Kanjanur Agneeswarar Temple

Kanjanur had many old names: Palasavanam, Brahmapuri, Agnipuram, Parasarapuram, Kamsapuram and Mukthipuri among them. The palasa is the purasu tree, and the purasu and the jackfruit tree are named as the sacred trees. "Kanjan" is one of the names of Sukran, and one explanation is that the village is named after him. Another traces the name to Kamsapuram.

The puranam links Sukran with this place in more than one way. In the Vamana story, Sukracharya lost an eye while trying to stop Mahabali's gift, and one tradition says the Lord came to dwell here, as part of that story, to bless those who seek Sukran's grace. Another story says Shiva swallowed Sukra for reviving the slain asuras with his mantra, and kept him in his stomach; so Sukran is believed to dwell within the Lord. Devotees also say that Shiva himself blesses them here as Sukran. Sukran has his own shrine as well, and a temple guide notes that the separate Navagraha shrine is a later addition.

The name Agneeswarar has a story too. Agni kept for himself the sacrificial share meant for all the gods and was cursed for it. On Brahma's advice he came here, worshipped Shiva and was healed, and the tank he made is the Agni Theertham. The sthala account also says the Lord showed Brahma his wedding form here, which is why the goddess stands on the Lord's right.

Another tradition says the sage Parasara's troubled mind found peace here when the Lord danced the Mukthi Thandavam for him. So the Nataraja here is honoured as Mukthi Thandava Murthy, and this Nataraja, carved in stone together with Sivakami, is a special feature of the temple.

The story of Haradatta, who was born here, is well known. Sudarsanar, born into a Vaishnava family, grew deeply devoted to Shiva. The townspeople opposed him and tested him by making him sit on a red-hot iron seat. The story says he sat there chanting the panchakshara and came to no harm. Tradition holds that Dakshinamurthy taught him and gave him the name Haradatta, and the temple's Dakshinamurthy image shows that scene. It is also said that he fed grass to the stone Nandi.

The story of the gourd devotee, who shared his single gourd with the Lord, is told here too. This is the birthplace of Manakkanjara Nayanar, and Kalikama Nayanar was married here. The main deity, Agneeswarar, is a self-manifested lingam with a tall shaft.

Appar sang this shrine, and his hymn names the place itself, calling the Lord the one who rules Kanjanur. It is the 36th of the Thevaram shrines on the north bank of the Kaveri. A temple guide adds that Arunagirinathar sang of Murugan here in his Thiruppugazh. The temple was built by the medieval Cholas and later renovated by the Vijayanagara kings, and inscriptions of Vikrama Chola and Kulothunga Chola I are reported here. It is a Dravidian-style temple with a five-tiered rajagopuram and two prakarams. The main tanks are the Agni Theertham and the Parasara Theertham. It lies in Thiruvidaimarudur taluk of Thanjavur district, north of the Kaveri, about 18 km north-east of Kumbakonam. Festivals here include Masi Magam, the Haradatta darshan in Thai, Aadi Pooram, Thiruvadhirai, Navarathri and Sivarathri.

People who believe they have Sukra dosha come here seeking Sukran's grace, and one temple guide says it is customary to worship the panchaloha Shiva image near Sukran's shrine. Others pray to the Lord for health, peace of mind and prosperity. Those whose prayers are answered customarily offer abhishekam and a cloth. These are devotional practices based on belief, and no result is promised. For timings and fees, please check with the temple before you go.