Navagraha temples - Rahu

Information about Rahu graha

Temple Information:

Temple Name: THIRUNAGESHWARAM Temple

Village Location: THIRUNAGESHWARAM, Tamil Nadu 614014, India

Historical/ Scriptural Name: SRI SHENBAGA* ARANYESHWARA Temple

Deities: Lord Shiva is known as SHENBAGA ARANYESHWARA and His Consort Parvati as SRI GIRI GUJAMBIKA.

* SHENBAGA = Hibiscus. 

Note: A Nag bears sign and can form a hood but a Sarp neither has a sign nor can form a hood. The milk offered to the deity (poured over) turns bluish after flowing over the deity.

How to reach the Temple:

The temple is about 6 kms to the east from KUMBHAKONAM.

History of Rahu Graha Temple:

According to Scriptures, the serpent king (Nagraj) from Patal (Patal Lok), on one ShivaRatri day, selected four forests in KUMBHAKONAM to perform puja in four Prahars (segments) of the night (Ratri): 1. Bilwa Forest 2. Hibiscus Forest 3. Vanni Forest 4. Nagapatanam. Nagraj constructed temples in each of these four places and worshiped Lord Shiva there. According to mythology, Ganapati, Nandi, Brahma, Sun-god, Vashishtha Muni and Indra also worshiped Lord Shiva here. It is also said that Gautam Muni got his wife back after performing worship here. Pandavas also visited this place during adnyatwas (period in which they were to be incognito).

History of Rahu Graha:
Because Rahu worshiped here, and as this place was created by serpent king, this place is considered to be the place where Rahu Dosh can be got rid off. Nagaraj and Rahu not only got the benefit by prayer/ worship over here, they also got a boon from the Lord (Shiva) that those who worship them in this place will get rid of all Doshas (all malefic effects of all Grahams).

It is believed that on Sunday, during RahuKal, i.e. between 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, if one does Abhishek with milk, one can get complete relief from the malefic effects of Rahu, Ketu and SarpDosh.

Kashyap Muni had a daughter from his second wife. The daughter Simhika was a devil. From his fifth wife, Kashyap Muni had a son Viprajeet who was a demon. Simhika and Viprajeet married and had a son called SwaraBhanu.

During the time of Samudra Manthan, the great churning of the ocean, Vasuki nag was used as rope for churning and the mountain Mandar was used as the churner. To pacify the Devas/ Sur and Danavas/ Asur when they started fighting over the yield of Amrutam, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini, took the pot of Amrutam and made them sit in two separate rows. Then she (Mohini) commenced the distribution of Amrutam starting with the Devas. SwaraBhanu sneaked in with the Devas and had a helping of Amrutam. When Surya came to know about this, he complained to Mohini (Lord Vishnu). Mohini (Lord Vishnu) severed the head of SwaraBhanu with the ladle. Because SwaraBhanu had already partaken the Amrutam, he did not die. His face remained alive and the bottom grew like serpent body, black in color – Rahu.  The body of SwaraBhanu (decapitated body) developed a five headed serpent (nag) head – Ketu.

Rahu and Ketu asked for forgiveness from Brahma and Vishnu. They did penance, obtained Gyan (Knowledge) so that they could give Moksha (Liberation) to others.

Rahu has two wives – Nagavalli and Nagakanni. He has a son.

Importance of Rahu Graha:

Rahu and Ketu do not have any house of their own in the horoscope. Rahu is the owner in Aries and Scorpio, exalted in Taurus and debilitated in Sagittarius. He gives prosperity, wealth, positions. Adverse effects – gives arrogance and jealousy. Responsible for fever, leprosy and restlessness.

Rahu Mahadasha is for 19 years. According to some theory it is on an average of 18 years.

Nivritti (Absolution) from Rahu Dosha:

The only place where Rahu has a temple along with his wife is at THIRUNAGESHWARAM (this place). Hence, according to spiritual belief: 1. He has the power of curing/removing RahuDosh if one does Abhishek with milk and Puja and Archana in this place. 2. One more belief is, if a person lights a lamp with Ghee in a lemon shell and worships Goddess Durga (Rahu’s Presiding Deity) for Eleven Weeks, it will eliminate RahuDosh. 3. Place black color cloth and Urad Dal in front of Rahu idol. One can use a blue color cloth also.

Note: It is a belief that during RahuKal, given below, no auspicious act should be done. 

Sunday 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, Monday 7:30 am to 9:00 am, Tuesday 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm, Wednesday 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm, Thursday 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, Friday 10:30 am to 12:00 noon, Saturday 9:00 am to 10:30 am.

NavaGraha Aspect/ Characteristics Summary – Rahu:

#	Navagraha Aspect	Rahu
1	Consort	Nagavalli and Nagakanni
2	Cloth color	Black/ Blue
3	Gender
4	Element	Air
5	God	Nirrati
6	Mounts	Blue/ Black Lion
7	Presiding Deity	Durga
8	Metal	Blue Metal (Basalt, broken pieces of black rock)
9	Gemstone	Gomedha (Gomed)/ Honey- Colored Hessonit e
10	Body Part	Head
11	Taste	-
12	Grain	Black Gram
13	Season	-
14	Graha deities face this direction	South
15	Flower	White Mandara-Rui
16	Kshetra vruksha (tree)	1. Bel/ Bilwa/ Aegle Marmelos/ Wood Apple 2. Champak 3. Shami (Vanni) 4. Punnai Temple Tree (Alexandrian Laurel Tree)
17	Week day	-
18	Sound	-

Rangoli for Rahu Graha: 
To be drawn when worshiping Rahu god

Mantra for Rahu Graha:
Below is mantra for Rahu god.