Temple MarvelsWhere Every Temple Tells a Story

Thiruvenkadu Swetharanyeswarar Temple

Thiruvenkadu, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
Lord Shiva
More in Tamil Nadu

Type

Hindu Temple

Deity

Lord Shiva

Pincode

609202

Mercury (Budha) Navagraha temple. The Budha (Mercury) Navagraha temple at Thiruvenkadu, said to be the spot where Mercury worshipped Shiva to be released from a curse.

History & Significance

Significance

The Budhan (Mercury) temple of the Navagraha circuit near Sirkazhi, dedicated to Shiva as Swetharanyeswarar. The temple also has strong Chola-era significance — the famous bronze Nataraja now in the Thanjavur museum is said to originate from here.

Plan Your Circuit

Nearby Temples

Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.

Shiva

A 7th-century CE Shiva temple glorified by all four major Nayanmars (Shiva poet-saints) — Thirugnana Sambandhar was born in Sirkazhi. The only temple in the world praised by all four principal Nayanmars. The presiding deity Brahmadesam (Shiva as Lord of Brahma's place) is unique.

Sirkazhi Brahmapuriiswarar Temple

Sirkazhi, Tamil Nadu2 km
Lord Shiva
Vaitheeswaran Koil

Mars (Angaraka) Navagraha temple. The Angaraka (Mars) Navagraha temple, famous for its miraculous sacred tank (Siddhaamirtham) and the deity's power to cure diseases — thousands visit for healing.

Photo: Wikipedia article "Vaitheeswaran Koil" — CC-licensed via Wikimedia Commons

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil, Tamil Nadu5 km
Lord Shiva

Shiva

A UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Rajendra Chola I (1025 CE) to celebrate his conquest of the Ganges. A twin to Thanjavur's Big Temple but with a unique curved vimana (tower) — the only example in South Indian temple architecture. The Nandi (Shiva's bull) here is the largest in Tamil Nadu.

Gangaikondacholapuram Brihadeeswarar Temple

Gangaikondacholapuram, Tamil Nadu8 km
Lord Shiva

Shiva

A major Shiva temple where the Goddess Parvati took the form of a peacock (mayura) to worship Shiva — hence the town is called Mayiladuthurai (city of the peacock goddess). Praised by the Nayanmars, this is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams (temples in Thevaram literature).

Mayuranathaswamy Temple

Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu20 km
Lord Shiva