon that his kalas will increase and decrease alternatively – the waxing and waning of moon (Chandra).

Importance of Chandra Graha:
Chandra occupies the next position to Surya in astrology as a Shubha Graha with Sattwik Vritti. In a horoscope, Chandra is supposed to be responsible for mother’s position, bhoga (life events), bhagya (fortune), auspicious food, sorrow, diseases (like cold, cough), ones fame, strength, sleep, left eye, balance of mind, control of brain.

He is the Lord of Karka rashi (i.e. zodiac sign Cancer). Chandra Mahadasha is for 10 years.

Nivritti (Absolution) from Chandra Dosha:
To maximize good effects and minimize bad effects of Chandra Mahadasha, one should fast on Full-Moon day and offer cooked white rice to Lord Chandra as Naivedeya and then distribute it away (it should not be partaken by the devotee). According to scriptures, all auspicious tasks (Shubha Karma) should be performed during Shukla-Paksha (i.e. waxing moon period after Amavasya till Poornima). In this temple, during the Tamil month of Panguni, the Sun rays fall on the Shiva Linga at 6 am in the morning on Full-Moon day. And the next day (Prathama/ First Day of Krishna-Paksha), in the evening at 6:30 pm. Hence, special puja is performed on that day (Prathama/ First Day of Krishna-Paksha). 

NavaGraha Aspect/ Characteristics Summary – Chandra (Moon):

#	Navagraha Aspect	Chandra
1	Consort	Rohini
2	Cloth color	Silver (White)
3	Gender	Male
4	Element	Water
5	God	Varun
6	Mounts	Ten White Antelope/Horse Chariot
7	Presiding Deity	Gowri (Parvati)
8	Metal	Silver
9	Gemstone	Pearl
10	Body Part	Blood
11	Taste	Salty
12	Grain	Paddy (Husked rice)
13	Season	Winter
14	Graha deities face this direction	West
15	Flower	White Oleander/Kanthal/Kaner
16	Kshetra vruksha (tree)	Banana, Bel/Bilwa/Aegle Marmelos/Wood Apple
17	Week day	Monday
18	Sound	Ma

Rangoli for Chandra Graha: 
To be drawn when worshiping Moon god

Mantra for Chandra Graha:
Below is mantra for Moon god. 

Navagraha Temples - Surya

Information about Surya (Sun) graha

Temple Information:

Temple Name: SURYANAR KOVIL
Deity at place (Sthala devata): Suryanadar
Goddess: Prakash Ambika
Ganapati: Lokatirtha Vinayaka (Icchapurti Ganapati)
Graha name: Shivasuryanarayana Swami (Sun performed here penance by worshiping Shiva, hence the name).
Names of wives of Sun: Ushadevi, PratiUsha Devi
Village Location: THIRUMANGALAKUDI, P.O, Thanjavur D.T, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Tamil Nadu 612102, India
Historical/ Scriptural Name: ARGHAVANAM (ARGHA (durva -- a specific type of blade of grass) + VANAM (jungle/forest))
Deities: (TWO) 1. (ShivaParvati) 2. (Sun God, Ganesha)

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.

Prasad Distribution:

After the noon puja, prasad of curd-rice is served on mandar leaf (white cotton leaf). This is helpful specially to sick devotees who have come to pray for their recovery.

History of Surya Graha Temple:

According to Scriptures, once upon a time, there was a Kaal Rishi (Samaya/ Time) who studied his own horoscope. While studying he found 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 bounds 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 bath in the Tirth (pond/ lake) there for 11 (eleven) Sundays and afterwards worship Lord Shiva and Parvati and on Monday take only curd rice on the leaf of Mandara. Then they can get rid of this disease. The NavaGrahas did this penance and got rid of their leprosy. Thus there are 9 holy places, one for each of the Grahams, where they performed their penance and attained their salvation.

Importance of Surya Graha:
Surya (Sun) is considered ShubhaGraha, Satwik. In one's horoscope he rules Atma, Father, Head, Body, Employment, Right Eye, Boldness, Fame, Health. Among the Hindi zodiacs, Sun rules very powerfully in the Simha rashi, in Mesha rashi it is very strong (uchcha) and in Tula it is weak (neech). Surya Mahadasha is for 6 years.

Nivritti (Absolution) from Surya Dosha:
If there is PatrikaDosha related to Surya (Sun) then Sun worship should be done in the following manner -- wear (adorn) red color cloth, wear ring with red color stone and worship the Sun god - offer a red color dress for the idol; worship with red color flower; offer prasad/ naivaidhyam -- sweet made of cracked wheat/ semolina, sweet porridge, pongal; worship of Shiva/ Rudra/ Agni also pleases Sun-god and acts as remedy for SuryaGrahaDosha. Temples of other planets (NavaGrahas) are also located on either side of the Sun temple which is very unique. In front of Sun's idol, Guru's idol is also kept signifying that the heat of the Sun is nullified by Guru (normally, one cannot bear the energy emanating from the Sun; Guru acts in between as a necessary filter allowing only those energies to pass through disciple that they can tolerate/ won’t get burnt by). In this temple, all the deities are present without any shastras (their weapons).


NavaGraha Aspect/ Characteristics Summary – Surya (Sun):

#	Navagraha Aspect	Surya
1	Consort	Usha Devi & Prati Usha Devi
2	Cloth color	Red
3	Gender	Male
4	Element	Fire
5	God	Fire
6	Mounts	Seven Horse Chariot
7	Presiding Deity	Shiva (Rudra)
8	Metal	Gold/Brass
9	Gemstone	Ruby
10	Body Part	Bone
11	Taste	Pungent
12	Grain	Wheat
13	Season	Summer
14	Graha deities face this direction	East
15	Flower	Red lotus
16	Kshetra vruksha (tree)	Durva
17	Week day	Sunday
18	Sound	Ga

Rangoli for Surya Graha: 
To be drawn when worshiping Sun god

Shloka for Surya Graha:
This is mantra for Sun god. It is very effective mantra to please Sun god.