Suryanar temple

Suryanar temple is the first Navagraha temple .This temple is situated in the small village called Thirumangalakkudi. This is an exclusive shrine dedicated to the Sun god and was built during the Chola period. This temple also houses shrines to each of the other eight celestial bodies - The Navagrahams.Very close to this temple are the Shivasthalams, Tirumangalakudi and Kanjanur. It is believed that one should visit Tirumangalakkudi temple first and then visit the Suryanar temple.The Suryanar temple faces west. Surya's wives are Goddess Usha and Goddess Prathyusha. The presiding deities are Prananatheswarar and his consort Mangalanayaki.There are also shrines to Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Brihaspathi in the sanctum. Shrines to other celestial bodies are located outside the sanctum.

Surya's great chariot has one wheel and is drawn by seven horses, he has a lotus in each hand, wears an armour and has a shield over his breast, has beautiful straight hair, and is surrounded by a halo of light. Surya is the Lord of Simma Rasi and occupies the central place amongst the navagrahas. The adidevatha is Agni, prathyutha Devatha - Rudran. His colour is red The grain associated with his is wheat; the flower - lotus, yerukku; fabric - red clothes; gem - ruby; food - wheat, rava, chakkara pongal.

Legend : Kalava Munivar had foreseen his failure and realised that he would suffer from leprosy. He prayed to the navagrahas, who being pleased with his devotion absolved him of the disease. Brahma deva on realising that the Navagrahas were granting boons, instead of aspecting a person as per his /her good or bad deeds, condemned them to suffer from leprosy and banished them to earth.

The Navagrahas realsing their mistake, pleaded for mercy. Lord Brahma adviced them to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Uma Devi residing at Thirumangalakkudi, after bathing in the holy river, Cauvery, He adviced them to consume only curd rice laid on velerukku leaf .

Lord Shiva, pleased with their devotion absolved them to their sins and said that there will be nine seperate sanadhis to the navagrahas seperately in this Suryanar temple and those who pray here will get relief from their problems.

Slokas :

Aswa Dhwajaaya Vidhmahe

Padhma Hasthaaya Dheemahi

Thannas Soorya Pracho Dhayaath.
Japaa Kusuma Sankaasam Kaasyapeyam

Mahaath' YuthimThamo'urim

Sarva Paapa Ganam

Pranathosmi Dhiwaakaram

Surya Gayatri :

om aswadhwajaaya vidmahae
paasa hastaaya dheemahi
tanno surya: prachodayaat

Navagraha Temples

The Navagraha Temples refer to a group of nine temples that are found near Kumbakkonam region of Tamil Nadu. Each of these temples is considered an abode of one of the Navagrahams. However, the majority of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Surya temple is the only one dedicated to the Graham. This region was under the Chola rulers at one point of time. The Navagrahas are not the nine planets as is generally misunderstood. On the contrary they are nine celestial bodies comprising of the sun, the moon, the planets – Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the two shadow planets – Rahu and Ketu. These heavenly bodies have a profound implication on astronomical calculations.

Many temples in South India contain a shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas. However, the term Navagraha Temples refers to a cluster of nine seperate temples , each an abode of one of the Navagrahams.

The following are the Navagraha temples :

• Sun - Surya -- Suryanar Kovil
• Moon - Chandra -- Tingaloor
• Mars - Angaarakan -- Puttirukku Velur (or) Vaitheeswaran Kovil
• Mercury - Budhan -- Tiruvenkaadu
• Jupiter - Guru -- Aalangudi
• Venus - Sukran -- Kanjanoor
• Saturn - Shani - Tirunallar
• Raahu - Tirunageswaram
• Ketu -- Keezhperumpallam

Will post about each temple in detail...
Source : Wikipedia.

Aani Thirumanjanam

Aani Uthiram, or Ani Thirumanjanam, is an auspicious day in the Tamil Month of Aani (May -June) and is dedicated to Lord Nataraja (Shiva). The word "Thirumanjanam" means Holy bath. The festival is observed on the Uthiram Nakshatram day. In 2009, the date of Aani uthiram was on June 29. It is believed that Lord Nataraja gives darshan in the months Ani and Margazhi. The Lord’s form demonstrates his five-fold functions: creation, preservation, destruction, concealment and salvation. :

• The rattle (udukkai) in his right hand represents creation;
• his raised right arm with the open palm (abhaya hastam) protection;
• his left hand holding fire destruction;
• his firmly placed foot concealment;
• and his other, slightly lifted, leg salvation.

Lord Nataraja is given six abhishekams in a year. The explanation for that number is as follows. Earth takes 365 days to complete one full circle around the sun. That duration is divided into six seasons :–

• Marghazhi-Thai: early winter;
• Masi-Panguni: late winter;
• Chittirai-Vaikasi: early summer;
• Ani-Adi: high summer;
• Avani-Purattasi: autumn;
• Aippasi-Karthikai: rainy season.

This six-season year of humans is said to be but one day for the immortals. A day has six periods: dawn, morning, noon, afternoon, evening, and night. These are when the six daily pujas in temples are performed. During each of these six parts, an abhishekam has been ordained for Lord Nataraja. One of these is Ani Thirumanjanam, the pradosha abhishekam on the evening of the day of Uthiram star in the month Ani (June-July). This is the best time for worshipping Lord Shiva.
It is popularly believed that it was on Aani Uthiram day that Lord Shiva appeared before Sage Manikkavachakar under a Kurundai Tree and offered upadesha (advice) and during the abhishekam to the Lord, as everyone watched, the sage merged in the Lord as a brilliant flame. Sage Manikkavachakar is the author of Thiruvachakam.
The Abhishekam or holy bath of the idol performed during the twilight period (Pradosham) on the day is considered highly auspicious. Special rituals and processions are held on the day at Nataraja Temple.
check this link also about Aani Thirumanjanam :
http://www.dinamalar.com/fpnnews.asp?News_id=4220

Source : http://www.bhattar.com/html/may_june.html