3 day tour of Temples of Planets and Elements from Chennai by Car

3 day tour of Temples of Planets and Elements from Chennai by Car

Temples of Tamilnadu are a fascinating way to understand the cultural heritage of this ancient Kingdom. In this tour we will see the interplay between cosmology,, Physics, Astrology and Religion. We will visit 4 of the 9 temples dedicated to celestial bodies of our solar system.
Our guide will explain about the belief that these nine celestial entities directly influence an individual’s life and hence are of significance. We will also marvel at some of the greatest specimens of Temple architecture in India including the world;s largest functioning temple at Srirangam and the mesmerizing cosmic dance of Lord Shiva at Chidambaram.

Itinerary

Day 1: Kanchipuram & Tiruvannamalai

Stop At: Ekambareswarar Temple, Ekambaranathar Sannidhi Street, Kanchipuram 631502 India
It is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams ,each representing a natural element. This temple represents the element - Earth. One notable feature of the temple is the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, or the "hallway with a thousand pillars", which was built by the Vijayanagar Kings. The temple's inner walls are decorated with an array of 1,008 Siva lingams.
The sthala-virutcham is a 3,500 year old mango tree whose branches are said to yield four different types of mangoes.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kailasanathar Temple Road, Kailasanathar Temple Rd, Pillaiyarpalayam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502, India
Kanchi Kailasanathar temple was built in 7th century AD by a Pallava king named Rajasimha. Fragments of 8th century’s mural art are still a vivid reminder of the temple’s architecture. The walls and the Vimanam of this temple are filled with great art works in form of paintings and sculptures.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu
A 2.5 hour drive will bring us to Tiruvannamalai. We arrive at Tiruvannamalai to visit the world’s oldest Shiva temple. The origin of this temple goes back to antiquity. Chola Kings built the present structure in the 9th century. As per legend a walk around the 14 KM path around the temple removes sins, fulfills desires and helps achieve freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pass By: Srirangam, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu
A 3 hour drive will bring us to Srirangam where we halt for the night.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Srirangam.

Day 2: Srirangam and temples for Sun, Venus and Raghu

Stop At: Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam 7 km north of Tiruchy, Tiruchirappalli 620006 India
At Srirangam lies the Lord Ranganatha temple. At 630,0000 sq metres it is the world’s largest functioning temple. While Angkor Wat in Cambodia is larger, it is no longer functioning temple!

We visit the legendary Temple. It is also considered the first, foremost and the most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples. The temple complex is 156 acres in extent. It has seven prakaras or enclosures. These enclosures are formed by thick and huge rampart walls which run round the sanctum. There are 21 magnificent towers in all prakaras providing a unique sight.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pass By: Kumbakonam, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu
A 2 hour drive will bring us to Kumbakonam.

Stop At: Raghu Temple, Miruthiyanchapadaiveedu, Tamil Nadu 612204, India
We will visit 4 out of the 9 temples dedicated to celestial bodies of our solar system. The full set of 9 temple are dedicated to Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (North Lunar Node) and Ketu (South Lunar Node).

We will start at Raghu temple. As per Astrological system, by doing Milk abisekam here for Raaghu during Raaghu kalam (period of 1and 1/2 hours occurring every day) the delay in getting married; childlessness, trouble some married life, ill-effects of Kalasarpa Dhosha (affliction), Kalasthra Dhosha, Sarpa Dhosha are all cured.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Agneeswarar Shukran Temple (Venus), Aduthurai-Kuthalam Road, Kanjanoor, Tamil Nadu 609804, India
The presiding deities of temple are Lord Shiva as Agneeswarar and Goddess Parvathi as Karpagambal. Unlike other Navagraha temples, the main deity, Agneeswarar in the form of lingam depicts Lord Sukran or the Planet Venus.
The temple was built by the Medieval Cholas and renovated by the kings of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Shri Suryanar Kovil (Sun), Thirumangalakudi P.O, Thanjavur D.T, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Tamil Nadu 612102, India
The Sun Temple is famous for its astrological significance, and a large number of pilgrims visit the place to strengthen the effects of planets for wealth and to reduce the bad effects of planets on their health. The temple was built in the year 1100 AD, during the reign of King Kulothunga Chola Deva.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Kumbakonam

Day 3: Temples of Saturn and Dancing Shiva

Stop At: Shani Temple Thirunallar, ONGC Colony, Nalankulam, Thirunallar, Puducherry 609607, India
The temple’s main god is Lord Shiva in the name of Dharpaneswarar and represents Saturn. The devotees who are under the control of Saneeswaran (as per astrology if you come under Saneeswaran then you will struggle ) should worship here with a lamp which is filled with Sesame seeds
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, East Car Street, Chidambaram Vijay Gems, 608001 India
We drive to Chidambaram to explore a unique and arguably the oldest temple in India. The temple is one of the 5 great Shiva temples dedicated to each of the 5 elements of nature- Earth, fire, sky, water and space. This temple is dedicated to Space. So the main deity is empty and just Space! It is believed that the original temple was consecrated in 200 BC by Patanjali, the father of modern Yoga! It was Patanjali who compiled all the knowledge on Yoga and wrote the Yoga Sutras.
he temple also features Lord Shiva as the famous dancing Nataraja, the mesmerizing pose. It is an image seen in museums, temples, restaurants, and esoteric shops across the world, and it is wonderfully rich in iconography and hidden meaning. The dance the smiling Shiva is performing is the Tandava, the cosmic dance which both creates and destroys the universe.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.