Navagraha Temples
Temples of Tamilnadu
Abodes of Shiva
The Navagraha Temple Index

August 2002

A cluster of nine temples in the temple belt of the erstwhile Chola empire of Tamilnadu is referred to as the Navagraha temples -that bear the common thread of their association with the nine celestial bodies referred to in Indian astrological beliefs.

Introduction to the Navagrahas and the Navagraha temples of the Chola region of Tamilnadu. Listen to kOLaru patikam rendered by the author.	The Suryanaar temple dedicated to the Sun God Surya was constructed during the period of the later Cholas.	Tingaloor Kailasanathar   temple represents Chandrastalam (associated with the moon) in the scheme of the Navagraha temples.
Pullirukku Velur or Vaideeswaran Koyil near Mayiladuturai is an ancient Shiva temple bearing a shrine to Angaarakan and is referred to as the Angaarakastalam.		Tiruvenkaadu near Mayiladuturai is referred to as Aadi Chidambaram and it bears shrines to Nataraja, Aghoramurthy and is referred to as the Budhastalam in the scheme of the Navagraha temples.
The Aabatsahayeswarar temple at Aalangudi bears a shrine to Dakshinamurthy and is referred to as the Gurustalam.		The Agneeswarar temple at Kanjanoor near Kumbhakonam is referred to as the Sukrastalam in the scheme of the Navagraha temples.
The ancient pilgrimage center of Tirunallaar bears shrines to Tyagaraja and Saneeswara.	The Naganathar temple at Tirunageswaram near Kumbhakonam has a shrine dedicated to Raahu.	The Naganathar temple at Keezhperumpallam near Mayiladutrai has a shrine dedicated to Ketu.