அக்னீஸ்வரர் கோயில் (கஞ்சனூர்)Agneeswarar Temple, Kanjanur

Sthala Mahātmyam

The Agneeswarar Temple at Kanjanur, near Suryanar Koil in Thanjavur district, is the Navagraha temple of Sukra (Venus), the sixth of the nine planets. Its distinguishing feature is that there is no separate shrine for Sukra: the presiding deity, Shiva as Agneeswarar in the form of the lingam, is himself worshipped as Sukra. Temple tradition holds that Shiva appeared in the form of Sukra to absorb and remove the planet's dosha, and it is believed that Sukra abides within the very body of the Lord's idol — an expression of the Saivite truth that Shiva is all-pervading. Shiva's consort here is Karpagambika (Karpagavalli). Kanjanur is counted among the Tevara Stalams of the Chola country lying north of the river Cauvery, and is revered for relief from afflictions of Venus, the planet governing marriage, comforts, the arts and prosperity. Chief festivals include Sukran Peyarchi (the Venus transit), Maha Shivaratri, Arudra Darsanam, Navaratri, Aadi Pooram and Panguni Uthiram.