Navagraha refers to the nine planets which include the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Ketu and Rahu. The most famous and revered Navagraha temples are located in Southern India in Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. Each of these temples symbolises the influence of planetary and cosmic forces thereby showcasing the heavenly powers of the nine planets.
The Navagraha temples of the South include the Suryanar Kovil or Suriyan Temple dedicated to Sun God, Kailasanathar or Chandran Temple in Thingalur dedicated to Moon God, Vaitheeswaran Koil Temple dedicated to Mars, Swetharanyeswarar Temple in Thiruvenkadu dedicated to Mercury, Apatsahayesvarar or Guru temple in Alangudi representing Jupiter, Agniswarar or Sukran Temple representing Venus, Tirunallar Saniswaran temple dedicated to Saturn, Tirunageswaram Rahu Stalam representing Rahu or Keelperumpallam Kethu Sthalam Temple dedicated to Ketu.
According to legends, the planetary deities were doomed by Lord Brahma to dwell in the wild white-flower jungle or the Vellurukku Vanam. Later, Lord Shiva blessed them to make their abode in the jungle. Six daily rituals are performed in the temples between 5:30 am to 9:00 pm. Two major festivals are celebrated in all Navagraha temples during a calendar year. Our Navagraha Temples tour takes you on an amazing escapade into the realms of mythology, devotion, and spirituality.