Sri Agniswarar Temple / Sukran Temple / Sri Agneeswarar Temple / கஞ்சனூர் அக்னீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Kanjanur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 90^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 36^th Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This temple is also one of the Navagraha sthalam – Sukran ( Venus ) Sthalam in and around Kumbakonam and about 2 KM from Suryanar Koil.

 

In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar mentions that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal visited, Thiruchemponpalli, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruthuruthi, Velvikudi, Ethirkolpadi and some temples to Kodika, Even though this place Kanjanur is not mentioned separately and mentioned as some temples ( 16 Temples ), we had taken that Appar had visited this temple and sung hymns. In Thirugnanasambandar Puranam Sekkizhar mentions that he visited this temple also. But the hymns is not available. 

மேவுபல பொன்னி இரு கரையும் சார்ந்து

        விடை உயர்ந்தார் திருச்செம்பொன் பள்ளி பாடிக்

காஉயரும் மயிலாடுதுறை நீள் பொன்னிக்

        கரைத்துருத்தி வேள்விகுடி எதிர்கொள்பாடி

பாஉறு செந்தமிழ்மாலை பாடிப் போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருப்பதி பலவும் பணிந்து போந்தே

ஆஉறும் அஞ்சு ஆடுவார் கோடிகாவில்

--------- திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

திருக்கோடிக்காவில் அமர்ந்த தேவர் சிகாமணி தன்னை

எருக்கொடு இதழியும் பாம்பும் இசைந்து அணிந்தானை வெள்ஏனப்

பருக்கோடு பூண்ட பிரானைப் பணிந்து சொல்மாலைகள் பாடிக்

கருக்கோடி நீப்பார்கள் சேரும் கஞ்சனூர் கைத்தொழச் சென்றார்

............ திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirunavukkarasu swamigal mentions both Lord Shiva and Ambals names as Analoan- Agneeswarar and Karpagam in his hymns.

மூவிலைநற் சூலம்வலன் ஏந்தி னானை

        மூன்றுசுடர்க் கண்ணானை மூர்த்தி தன்னை

நாவலனை நரைவிடையொன் றேறு வானை

        நால்வேதம் ஆறங்க மாயி னானை

ஆவினிலைந் துகந்தானை அமரர் கோவை

        அயந்திருமா லானானை அனலோன் போற்றுங்

காவலனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்

        கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                --“கந்தமலர்

அஞ்சனூர் செய்ததவத்தாலப் பெயர் கொண்ட

கஞ்சனூர் வாழும் என்றன் கண்மணியே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Agneeswarar

Consort    : Sri Karpagambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are..........

The temple is facing east with a three tier Rajagopuram. Rishabam and Dwajasthambam  are in a mandapam. A second level 2 tier Rajagopuram is at the entrance of sanctum, sanctorum. Moolavar is of swayambhu- little big in size. The artha mandapam is of vavvalanethi style.  In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Durgai.  Ambal is in a separate sannadhi  in Thirumana Kolam.

In outer prakaram Mayura Subramaniyar, mahalakshmi and Sthala vruksham parasu maram, idols of Suraikai bakthar and his wife.

In Parakaram sannadhi for Bhairavar, Suryan, Saneeswarar, Chandran, Navagrahas, Nalvar. In Natarajar sabha Nataraja with Sivagami on Natarajar idol. A separate Sannadhi for Sukran in parallel with Lord Shiva.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Appar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple may belong to 6^th to 7^th Century. The temple was reconstructed as Stone temple during Chozha period and further extended during Vijayanagaras period. The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga Chozha, Veera Rajendran and the Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya Maharayar.

As per the inscriptions this place was Virutharaja bayangara valanattu Nallatrur nattu Kanjanur and Lord Shiva was called as Agneeswaram udayar.

The Vikrama Chozha’s period inscription records that a madam called Ainootru Enman madam existed in this place. Vijayanagara period Sakam 1447 ie 1525 CE inscription records that  Urchavars are gifted by Baskara Pattan’s Son Kanagasabai Pattan. 

This temple is being administratively controlled by Madurai  Thirugnanasambandar Adheenam. Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 31^st August 2006.  

LEGENDS

During ancient times, this place was called as Palasavanam, Parasara Puram, Brahmapuri, Agni puram, Kamsa puram and Mukthi puri. Manarkancha Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars and the Harathaththa Sivachariyar who was known for holiness of panchatcharam are born in this place and Kalikama Nayanar has got married here.

As per the sthala purana Sukran one of the Navagrahas is also known as Parkkavan, Sukrachariyar, and Kanjan. Sukra is staunch devotee  of Lord Shiva came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence this place obtained the name as Kanjanur. Those are affected by mental problem, amnesia Worshiped Lord shiva of this temple to get cured. Those are suffering from the adverse effect of Sukran may do parihara in this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Aadi pooram in the month Adi ( July - Aug ), Masimaham and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Haridathathar festival in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sep – Oct) and Thiruvathirai in the month in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ). In addition to this Anjaneyar festival, Jayanthi are celebrated in this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The temple’s Land line number +91435 247 3737 and Thyagaraja Gurukal land line number +91 435 2470155 and mobile number +91 98432 85689 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

On Mayiladuthurai to Kallanai, bus route through Anjaar Vathalai- Pandanallur – Kumbakonam salai, Kathiramangalam from there cross Thirukodikaval and ask for Kottur Kanjanur. The temple is on the end of the street.

Bus from Kumbakonam is also available and the place is near near Thiruvaduthurai.

This temple is 5 KM from Suriyanar koil, 11.8 KM from Thiruppanandal, 17. KM from Kumbakonam, 21 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 58 KM from Thanjavur, 60 KM from Chidambaram and 275 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---