Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur
| Agniswarar Temple | |
|---|---|
  Agniswarar Temple Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 11°3′57″N 79°29′45″E / 11.06583°N 79.49583°ECoordinates: 11°3′57″N 79°29′45″E / 11.06583°N 79.49583°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thanjavur |
| Location | Kanjanur |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Agniswarar(Shiva) |
| Consort | Karpagambigai(Parvathi) |
| Temple tank | Agni Theertham, Parasara Theertham |
| Poets | Appar |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
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.
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.
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]
Navagraha
Kanjanur is one of the nine Navagraha sthalas located in the Cauvery Delta region dedicated to planet Venus, called Sukra. Unlike other Navagraha temples, the main deity, Agniswarar in the form of lingam depicts Lord Sukra.[3]r
Notes
- ↑ ta:கஞ்சனூர் அக்கினீஸ்வரர் கோயில்
- ↑ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 32.
- ↑ "Navagraha temples". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
References
- Sanjay Singh (2009). Yatra2Yatra. Yatra2Yatra. p. 251.
- Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu. Sura Books. pp. 85–86. ISBN 81-7478-177-3, ISBN 978-81-7478-177-2.
- "Kanjanur". TUV.
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