Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur
Encyclopedia
The Agniswarar Temple 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.
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 reverred by the verses of Appar and hence referred as Padal petra stalam
.
, called Sukra
. Unlike other Navagraha
temples, the main deity, Agniswarar in the form of lingam
depicts Lord Sukra
.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple in the village of Kanjanur
Kanjanur
Kanjanur is a village in the Thiruvidaimarudur taluk of Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated on the northern bank of the Kaveri River about 18 kilometres north-east of Kumbakonam. It is one of the nine Navagrahasthalas of the Cauvery Delta and is famous for its Agniswarar temple...
, 18 kilometres north-east of Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
. The presiding deity is Sukra
Sukra
Shukra may refer to:*The Sanskrit name for Venus, also Shukra*A Montserratian spirit or ghost...
(Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
). However, the main idol in the temple is that of "Agniswarar" or Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. 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 CholasMedieval Cholas
Medieval Cholas rose to prominence during the middle of the 9th century C.E. and established the greatest empire South India had seen. They successfully united the South India under their rule and through their naval strength extended their influence in the Southeast Asian countries such as Srivijaya...
and renovated by the kings of the Vijayanagar Empire. The temple has a 5-tier rajagopuram
Gopuram
A Gopuram or Gopura, is a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India. This forms a prominent feature of Koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style. They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial...
surrounded by two prakarams(closed precincts of a temple). The temple is reverred by the verses of Appar and hence referred as Padal petra stalam
Padal petra stalam
The Paadal Petra Sthalams are 275 temples that are revered in the verses of Saiva Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE and are amongst the greatest Shiva temples of the continent...
.
Navagraha
Kanjanur is one of the nine Navagraha sthalas located in the Cauvery Delta region dedicated to planet VenusVenus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
, called Sukra
Sukra
Shukra may refer to:*The Sanskrit name for Venus, also Shukra*A Montserratian spirit or ghost...
. Unlike other Navagraha
Navagraha
Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
temples, the main deity, Agniswarar in the form of lingam
Lingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
depicts Lord Sukra
Sukra
Shukra may refer to:*The Sanskrit name for Venus, also Shukra*A Montserratian spirit or ghost...
.