The Agneeswarar Temple at Kanjanur is one of the nine sacred Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Sukra (Venus). Located about 18 km north-east of Kumbakonam in the Thanjavur district, this ancient shrine is also known as Sukran Navagraha Sthalam and Agnistalam [citation:1][citation:7]. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva worshipped as Agneeswarar, with his consort Parvati depicted as Karpagambigai [citation:1][citation:7].
The temple was built by the Medieval Cholas and later renovated by the kings of the Vijayanagar Empire. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple features a five-tiered rajagopuram and is surrounded by two prakarams (enclosed precincts) [citation:1][citation:6]. It is revered in the Tevaram hymns of the Nayanar saint Appar and is classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam [citation:1][citation:10].
The Legend of Sukracharya and Vamana: According to the Sthala Puranam, during the Vamana Avatara, Lord Vishnu appeared as a diminutive brahmin boy and asked King Bali for three steps of land. Sukracharya (the guru of the asuras) suspected the boy's true identity and warned Bali, but the king ignored his advice. To prevent the donation, Sukracharya took the form of a bee and hid in the spout of the kamandalam (water vessel) used for the ritual [citation:7]. When Bali poured the water, the bee was washed out. Vamana then assumed a cosmic form and measured the earth and sky with two steps. For the third step, he placed his foot on Bali's head, blessing him. Enraged, Sukracharya cursed Vishnu. It is believed that Vishnu prayed to Shiva at Kanjanur to be relieved of this curse. Shiva not only absolved him but also promised to remain here as Sukra and bless devotees [citation:7].
Other Legends: The temple's name derives from Agni, the fire god, who is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva here to be relieved of a curse [citation:7][citation:10]. Lord Brahma was blessed with a vision of Shiva's celestial wedding with Parvati at this site. Sage Parasara was also granted a vision of Shiva's cosmic dance (Mukthi Thandavam) here [citation:1][citation:10]. The temple is also the birthplace of Mana-kanchara Nayanar, one of the 63 Shaivite saints, and Haradatta Shivacharyar, who expounded the greatness of the Panchakshara mantra [citation:10].
Unique Features: A distinctive feature of this temple is that there is no separate shrine for Sukra. Lord Shiva himself is believed to have incarnated as Venus here, and Sukra is said to reside within the stomach of the Agneeswarar idol [citation:1][citation:4]. The Linga of Agneeswarar is unique in that it absorbs all the oil poured on it during Abhishekam [citation:7]. The temple also has a rare stone idol of Nataraja in the Mukthi Mandapam, depicting the Mukthi Thandavam (dance of liberation) [citation:7][citation:10]. The sacred tree is the Palasa Maram, and the holy tanks are Agni Theertham and Parasara Theertham [citation:1][citation:7].
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