Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur

The Agniswarar Temple (கஞ்சனூர் அக்கினீஸ்வரர் கோயில்)[1] is a Hindu temple in the village of Kanjanur, 18 kilometres north-east of Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Sukra (Venus). However, the main idol in the temple is that of "Agniswarar" or Shiva. In concordance with the Saivite belief that Shiva is all-pervading, Sukra is believed to be located within the stomach of the idol of Shiva.

Agniswarar Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictThanjavur
DeityAgniswarar(Shiva) Karpagambigai(Parvathi)
Features
Location
LocationKanjanur
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates11°3′57″N 79°29′45″E
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture

The temple

The temple was built by the Medieval Cholas and renovated by the kings of the Vijayanagar Empire. The temple has a 5-tier rajagopuram surrounded by two prakarams (closed precincts of a temple). The temple is revered by the verses of Appar and hence referred as Padal petra stalam. It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Appar.

Legend

Legend is that Siva blessed Parasara muni (sage) here with cosmic dance. It is believed that Shiva appeared in the form of Sukra to propitiate himself off the dosha of Sukran.[2]

The temple is one of the nine Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu and is a part of the popular Navagraha pilgrimage in the state - it houses the image of Sukra (Venus).[3][4]

Notes
  1. ta:கஞ்சனூர் அக்கினீஸ்வரர் கோயில்
  2. V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 32.
  3. Suriya (2015). Jothirlingam: The Indian Temple Guide. Partridge Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 9781482847864.
  4. "Navagraha temples". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

References


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