Friday, April 18, 2008

Navagraha Sthalams of Thondai Mandalam

There are 9 temples at the outskirts of Chennai dedicated to the Navagrahams. Similar to Kumbakonam, our ancestors have built temples for all 9 planets in the then Thondai Mandalam.

All these temples are built with the purpose that in those days traveling all the way to Kumbakonam from this part of the country was highly tedious.

All of them belong to the Chozha period with brilliant architecture and divinity. Few of these temples are in the state of neglect where others still look fresh and new even after centuries.

The main deities of all these temples are Lord Shiva in different names. In few places the main deity, Lord Shiva Himself, represent the planet and so there is no separate shrine for the respective Graham in the temple.

As a recap I put this post here to have a collective view of all 9 Navagraha temples in Chennai, which I thought would be easy for people to view them from a single page.

If planned well, one can visit all these temples in a day itself, as most of them lie on the same route (from Porur to Somangalam) except the one at Poondhamalli.

Here is the list of the Navagraha temples located in Chennai. Click on the names of the temple for descriptions.

Kolappaakkam Sri Agatheeswarar Temple
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Suryan


Somangalam Sri Somanaadheeswarar Temple
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Chandran


Poondhamalli Sri Vaidheeswarar Temple (Uthara Vaidheeswaran Koil)
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Angaaragan


Kovur Sri Sundhareswarar Temple
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Budhan


Porur Sri Ramanaadheswarar Temple (Uthara Raameswaram)
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Guru


Maangaadu Sri Velleeswarar Temple
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Sukran


Pozhichalur Sri Agatheeswarar Temple (Vada Thirunallaaru)
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Saneeswarar


Gerugambaakkam Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Kethu


Kunrathur Sri Naageswarar Temple (Vada Thirunaageswaram)
Navagraha Sthalam for Sri Raahu


All these temples are of historic importance and recently Tamilnadu Tourism has started operating package trip to these Chennai Navagraha temples.