22 Navagraha Temples in India & Their History

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Navagraha means nine planets, and thus Navagraha temples are a congregation of temples which are devoted to the nine celestial bodies according to Hindu astronomy, namely, Surya (Sun), Chandra(Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (North Lunar Node) and Ketu (South Lunar Node). So, the Navagraha temples are a cluster of nine separate temples, each of which is an abode of one of the Navagrahas.

Here’s a list of all the Navagraha Temples in India:
  • Kolappaakkam Sri Agatheeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Suryan)
  • Somangalam Sri Somanaadheeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Chandran)
  • Poondhamalli Sri Vaidheeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Angaaragan)
  • Kovur Sri Sundhareswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Budhan)
  • Porur Sri Ramanaadheswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Guru)
  • Maangaadu Sri Velleeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Sukran)
  • Pozhichalur Sri Agatheeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Sneeswar)
  • Gerugambaakkam Sri Neelakandeshwarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Ketu)
  • Kunrathur Sri Naageswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Raahu)
  • Navagraha Hill, Assam
  • Uttar Pradesh Navagraha
  • Madhya Pradesh Navagraha
  • Sri Anna Ganappati Navagraha Siddhapeetham in Nasik
  • Surya Navagrahastalam -Sooriyanar Kovil (Surya, Sun)
  • Chandra Navagrahastalam -Kailasanathar Temple, Thingaloor (Chandra, Moon)
  • Angaarakan Navagrahastalam -Vaitheeswaran Kovil- ( Mangala, Mars)
  • Shwetharanyeswarar Temple (Budhan, Mercury)
  • Abadhsagayeswaraswamy Temple (Guru, Jupiter)
  • Agneeswaraswamy Temple (Shukra, Venus)
  • Dharbaranyeswaraswamy Temple (Shani, Saturn)
  • Thirunageswaram Temple (Rahu, North Lunar Node)
  • Naganathar Temple (Ketu, South Lunar Node)

Navagraha Temples in Chennai 

Navagraha Sthalam in Chennai
Source

1. Kolappaakkam Sri Agatheeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Suryan)

Dedicated to the Sun God, this temple is said to have been built over 1300 years ago. Legend has it that along with the Sun god even Sage Agasthiyar worshipped Lord Shiva here, and hence it has been named as Sri Agatheeswarar temple. The Sun God is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. The main deities in this temple are Sri Agatheeswarar, sometimes known as Sri Vaakeesa Mahadhevar and Sri Aanandhavalli. The shrines of all the deities in this temple face the shrine of Lord Shiva.
Location: Sivan Koil Street, Kolapakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600116

2. Somangalam Sri Somanaadheeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Chandran) 

The temple of Sri Somanaadheeswarar is dedicated to ‘Chandra Bhagwaan’ or ‘moon god’ and is said to have been built as early as 1073 AD. Legend has it that after getting cursed by Dhakshan, the moon god lost all the divine powers that it possessed, along with all sixteen art forms that were acquired by him. He created a pond and worshipped lord Shiva for years and got back all his powers and beauty. In Sri Somanaadheeswarar Temple, Lord Shiva is in the form of Nataraj and is shrined in as Chathura Thaandava Murthy, which is very rarely found.
Location: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 602109

3. Poondhamalli Sri Vaidheeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Angaaragan)

Poondhamalli Sri Vaidheeswarar, dedicated to Angaarangan, is more than 1000 years old. At this temple, one can spot Sri Angaarangan’s footmark right under a sculpted palm tree. The main deities of Sri Vaidheeswarar are Sri Vaidheeswarar and Sri Thaiyyal Naayagi. The architecture of this temple is highly acclaimed, and the beautiful and intricated carvings portray excellent craftsmanship. Lord Shiva is present in this temple in the form of the Lingam.
Location: Sundar Nagar, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600056

4. Kovur Sri Sundhareswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Budhan)

Built during the Chozha period back in the 7th century, Kovur Sri Sundhareswarar has deities of Sri Sundhareswarar and Sri Soundharaambigai. Legend has it that Goddess Kamakshi wanted to marry Lord Shiva and was praying intensely for that. The level of her penance made the earth extremely hot and unbearable. But Lord Shiva, however, was not aware of any of this due to his meditation. This made Goddess Sri Mahalaxmi worship Lord Shiva to open his eyes which saved the world. It is said that praying in this temple can cure one of his ailments.
Location: N Mada St, Kovur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600128

5. Porur Sri Ramanaadheswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Guru)

Porur Sri Ramanaadheswarar has an interesting tale related to the Ramayana. According to Legends, Lord Rama rested in Porur before heading to Lanka. Unknowingly, he touched a Shivalingam by his feet. To make up for his wrongdoings, he penanced for four long days, which pleased Lord Shiva, who gave Viswaroopa Dharshan to Lord Rama. Sri Ramanaadheswarar’s idol in this temple is a gigantic one and is an absolute masterpiece.
Location: 19, Eswaran Koil St, RE Nagar, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600116

