Navagraham temple groups
Sets of nine (sometimes 10, including Sani’s son Mandi) temples dedicated to Siva or Vishnu, which are associated with the nine planetary deities. … Read More Navagraham temple groups
Sets of nine (sometimes 10, including Sani’s son Mandi) temples dedicated to Siva or Vishnu, which are associated with the nine planetary deities. … Read More Navagraham temple groups
When Agastyar had to come down south to balance the world during the Siva-Parvati wedding, this is where he received a vision of the celestial spectacle, and also overcame the demons Vatapi and Ilvala. This temple has a combination of both Chola and Pallava influences and architecture. The name of the place is also associated with this story. But why is Amman here named Swarnambigai? … Read More Agasteeswarar, Villivakkam, Chennai
When Kamadhenu was delayed in reaching the celestial court, Indra cursed her to be born on Bhulokam. Once here, she started worshipping Siva by bringing water in her ears. On one occasion, a tiger accosted her but she wanted to finish her worship and begged the tiger for permission. She was allowed, and when she came back to offer herself to the tiger, it turned out to be Siva and Parvati, who were testing her! The temple has several sculptural masterpieces, but what is so unique and fascinating about Dakshinamurti at this temple?… Read More Vyaghrapureeswarar, Tiruvengaivasal, Pudukkottai
Tucked away in a bylane near the Madurai Meenaksi Amman and Koodal Azhagar temples, is this fascinating temple run by Saurashtrans, dedicated to both Venkatesa Perumal and Navaneeta Krishnan. In addition to beautiful sculptures and architecture, the temple also has shrines for notable saints and others associated with it, as well as artefacts connected with Thyagaraja Swami of the Carnatic music trinity. But what is so unique about the Maatru Tirukkola Sevai that takes place during the temple’s annual festival in the Tamil month of Aadi? … Read More Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal, Madurai, Madurai
Where Siva revealed to the world, the secret to a happy marriage! … Read More Sukshma Pureeswarar, Cherugudi, Tiruvarur
One of 4 temples where Nagaraja, lord of the Nagas, is said to have worshipped Lord Siva on Mahasivaratri… Read More Seshapureeswarar, Tirupampuram, Tiruvarur
Paadal Petra Sthalam from the medieval Chola period, densely packed with magnificent architecture, in a town that features prominently in Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan… Read More Amritakadeswarar, Mela Kadambur, Cuddalore
There are 5 places with the suffix “puliyur” where Sage Vyaghrapada was able to witness Siva’s cosmic dance, and this Paadal Petra Sthalam is one of them. The temple is a Guru sthalam, partly the result of Parvati’s inattentiveness, and hence there are 2 Dakshinamurti shrines present here. How did this all come about? … Read More Pranava Vyaghrapureeswar, Omampuliyur, Cuddalore
Paadal Petra Sthalam where sage Patanjali worshipped Siva and was able to witness the Lord’s cosmic dance – the Ananda Tandavam – again!… Read More Patanjaleeswarar, Kanattampuliyur, Cuddalore
This Divya Desam and the Vaishnava Navagraham temple for Sani is where Tirumangaiazhvar was able to view Perumal in 5 forms, and so the Lord here is worshipped in each of those forms. The temple’s sthala puranam is the reason for the Tulasi leaves being used as the customary form of offering for Vishnu. It is also generally known that the temple prasadam is prepared without salt, but why is that so? … Read More Oppiliappan, Tirunageswaram, Thanjavur
Chief amongst the Kumbakonam Navagraham temples, this is also a Tevaram Vaippu Sthalam, and is closely connected to the Tirumangalakudi Prananatheswarar temple… Read More Viswanathar / Suryan, Suryanar Koil, Thanjavur
Paadal Petra Sthalam, and Ashta Veerattanam temple associated with Siva culling Daksha’s head… Read More Veeratteswarar, Keelaparasalur, Nagapattinam
Tevaram Vaippu Sthalam with Ketu as one of the main deities, and also one of the Kumbakonam Navagraham temples… Read More Naganathar, Kilperumpallam, Nagapattinam
Home of the original maragatha lingam from the legend of Muchununda Chakravarti… Read More Vaaimoornaathar, Tiruvaaimoor, Nagapattinam
A small, simple temple today, this Tevaram Vaippu Sthalam would have been a much larger temple during the time of Sundarar… Read More Brahmapureeswarar, Eesanur, Tiruvarur
A Sapta Vitanga Sthalam and Paadal Petra Sthalam created by Brahma, where Bheema and the Navagrahas have worshipped Lord Siva. There are several temples where one can seek relief from doshas relating to various planets, but this is one temple where one can get relief from the doshas of all planets! Why is that so? … Read More Brahmapureeswarar, Tirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam
One of the Kumbakonam Navagraham temples, this one dedicated to Sukran, this is where Siva Himself overcame the guiles of Sukracharya… Read More Agneeswarar, Kanjanoor, Thanjavur
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Agastyar witnessed the celestial wedding of Siva and Parvati, where the Vedas and Navagraham have worshipped; and the avatara sthalam of Murka Nayanar… Read More Vedapureeswarar, Tiruverkadu, Tiruvallur
Consecrated as recently as in 2007, this beautiful temple near Wallajabad on the way to Kanchipuram features a 16-foot tall murti of Vishnu as Viswaroopa Lakshmi Narasimhar. The depiction of Perumal is said to be exactly as described in the Brahma Stuti of the Lakshmi Narasimha Dhyana Slokam. What other unusual features do this temple’s architecture and iconography boast of?… Read More Vishwaroopa Lakshmi Narasimhar, Kattavakkam, Kanchipuram
