The Agniswarar Temple (கஞ்சனூர் அக்கினீஸ்வரர் கோயில்)
[ :ta:கஞ்சனூர் அக்கினீஸ்வரர் கோயில்] is a
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
temple in the village of
Kanjanur, 18 kilometres north-east of
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum), or Kudanthai, is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the hea ...
. The presiding deity is
Sukra (
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" planet for having almost the same size and mass, and the closest orbit to Earth's. While both are rocky planets, Venus has an atmosphere much thicker ...
). However, the main idol in the temple is that of "Agniswarar" or
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
. 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.
Architecture
The temple is located in
Kanjanur, a village north-east of
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum), or Kudanthai, is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the hea ...
on the Kumbakonam - Aduthurai road and from
Thanjavur
Thanjavur (), also known as Thanjai, previously known as Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 12th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of southern Indian religion, art ...
. The temple was built by the
Medieval Cholas
The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...
and renovated by the kings of the
Vijayanagar Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire, also known as the Karnata Kingdom, was a late medieval Hindu empire that ruled much of southern India. It was established in 1336 by the brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty, belonging to ...
. The temple has a 5-tier raja
gopuram
A ''gopuram'' or ''gopura'' ( Tamil: கோபுரம், Telugu: గోపురం, Kannada
Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of th ...
surrounded by two ''
prakarams
A prakaram (प्राकारः in Sanskrit), also spelled pragaram or pragaaram) in Indian architecture is an outer part around the Hindu temple sanctum. They may be enclosed or open and are typically enclosed for the innermost prakaram. ...
'' (closed precincts of a temple). The temple is revered by the verses of
Appar
Appar (), also referred to as Tirunavukkaracar () or Navukkarasar, was a seventh-century Tamil Shaiva poet-saint. Born in a peasant Shaiva family, raised as an orphan by his sister, he lived about 80 years and is generally placed sometime betwe ...
and hence referred as
Padal petra stalam. It is one of the shrines of the
Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Saivite
Nayanar Appar
Appar (), also referred to as Tirunavukkaracar () or Navukkarasar, was a seventh-century Tamil Shaiva poet-saint. Born in a peasant Shaiva family, raised as an orphan by his sister, he lived about 80 years and is generally placed sometime betwe ...
.
History and 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.The Agniswarar Temple in Kanjanur has a rich history dating back many centuries. It is one of the prominent Navagraha temples, each associated with a celestial body in Hindu astrology. The temple is particularly linked to the planet Sukran (Venus).
The ancient scriptures and legends associated with the temple narrate its significance in mitigating the malefic effects of Venus and bringing positive influences to the lives of devotees. The architecture and inscriptions within the temple provide glimpses into the cultural and religious practices of the region during different historical periods.
Devotees visit the Agniswarar Temple to participate in rituals, offer prayers, and seek divine blessings. The historical and cultural context of the temple adds to its spiritual significance for those who visit and worship there.
The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the northern banks of
River Kaveri
The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery) is a Rivers of India, major river flowing across Southern India. It is the third largest river in the region after Godavari River, Godavari and Krishna River, Krishna.
The catchment area of the Kaveri basin i ...
.
Navagraha
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).
Notes
References
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External links
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Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், akkIcharam, Sl.No.1 of 139 templesShiva Temples, தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், அக்கீச்சுரம், Sl.No.3 of 133 temples, page1
Shiva temples in Thanjavur district
Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu
Padal Petra Stalam
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