Sivasuriya Peruman Temple Sooriyanar Koil
Sivasuriya Peruman Temple Sooriyanar Koil, Thirumangalakkudi - Planet ( Surya, Sun) - Suryanar Koil is one of the Navagraha Temples Located in Sooriyanar Koil, Thirumangalakkudi near Kumbakonam,Tamil Nadu . Suryanar Koil is located about 1Km from Tirumangalakkudi which lies between Kumbakonam and Mayavaram in Tamilnadu. Sivasuriyaperuman temple is dedicated to the Sun God and also includes shrines for the other eight celestial bodies.
Temple is in close proximity to the Shivastalams of Tirumangalakkudi and Kanjanur (Sukrasthalam). Though there are shrines for Lord Surya in many temples this is the only temple dedicated exclusively to the Lord. In the sanctum, Brihaspati(Guru) is depicted as performing puja to Lord Suryanarayana. The temple was was built by the Chola kings.The temple faces the west. The presiding deity is Suryanarayana. There are shrines to Kasi Vishwanath, Visalakshi and Brihaspati(Guru) within the sanctum while shrines for the other celestial bodies are located outside.The Kol Theertha Vinayakar shrine is considered very important.
The Suryanar temple faces west. The presiding deity here is Suryanarayana in a chariot like vimaanam, representing the sun's chariot. There are also shrines to Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Brihaspati (Guru) in the sanctum. Shrines to the other celestial bodies are located outside of the sanctum.
The sanctum and the ardhamandapam are built of stone, while the rest of the shrines are brick structures. The Kol Theertha Vinayakar shrine is considered to be of importance here. An elaborate worship protocol involving circumambulating the entire temple nine times, is prescribed for devotees visiting the temple. Protocol requires that one visits the Tirumangalakkudi Shivastalam before visiting Suryanaar Koyil.