A temple that has existed across the four yugams, where Vishnu appeared to Sanat Kumara… Read More Koodal Azhagar, Madurai, Madurai
Paadal Petra Sthalam that rids devotees of the fear of death, and where Amman appeared as Vishnu !… Read More Tirukoteeswarar, Tirukodikkaa, Thanjavur
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Sukracharya worshipped to regain the sight he had lost in one eye as a result of the events of Vamana Avataram… Read More Vellimalai Nathar, Tiruthengur, Tiruvarur
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Siva danced his Ajapa Natanam and showed His Rudra Padam to Patanjali and Vyaghrapada… Read More Pathanjali Manoharar, Vilamal, Tiruvarur
One of many temples consecrated by Agastyar, where he was given vision of the divine marriage of Siva and Parvati… Read More Agasteeswarar, Agasthiyan Palli, Nagapattinam
Paadal Petra Sthalam and one of five Pancha-Ka kshetrams, Anjaneyar has worshipped Lord Siva here.… Read More Kundala Karneswarar, Tirukurakkaa, Nagapattinam
Paadal Petra Sthalam near Mayiladuthurai where Indra prayed to be able to witness Siva’s cosmic dance… Read More Arul Somanathar, Needur, Nagapattinam
Divya Desam and a Pancha Ranga Kshetram, where Tirumangaiazhvar’s singing infuriated a sage!… Read More Parimala Ranganathar, Tiru Indalur, Mayiladuthurai
This is one of the temples connected with Siva’s marriage to Parvati, on earth. The temple’s sthala puranam is also connected to a prince and princess, whose wedding had to be cancelled as the princess suddenly died before the date fixed for the wedding. The prince prayed at this temple, upon which Lord Siva instructed his ganas to revive the princess and get her ready for the wedding. But what is unusual, indeed almost unique, about Ardhanareeswarar at this temple?… Read More Kalyana Sundareswarar, Velvikudi, Nagapattinam
This Paadal Petra Sthalam near Tiruvaiyaru is considered to be one of the 5 places where Sage Vyaghrapada worshipped Siva. The temple has some unusual depictions and iconography, including Ardhanareeswarar in the rear koshtam of the grabhagriham, and a rather unique Navagraham depiction. But how did the sage Vyaghrapada come to have tiger’s feet? … Read More Vyaghrapureeswarar, Perumpuliyur, Thanjavur
Temple where Lord Siva is Himself present as the Lord of Vaastu Shastra… Read More Bhoominathar, Mannachanallur, Tiruchirappalli
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Siva resurrected Yama in order to restore balance of life and death on earth… Read More Gneeli Vaneswarar, Tirupaigneeli, Tiruchirappalli
Paadal Petra Sthalam, part of a trio of temples, the others being Ratnagireeswarar at Ayyarmalai and Maragadachaleswarar at Eengoimalai… Read More Kadamba Vaneswarar, Kulithalai, Karur
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Siva met Parvati after losing Dakshayani at Daksha’s yagam, and blessed her with the boon of no rebirth… Read More Sarguneswarar, Karuveli, Tiruvarur
Paadal Petra Sthalam connected with the story of the origin of Kumbakonam, where both good deeds and sins multiply 10 million times in impact!… Read More Koteeswarar, Kottaiyur, Thanjavur
Steeped in mysticism and spirituality, this is one of the Pancha Bootha Sthalams (prithvi sthalam), and a Paadal Petra Sthalam, located in the heart of Tiruvarur, depicting Siva’s manifestation as Thyagarajar or Somaskandar… Read More Thyagarajar, Tiruvarur, Tiruvarur
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Siva is said to protect devotees till the end of the world… Read More Kadaimudi Nathar, Keelayur, Nagapattinam
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Lord Siva is believed to have married Parvati, on earth… Read More Udhvaganathar, Tirumanancheri, Nagapattinam
Paadal Petra Sthalam closely connected with the puranam of Srinivasa Perumal temple at Nachiyar Koil near Kumbakonam… Read More Siddha Natheswarar, Tirunaraiyur, Thanjavur
A temple favoured for worship on Akshaya Tritiya, and connected the origin of the Tamil phrase “தை பிறந்தால் வழி பிறக்கும்”… Read More Akshayanatha Swamy, Tirumandurai, Thanjavur
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Lord Siva redeemed the Navagrahams from Brahma’s curse… Read More Prananatheswarar, Tirumangalakudi, Thanjavur
Paadal Petra Sthalam and Pancha aranya kshetram near Kumbakonam, where the Goddess protects devotees on all things connected with child-bearing… Read More Mullaivana Nathar, Tirukarukavur, Thanjavur
Ancient Siva temple and Paadal Petra Sthalam, located close to Kumbakonam and Tiruvidaimaruthur… Read More Pasupatheeswarar, Pandanallur, Thanjavur
Ancient Siva temple and Paadal Petra Sthalam located very close to Kumbakonam, and the avatara sthalam of Pugazh Thunai Nayanar… Read More Swarnapureeswarar, Alagaputhur, Thanjavur
Nava Kailasam temple located on the banks of the Tambraparani river, and a Sukra sthalam
… Read More Kailasanathar, Senthapoomangalam, Thoothukudi
Nava Kailasam temple located on the banks of the Tambraparani river, and a Ketu sthalam… Read More Kailasanathar, Rajapathy, Thoothukudi
9 Navagraham Perumal temples in Tirunelveli district, said to have been worshipped by Nammazhvar… Read More Nava Tirupati
Paadal Petra Sthalam where Parvati is present but formless, in the sanctum… Read More Nityasundareswarar, Nedunkalam, Tiruchirappalli
Paadal Petra Sthalam in the Pandya Nadu region with a unique Navagraham arrangement… Read More Tiruthalinathar, Tiruppathur, Sivaganga
Paadal Petra Sthalam located near the coast in south India, home of the four Vedas… Read More Vedaranyeswarar, Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam