Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur

The Agniswarar Temple (கஞ்சனூர் அக்கினீஸ்வரர் கோயில்)^[1] 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.

Agniswarar Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Thanjavur
Deity	Agniswarar(Shiva) Karpagambigai(Parvathi)
Features	Temple tank: Agni Theertham, Parasara Theertham
Location
Location	Kanjanur
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	11°3′57″N 79°29′45″E / 11.06583°N 79.49583°E / 11.06583; 79.49583Coordinates: 11°3′57″N 79°29′45″E / 11.06583°N 79.49583°E / 11.06583; 79.49583
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture

Architecture

The temple is located in Kanjanur, a village 18 km (11 mi) north-east of Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam - Aduthurai road and 57 km (35 mi) from Thanjavur.^[2] The temple was built by the Medieval Cholas 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 revered by the verses of Appar and hence referred as Padal petra stalam. It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Appar.

Legend

Legend is that Siva blessed Parasara muni (sage) here with cosmic dance. It is believed that Shiva appeared in the form of Sukra to propitiate himself off the dosha of Sukran.^[3] The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the northern banks of River Kaveri.^[4]

Navagraha

The temple is one of the nine Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu and is a part of the popular Navagraha pilgrimage in the state - it houses the image of Sukra (Venus).^[5][6]

Notes

1. ta:கஞ்சனூர் அக்கினீஸ்வரர் கோயில்
2. Karkar, S.C. (2009). The Top Ten Temple Towns of India. Kolkota: Mark Age Publication. p. 80. ISBN 978-81-87952-12-1.
3. V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 32.
4. Ka. Vi., Kannan (2019). River cauvery the most battl(r)ed. Notion Press. p. 42. ISBN 9781684666041.
5. Suriya (2015). Jothirlingam: The Indian Temple Guide. Partridge Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 9781482847864.
6. . Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

References

• Sanjay Singh (2009). Yatra2Yatra. Yatra2Yatra. p. 251.
• Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu. Sura Books. 2010. pp. 85–86. ISBN 978-81-7478-177-2.

External links

• "Kanjanur". TUV.
• Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், akkIcharam, Sl.No.1 of 139 temples
• Shiva Temples, தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், அக்கீச்சுரம், Sl.No.3 of 133 temples, page1