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.