About trip

About Temple: Agneeswarar Temple at Kanjanoor or Agniswara Swami Temple at Kanjanur is one of the nine Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu and is associated with Lord Sukran (Planet Venus), the sixth of Navagraha Planets. Also known as Sukran Navagraha Sthalam, Agniswarar temple is located around 18 km from Kumbakonam and 2 km to the east from Sooriyanayanar Kovil, on the Kallanai – Poompuhar road, in Tamilnadu.

• Moolavar:  Agneeswarar
• Thayaar: Karpagambikai.
• Location: Kanjanur,Tanjore, TamilNadu.
  

• Lord Shiva and Parvati in Kanjanur are worshipped as Agneeswarar and Karpagavalli Amman. Lord Shiva Himself is worshipped as Sukran and therefore the absence of a separate shrine for theNavagraha, Sukra. Unlike other Navagraha temples ,the main deity, Agneeswarar in the form of lingam depicts Lord Sukra. A special feature of the Linga of Agneeeswarar is that it absorbs all the oil poured on it during the process of Abishekam.
• Agneeswarar temple is also referred to as Palaasavanam, Bhrammapuri and Agnistalam. Kanjanur is considered to be the 36th in the series of the Tevara Stalams located in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri.
• During the Vamana Avatharam, when Lord Vishnu took the form of a small boy and asked Bali for 3 steps of land, Asura Guru Sukracharya had doubts about the boy. When Bali denied to attentive his advice, he took the form of a bee and hid in the mouth of the Kamandalam from which Bali would pour water to donate the three steps of land, having had his wish, Vamana took his huge form of Avatharam and measured out the land and the sky, and as the 3rd step, placed his foot on Bali, blessing him.
• Sukracharya however was angry with Vishnu, and cursed him. It is believed that Vishnu prayed to Shiva at Kanjanur, where he was relieved of the curse. Shiva not only blessed Vishnu here, he promised to remain and bless those who came with prayers to Sukran, Unlike the other Navagraha temples in this area, there is no idol or image of Sukran at Kanjanur. It is Shiva himself who takes the position of Sukran here.
• At Kanjanur, Shiva is called Agneeswarar, for Agni (the Fire god) is said to have prayed to him at this place, and the goddess is called Karpagambal. The lord is believed to have blessed Brahma with a vision of his marriage to Parvati at this shrine.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Thanjavur Sightseeing

Morning pick up from Theni. Proceed towards Thanjavur. Hotel Check in. Brahadeshwara Temple. Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Siva Ganga Garden. Vijayanagar Fort. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Thanjavur.

Day 2 - Thanjavur Sightseeing

Morning Breakfast at Hotel. Bangaru Kamakshi Temple. Schwartz church. Swami Malai temple. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Thanjavur.

Day 3 - Thanjavur Sightseeing

Morning Breakfast at Hotel. Check out from Hotel. To visit Sarasvati Mahal. Thanjavur Maratha Palace. Agneeswarar Temple, Kanjanur. Then proceed towards Theni. Finally drop at Theni.