6. Maangaadu Sri Velleeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Sukran)

Maangadu Sri Velleeswarar is a temple dedicated to Sri Velleeswarar and is the Sukran Sthalam among all the Navagraha temple in Chennai. Sri Sukran is the God of prosperity, fame, wealth and social status and the idol of this temple is exceptionally beautiful and intricately carved.
Location:  25, TSV Koil Street, Sankarapuram, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004

7. Pozhichalur Sri Agatheeswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Sneeswar)

Built-in the Chozha period, Pozhichalur Sri Agatheeswarar temple is an extremely religious place for those having a tough time in life, known as ‘Shani’ or Saturn. So, people often come here to get rid of all the bad things in their life. The main deities in this temple are Sri Agatheeswarar and Goddess Sri Aanandhavalli.  It is said that Sage Agasthiyar and Sri Saneeswara Bhagavan worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Location: 4, Polichalur Main Rd, Iyyappan Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Pozhichalur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600074

8. Gerugambaakkam Sri Neelakandeshwarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Ketu)

People often visit Gerugambaakkam Sri Neelakandeshwarar to get rid of Ketu ‘dosha’ on their horoscope. This temple is semi-finished due to foreign invasion during the Chola period and never got completed. The main deities of Gerugambaakkam are Sri Neelakandeswarar and Goddess Sri Aadhi Kamakshi.
Location: Gangaiamman Koil St, Balakrishnan Nagar, Balaji Nagar, Tharapakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600122

9. Kunrathur Sri Naageswarar (Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Raahu)

Kunrathur Sri Naageswarar is more than 800 years old and is said to have been built by Sri Sekkizhaar, a famous poet, who was a huge devotee of Lord Shiva. Hence, he built a temple in the place of the north of Lord Shiva. It is home to the deities of Sri Naageswarar and Goddess Sri Kamakshi. People often come here for ‘Raahu.’
Location:  Kundrathur, Sikkarayapuram, Tamil Nadu 600069

Navagraha Temple in Assam

Navagraha Sthalam in Guwahati, Assam
Source

10. Navagraha Hill

The Navagraha temple in Assam is perched on a hill named Chitrachal, located in the Southern Part of Guwahati in Assam. This temple is known to be the abode of sun, one of the most important celestial bodies. There are nine phallic emblems of Lord Shiva in this temple, representing the nine celestial bodies namely, Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Brihaspati, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu. This Navagraha temple is said to have been built in 1752 A. D by King Rajesvar Singha. However, due to a massive earthquake, the tower and parts of the temple were destroyed but the garbhagriha or the inner quarter of the temple is still intact. The temple has now been renovated. People from different parts of Assam come here to solve their problems related to anxiety, relationships, fame, ailments etc.
Location: Navagraha Road, Silpukhuri, Navagraha Hills, Guwahati, Assam 781003

Navagraha Temple in Uttar Pradesh

One of the many Navagraha temples in India
Source

11. Uttar Pradesh Navagraha

Located in the Rambagh area in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, the Navagraha temple there was built by Sri Patharchatti Ram Lila Committee. It was opened for public worship in 2012 and attracted a huge crowd to devotees every year.

Navagraha Temple in Madhya Pradesh

12. Madhya Pradesh Navagraha

The Navagraha Temple in Madhya Pradesh, located inside the Bada Ganpati temple is believed to be about a hundred years old. It is located just behind Makaleshwar Temple in the city of Ujjain. It attracts thousands of devotees who come here to seek blessings. Devotees pray by offering flowers/bilva Patra while performing the rituals and while doing Parikrama of Navagraha stones.

Navagraha Temples in Maharashtra

13. Sri Anna Ganappati Navagraha Siddhapeetham in Nasik

Sri Anna Ganappati Navagraha Siddhapeetham in Nasik is one of the Navagraha temples in Maharashtra. Here, all the Navagrahas reside with their wives. There is another major Navagraha temple near Shiwar Wada in Pune, which is devoted to Shani. In Dapoli, near Ratnagiri district, there is a newly constructed Navagraha Sthalam, owned by Sri Sainath Maharaj Trust.

Navagraha Temples in Kumbakonam

Navagraha Temple in Tamil Nadu
Source

14. Surya Navagrahastalam -Sooriyanar Kovil (Surya, Sun)

Sooriyanar Kovil Temple is dedicated to the Hindu Sun God and is situated in the town of Kumbakonam. This is the only temple in Tamil Nadu which has shrines of all nine Navahrahas and hence is quite a unique one. The tower of this temple is around 16 meters and consists of three tires. Within the temple sanctum, Suryan is portrayed on his vaahanam or chariot. The architecture of this temple is quite a treat to the eyes.

15. Chandra Navagrahastalam -Kailasanathar Temple, Thingaloor (Chandra, Moon)

Kailasanathar Temple is located in the village of Thingaloor. Although this temple is dedicated to the God of the moon or ‘Chandra’, the main idol is of Lord Shiva or Kailashnath. The architecture of this temple is genuinely marvellous with five tiers large raja gopuram and two parikramas surrounding it.

