Swetharanyeswarar Temple Thiruvengadu

Swetharanyeswarar Temple Thiruvengadu  Thiruvenkadu - Planet (Budhan,Mercury) - Swetharanyeswarar Temple is one of the Navagraha Temples Located Thiruvengadu  also pronounced as  Thiruvenkadu near Kumbakonam,Tamil Nadu. Swetharanyeswarar temple known for its shrine to Aghoramurthy and to Mercury - Budhan; one of the 9 Navagraha stalams. Thiruvenkadu is located near Mayiladuthurai and is 10 km from Vaitheeswaran Koil and Seerkazhi railway stations.

Apart from the presiding deity, the Lord is consecrated in His forms as Aghoramurthi and Nataraja. The Nataraja image bears the seven instruments and weapons - Vetalam, Khadgam, Udukku, Mani, Kedayam, Kapalam and Trisulam. Devi in Her divine form of Bhadra Kali has a separate shrine. There are two shrines of Ashta Lakshmi, four in each. The Navagrahas are installed in a row, which is very unusual in any temple. Thiruvenkadu occupies the eleventh place in the list of 274 Siva temples, compiled by Umpathi Sivachariyar and is considered as sacred as Banaras. The theerthams - three in number - are called Agni theertham, Surya theertham and Chandra theertham. The sthala vrkshams are also three in number - Vilvam, Vadaval and Konrai.

The stone inscriptions on the walls of the temples, which have been documented by the Archaeological Department, contain important historical information on the Chola dynasty as well as several kings of Vijayanagar.

Also known as Aadi Chidambaram, Natarajar's dance here is known as Hasti Natanam. Tiruvenkadu is considered to be on par with Benares and is located on the road linking Sirkazhi & Poompuhaar. Nearby Shivastalams include Keezhtirukkattuppalli, Tiruvalampuram, Tiruchaaikaadu, Pallavaneeswaram and Tirukkalikkaamur .

The main deity is Shiva – Swetharanyeswarar (“lord of white forest”) and the goddess is Brahma Vidya ambal. This is also called Adhi Chidambaram and the Chidambara Rahasyam is also here .

Features:The notable feature of this temple, according to lore, is that Lord Budhan prayed to Lord Venkattunathar and got his blessings. The Budhan shrine is outside the Ambal temple. There are three theerthams, three murthys, three sakthis and three temple trees (sthala vrikshams) are the special features of the temple.
The three tanks are Somakulam, Suryakulam and Agnikulam. The three theerthams are compared to the three eyes of Lord Siva.

Budhan is said to bestow wisdom and intellect. Offering puja to Bhuda Bhagavan on Wednesdays is believed to rectify Bhuda Dhosham. Budhan is associated with intellect and knowledge; hence those who are not doing well in studies should worship Budhan here. Budhan blesses one with good education, knowledge, eloquence, music, astrology, mathematics, sculpture, medicine, scholarship in languages. Offer Green cloth & Full Green Moong Daal (pachchai paruppu) to Budhan here. Malefic effect of Budhan can cause problems related to respiration like asthma and bronchitis, speech impediments and nervous disorders. Budhan is considered as the wisest of all the planets.