As per Indian Astrology the planetary positions determine a person’s destiny. It is commonly understood that Navagraha means nine planets – Nava meaning nine and graha meaning planet. However, graha in Sanskrit may also mean influence. Hence, according to some it is not nine planets but nine influences. Whatever is the case, they are the nine biggest influences on the destiny of a person. There are nine temples (one for each Graha) located within a radius of 60 kms of Kumbakonam in TamilNadu. It is a belief that performing shanthi or parihara puja for the particular Graha(s) and its Lords will yield quick and timely results.
These temples are
- Sivasuriyanarayana Temple (Suryan, Sun) at Suryanar Koil near Aduthurai
- Kailasanathaswamy Temple (Chandran, Moon) at Thingalur near Thiruvaiyaru
- Vaitheeswaran Temple (Chevvai, Mars) at Vaitheeswaran Koil or Pullirukkuvelur near Sirkali
- Swetharanyeswarar Temple (Budhan, Mercury) at Thiruvengadu near Poompuhar
- Abathsahayeswarar Temple (Guru, Jupiter) at Alangudi near Needamangalam
- Agneeswarar Temple (Shukran, Venus) at Kanjanur near Aduthurai
- Dharbaranyeswarar Temple (Saneeswaran, Satrun) at Thirunallar, Karaikal
- Naganathaswamy Temple (Rahu, North Lunar Node) at Thirunageswaram near Kumbakonam
- Naganathar Temple (Kethu, South Lunar Node) at Keezhaperumpallam near Poompuhar
While the first seven planets as in the list above have a day of the week assigned to them, Rahu and Kethu have no special days assigned to them. Instead, one and a half hours each day of the week is assigned to each of them. Thus we have one and a half hours of Rahukalam and one and a half hours of Yamagandam, everyday, which are assigned to Rahu & Kethu respectively.
I have been visiting these temples regularly over the past few years. I shall soon be writing about each one of them in subsequent posts.