About the Temple

The South Indian state, of Tamil Nadu is home to innumerable temples with great historical significance, one such temple is near the village of Thiruvenkadu.

This ancient temple popularly known as “Swetharanyeswarar where Sweth means white and Aranya means forest” is located in the Mayiladuthurai district. 

The temple is one of the 51 Shakthi Peetams, where Goddess Parvathi has a celestial abode in the form of “ Pranava Shakthi”.

The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva in the form of a lingam, in Swayambhu form( Self Manifested).

Goddess Parvati in the divine form of “Brahmavidyambigai” is consecrated in this Budhan Kovil.

This temple is also famous for the name “ Navagraha Temple” as it features the image of Budha ( Planet Mercury).

It is one of the nine Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu and is a part of the state’s well-known Navagraha pilgrimage.

In the 7th century, the main deity of this temple honored the “Tevaram”, a piece of Tamil canonical literature classified as “Paadal petra Sthalam”, composed by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars.

Thiruvenkadu temple timings

History of Swetharanyeswarar Temple

It’s a popular legend that Lord Shiva first performed “Tandava Nruthya” here before going to Chidambaram, hence the temple is known as “Adi Chidambaram”.

The temple contains about 100 stone carvings that show the significance of belonging to several dynasties that ruled Thiruvenkadu namely the Cholas, Pandyas, Krishnadevaraya, and other kings.

These kingdoms have laid immense contributions for endowments in the temple

It is evident from the deep stone inscriptions within this temple that the former Chola rulers namely Aditya Chola  and Rajaraja Chola contributed to the temple’s development.

The mythical history of Budhan Sthalam

According to mythology, Agora Murthi was one of Shiva’s enraged manifestations. In Thiruvenkadu, there once lived a demon named Maruthavasuran.

He performed various pooja and tapasya to please and console Lord Brahma for acquiring exceptional abilities.

Due to his devotion and intense penance, Lord Brahma appeared and granted him unique abilities

In his form as Agoramurthi, Lord Shiva killed the havoc-creating Maruthuvasuran in the exact location where the Thiruvenkadu temple is built.

Various different titles for the location include Swetaranyam, Adi Chidambaram, and Nava Ntirya Stala.

It is believed that Swetharanyeswarar was worshipped here by Indra, Airavata, Buddha, Surya, and Chandra.

Legend of Thiruvenkadu Budhan Temple

A miraculous history states that once a local Lord Achyutha Kalappalar was childless for ages.

His spiritual advisor Sivacharya confirmed this from an old palm leaf scroll while also analyzing his horoscope.

The king was then instructed to offer prayers to Venkadu in order to be granted with kids.

Together with his wife, he prayed there, and they were blessed with a baby boy named “Meykandadevar”, who wrote the epic “Sivagnana Bodham”.

||This story has been written in one of the foremost Saivite saints, Nayanar Sambandar’s poem.

According to Hindu Mythology

Buddha, the son of Lord Chandra and Tara, while Tara had a forbidden relationship with Chandra despite being Brihaspati’s first wife. 

Lord Shiva and Brahma ordered Tara to return to her marital relationship with her husband Guru, and she gave Chandra custody of the kid.

Buddha later learned more about his past as he grew older and began to despise his parents for the undue mistakes created by them.

He began offering prayers to Lord Shiva, who appeared and granted his blessings to Budha of becoming a Navagraha because of his devotion and deep penance.

Goddess Parvati bestowed Brahma with the heavenly ability to learn in the holy place, it is thought Pillai Idikki Amman, an idol of a woman cradling a child on her hip.

This represents Parvathi cradling Sambandar, whom he fervently called “Shri Amma”.

Religious Importance of Swetharanyeswarar 

Thirvenkadu has great significance as a holy site, also it has prominence among the locals because a famous scholar saint named Pattinaththaar was born here.

He grew up with the name “Thiruvenkadar” in this divine land of Thirruvenkadu Budhan Kovil

Additionally, Thiruvenkadu is the birthplace of saints like Meikkandar, the singer of the song Sivagnanabodham, and Thiruvenkadu Nangal, Siruththondar, the Saivite Nayamar also resided here as a youngster.

Thiruvenkadu Temple Architecture

Thiruvenkadu temple has a total area size of 2 acres and all of its water features are enclosed within huge granite walls.

The main entrance to the temple complex, which is spread across seven stories Gopuram.

There are several shrines enclosed in the temple, the most notable among these are the Swetharanyeswarar, Aghora, and Nataraja Deva.

A large concentric rectangular granite wall surrounds the temple’s three tanks and encloses all of the shrines.

This navgraha temple is decorated with intricate carvings on gopurams and has two entrances.

One entrance to the temple is on its eastern sides and one on the western side.

The temple garbha sthalam encloses  the three main water bodies namely: Surya, Chandra , and Agni.

In the third Precinct on the other side of the temple is the Budha Shrine.

Buddha(Mercury) is thought to represent an individual’s ability to instigate a productive conversation.

You can also witness a Chola bronze statue of Ardhanarishvara, standing erect with 102cm tall, it is believed to belong to the 11th century.

It is believed to have been discovered in the village of Nagapattinam area.

Lord Shiva is found on the right half and Maa Parvathi is present on the left.

Two arms one of which is holding an axe are vivaciously displayed on Shiva’s right half.