16. Angaarakan Navagrahastalam -Vaitheeswaran Kovil- ( Mangala, Mars)

Vaitheeswaran Kovil temple is dedicated to ‘mangal’ or mars. This is one of the most famous Navagraha temples in Chennai and is said to be more than a thousand years old. This temple is dedicated to the God of Mars, also known as Anagaaragan or Angaraaka. Vaitheeswaran Kovil is frequently visited by couples who wish to strengthen their marital relationship as Mangal is said to be the God of strong marital relationships. The marvellous and intricate carvings are an absolute visual treat for the eye.

17. Shwetharanyeswarar Temple (Budhan, Mercury)

Located in Thiruvengadu, a small village in Tamil Nadu, this temple is dedicated to Lord Buddha or Mercury. The main deities in this temple are Lord Shiva in the form of Sri Swtharanyeswarar (Swayambhu Lingam), Sri Aghora Moorthy and Sri Natarajar. This temple is believed to bestow upon its devotees, intellect and wisdom.

18. Abadhsagayeswaraswamy Temple (Guru, Jupiter)

Located in Kumbakonam, Abadhsagayeswaraswamy Temple is regarded as a 'Gurustalam' and is said to be the 98th in the series of Tevara Sthalams in the Chola region south of the river Kaveri. At this temple, Dakshinamurthy is held, which attracts large crowds when Jupiter transits between all the zodiac signs. This stalam is considered to be one of the 9 Navagraha sthalams of the Chola region.
Location: Sri Abathsagayeswara Swamy (Guru Bhagavan) , Alangudi near Needam, Aduthurai- Tiruppanda Road, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 612001

19. Agneeswaraswamy Temple (Shukra, Venus)

Agneeswaraswamy Temple Shivastalam represents Sukran or the celestial body of Venus and is regarded as one of the nine Navagraha temples in the Thanjavur region in Tamil Nadu. This shrine is sometimes referred to as Palaasavanam, Bhrammapuri or Agnistalam. It is said to be the 36th in the series of the Tevara Sthalam located in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri. Unlike other Navagraha temples, the main deity of this temple,  Agneeswarar, depicts Lord Sukra in the form of Lingam, a unique feature of which is that it absorbs all the oil poured on it during the process of Abhishekam.
Location: Kanjanur is located 18 km from Kumbakonam and 26 km from Mayiladudurai.

20. Dharbaranyeswaraswamy Temple (Shani, Saturn)

The Dharbaranyeswaraswamy Shivastalam is a shrine of great importance, especially in light of Saneeswarar's sannidhi which takes place here when Saturn transits between the different zodiac signs. This attracts thousands of people from all across. There is a deity of Sri Dharbaranyeswara or Lord Shiva, believed to have been made of Dharba, which is a type of grass. The worships usually take place around Sri Sanishwar and according to legends, ‘Shani’ or Saturn resides in each of the zodiac signs, for seven and a half years.
Location: Kumbakonam - Karaikkal Main Rd, ONGC Colony, Thirunallar, Puducherry 609607

21. Thirunageswaram Temple (Rahu, North Lunar Node)

Sri Nganathaswamy or ‘Rahu’ temple is believed to have been built way back in the 9th Century AD, by Aditya Chola 1. It is dedicated to Rahu and is one of the nine Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu. The temple has deities of Arulmigu Giri Gujambika Sametha Naganathaswamy and has a separate shrine for Rahu, who is seen with his two consorts Nagakanni and Nagavalli. Here, the gods are seen with Human faces, which is quite unique as in other places, Rahu is usually seen with a serpent face.
Location: Thirunageswaram, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 612204

22. Naganathar Temple (Ketu, South Lunar Node)

The Naganathar Temple is dedicated to ‘Ketu’. It is often visited by those suffering from neurological setbacks, gastric issues, seeking unity in the family, lacking courage, aspiring progress in business etc. They perform abhishekam on their birth star days with nivedhana and offer vastras in different colours. The deity of this temple is called Naganatha Swami.

History of Navagraha Temples


Navagraha Devalayam
Source

Legend has it that Sage Kalava, who one had Leprosy was suffering from a severe ailment and he prayed to the Navagrahas for relief. All the nine celestial bodies, pleased with his devotion and dedication, cured him of his pain. Angered by this, Lord Brahma, who felt that the Navagrahas did not have the power to provide any boon to human beings, cursed the nine celestial bodies of Leprosy and sent Earth to Vellurukku Vanam, the white wildflower jungle. The Navagrahas prayed to Lord Shiva and in return Lord Shiva said that Vellurukku Vanam belonged to them and the planets would have to grace all the devotees who worship them. Thus, each of the Navagraha temples are situated in different parts, and most of them are dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

Temples have always been essential tourist attractions, and these Navagraha Temples show that divine power does exist. Besides having religious and spiritual power, the architecture of these temples is marvellous and is an absolute delight to explore. South India has the maximum Navagraha temples, and these temples are a must-visit!

This post was published by Holidify.com

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