- Overview
- Legends
- Nayanmars and saints
- Architecture and shrines
- Nearby temples
- How to reach
- Festivals
- Photos
- Timings
- Questions
- Sources
Overview
Agniswarar Temple at Kanjanur is the Navagraha temple of Sukran, the planet Venus, on the Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai road. The main deity is Agneeswarar, Shiva as a swayambu lingam, with his consort Karpagambigai. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam, sung by Sundarar.[2][3][1]
Unlike most Navagraha temples, there was originally no separate Sukran shrine here, because Shiva himself represents Sukran; the Navagraha shrine is a recent addition. Another listing mentions a separate Sukran shrine, so the point is flagged.being verified[2][3]
The temple is the central point of the Kanjanoor Sapta Sthanam, a group of seven temples. The TN Temples Project does not list the seven.[2]
Devotees pray for relief from physical illness, anaemia and mental disturbance, and for prosperity, and offer abhishekam and cloth after a prayer is fulfilled.[3]
Legends
Sukracharya in Shiva's stomach
After the churning of the ocean, Sukracharya cursed the devas to be born on earth. On Vyasa's advice the devas worshipped Shiva at Kanjanur, where the Kaveri flows north. In a later battle Sukracharya used the Mridu Sanjivini mantram. Shiva swallowed him and held him in his stomach in yogic stillness, which is why this is a parihara sthalam for Sukra dosham. Dinamalar adds that Sukracharya lost an eye while protecting Mahabali.[2][3]
Shiva and Parvati in wedding form
Brahma's yagam was affected by Agni's misdeed. Brahma worshipped Shiva here, and Shiva appeared with Parvati in kalyana kolam (wedding form). The Amman shrine stands to the right of the main shrine to reflect this, and Dinamalar notes that Shiva has the goddess on his right.[2][3]
Agni and the tank
Agni kept the offerings meant for the devas, was cursed with leprosy and lost his right to sacrifices. He worshipped Shiva and created a teertham here, invoking the waters of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, and was cured. This is the Agni Theertham.[2]
Parasara and the Mukti Tandava
Natarajar gave the sage Parasara a vision of the Mukti Tandavam here. The Natarajar sabhai, called Mukti Mandapam, houses stone images of Natarajar and Sivakamasundari.[2][3]
Hara Datta and the grass-eating Nandi
Hara Datta was a Shaivite born at Kanjanur into a Vaishnava family. Stories say he fed grass to the stone Nandi and received Shiva jnanam directly from Dakshinamurti. The Dakshinamurti shrine shows Dakshinamurti teaching Hara Datta rather than standing on Muyalagan, and carvings in the temple show scenes from his life.[2][3]
Suraikkai Bhaktar
A devout farmer found only one bottle gourd (suraikkai) to harvest and hesitated to offer it. Shiva came to his house as a devotee and advised that half be kept for seed and half used as food, then revealed his true form. The farmer came to be called Suraikkai Bhaktar.[2]
The name Kanjanur
The TN Temples Project says the name may come from Kamsapuram, after Kamsa, son of Ugrasena, who is believed to have worshipped here, or because Kanjan is one of Sukran's names. Wikipedia names a devotee Kamsa Pandiyan instead, and the discrepancy is noted.being verified[2][1]
Nayanmars and saints
Kanjanur is the birthplace (avatara sthalam) of Manakkanjara Nayanar, and Kalikama Nayanar was married here. Sundarar sang about the temple, and Arunagirinathar sang about Murugan here in his Tiruppugazh.[2]
Architecture and shrines
The temple faces east, with its main entrance from the south. The five-tier raja gopuram is no longer clearly visible from the road because a roofed area has been built for crowds. A stone Nandi stands in front. The Lingam is said to absorb all the oil poured on it during abhishekam.[2]
Shrines listed by Dinamalar include Vinayagar, Mayurasubramaniyar, Mahalakshmi, Bhairavar, Surya, Sani, Chandran, the Nalvar and Dakshinamurthy, besides the Navagraha shrine.[3]
Nearby temples
- The TN Temples Project says Sage Gautama advised the sons of Mandavya to worship at Kanjanur and nearby temples: Tirukodikkaa, Tiruvalangadu, Tiruvavaduthurai, Aduthurai, Tirumangalakudi and Tirumandurai.[2]
- The nearby Varadaraja Perumal temple has murtis of Agneeswarar and Karpagambal because of the Hara Datta connection.[2]
How to reach
- Kanjanur is 18 km from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai road, with frequent buses from Kumbakonam. The nearest railway station is Kumbakonam and the nearest airport is Trichy.[3]
- The TN Temples Project lists: Kumbakonam 19 km, Mayiladuthurai 20 km, Thiruvarur 41 km, Ariyalur 58 km. The temple lies midway between Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam.[2]
Festivals
Photos
Timings
- 7:00 to 12:30 and 4:00 to 9:00 — TN Temples Project [2]
- 7:30 AM to 12:00 noon and 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM — Dinamalar Temples [3]
Frequently asked questions
Which planet is worshipped at Kanjanur?
Sukran (Venus). Shiva as Agneeswarar is said to represent Sukran here, since he held Sukracharya in his stomach.[2][3]
Why is the goddess on Shiva's right?
Because Shiva and Parvati appear here in their wedding form (kalyana kolam), and the Amman shrine stands to the right of the main shrine.[2][3]
Who sang the Tevaram hymn?
Sundarar, according to the TN Temples Project. Dinamalar numbers it the 36th Tevaram shrine on the northern bank of the Kaveri.[2][3]
Who is Hara Datta?
A Shaivite born at Kanjanur into a Vaishnava family, said to have fed grass to the stone Nandi and received Shiva jnanam from Dakshinamurti.[2]
Sources
- Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur — WikipediaEncyclopedia (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
- Agneeswarar, Kanjanoor, Thanjavur — TN Temples ProjectTemple database (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
- Arulmigu Agneeswarar Temple, Kanjanoor — Dinamalar TemplesTemple guide (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
Page last checked:
Suggest a correction by email