Plates of Thiruvalangadu are installed in this temple that has been prevalent since Rajendra Chola I’s rule.

The Chola-era image of Maa Parvathi, with her consort, is standing erect at 90cm in length and is regarded as a dominant sculpture of Chola art.

Maa Parvathi is found to be holding an orchid vase in her right hand and protectors head in her left hand.

A divine sculpture of bronze is Lord Chandikeswara, is seated with his left leg rolled up.

The Bronze Exhibition at the Government Museum in Chennai is the house of various bronze sculptures related to the Thiruvenkadu temple.

According to historians, Agoramurthi’s image found in this temple to the eastern side is regarded as a strong embodiment of dignity 

Deities in Swetharanyeswarar Temple

This temple Budhan Sthalam houses statues of  Lord Vinayagar, Murugan also known as Karthikeya, Ganapathy, Swedha Maha Kaali, Bhairavar, and other deities besides Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy.

Also are Nageswarar, Veerabhadrar, Suhasana Murthy, Idumban, Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Ankalaparameshwari, Gajalakshmi devi.

Along with them are Lord Nalvar, 63 Nayanmars in the form of moola vigraha (self-manifested idol) and utsava murti( procession idols)

Along the main hallway, you may observe the presence of Solaiyappa Mudaliar with his minister, Periya Vaarana Pillayar Dhana Vinayakar, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.

There are also idols of Narthana Vinayagar, Metha Dakshinamurthy, Lord Brahma Deva, Mahavishnu Swamy, and Durgai on the “ koshtam – an area encircling the sanctum sanctorum”.

Also, there is a separate shrine for lord Budhan in this Budhan Kovil

Other important demographics of Thiruvenkadu Temple

1. Thiruvenkadu temple is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams.
2. It is the 11th Shiva Sthalam on the northern side of the major river Cauvery in Vadakarai of South India.
3. The temple is one of the 44 Paadal Petra Sthalams where the ”Moovar”, known as Three saints namely: 

• •     Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

•     Saint Thirunavukarasar

•     Saint Sundaramurthy

           Have revered their holy Pathigams

4.  The Navagraha temple witnessed its consecration ceremony in the years           1961,1986, and 2007 and the latest Kumbhabhishekam was  held on                    11/04/2016 

Notable Significance of Thiruvenkadu temple

• Lord Shiva is said to possess three eyes in this temple namely Chandra, Surya, and Agni.

• Theertham tanks are present in the temple namely Soma Theertha, Surya Theertham, and Agni Theertham since the eyes bless the tanks

• It is a popular belief that couples who take baths in these tanks and worship the Lord here for one “ Mandalam- 45 consecutive days” are likewise freed from progeny issues.

• Aghoramurthy, also known as Aghora Veerabhadramurthy, is one of the three Gods. He represents the most furious form of Lord Shiva, in one of the five manifestations.

• The Budhan Sthalam is revered by the saint’s Appar, Sundarar, Sambandhar, and Manikavasagar in their kirtans

• Devotees who travel to Thiruvengadu will receive healing from physiological ailments, Puthira dosha, low academic performance, and mental health disorders.

• The positive features of Budhan temple include knowledge, music, astrology, math, sculpture, medicine, and language abilities

Festivals celebrated in this Navagraha temple

• Ganesha Chaturthi: The festival also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, it is an ancient Hindu festivities observed with great fervor in the temple. 
• It is celebrated as the birthday of the dear son of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvathi

• Purattasi Viratham: Also known as Purattasi, like Aadi, is a significant Tamil month, although Aadi is for Amman, Puratasi denotes the great Perumal.

Although, Lord Vishnu’s worshippers regard Purattasi as the appropriate month for offering thanks to Lord Vishnu for protecting the Universe at the conclusion of the Kaliyug

• Indira Carnival: The Indra festival celebrates the passing of a loved one while also paying memorialize to Indra and Dagini for the next life.

• Krishna Janmashtami: The festival honored to the great with great passion throughout India in the month of July or August.

• This is an auspicious day marked by religious songs and dances, Pooja is performed along with arti, honking the conch, and cradling the little newborn Sri Krishna in the temple 

• Skanda Shashti: It is a six-day festival dedicated to offering pooja to Lord Skanda, also known as Karthikeya or Murukan.

It starts with chariot procession ceremonies seeking safety and blessing the day after the new moon in the Karthika Masam.

• Pongal: It is an agricultural festival observed by people of the Hindu faith, on this day at the Thiruvenkadu temple thanksgiving is done to Sun God.

Prayers are offered to develop a plentiful harvest of crops. The celebration is the most well-known in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu

How to reach Tiruvenkadu Temple

By Road: Thiruvenkadu temple has excellent accessibility by road and is about 13 km from the town of Sirkazhi.

By Train: The temple is located 24 km from Myilaaduthurai town which has access to train facilities from various locations that run to and fro the town.

By Air: The nearest international airport to the Budhan Kovil is in Trichy, around 130 km.

Accommodation near Swetharanyeswarar temple

1. Hotel Sadhanishegam
2. Hotel Seahorse
3. Nagore Residency
4. Hotel VPN Residency
5. Hotel PAMS

How to book pooja and other seva: Devotees can directly contact the temple through their official website and avail pooja and other seva services.