Sooriyanar Temple

Sooriyanar Temple

Sooriyanar Temple is near Kumbakonam, approachable by Kumbakonam - Mayiladuthurai road. It is around 2 km to the north of Aduthurai and the temple is well connected from lower Anicut and Thiruppanandal. Actually, this temple is part of Prananadheswarar temple, Thirumangalakudi, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and Suriyankoil is situated north east from this temple.

According to Markandeya Purana, it Was Brahma who created the Sun, the Lord Suriyan,, to dispel the darkness of the universe. Lord Sun married the daughter of Thuvashta, Sanjeehai also known as Usha. They gave birth to Vaithasumanu, Yaman, and Aswini. As Usha could not tolerate the radiating heat from her husband, Sun, she created a shadow of herself called Sayadevi to be with him and she left him. This Sayadevi is known as Prathyuksha, and she lived with Sun without revealing her true identity. They gave birth to two sons, Savarnimanu and Sani, and a daughter Pathirai.

Lord Sun eventually came to know that the Usha had left him and went in search of her. In a forest, he saw her doing penance in the form of a horse. He convinced her with kind words and took her back with him. These two devis, Usha(Sanjeehai) and Saya from then onwards are always together with the Sun. It can be inferred that 'Usha kalam' the sunrise and 'Saya kalam', the sunset is considered as the two devis.

As per legend to this temple, Sage Kalava Muni was suffering from leprosy. He worshipped all the grahas (planets) begging for a cure. All the nine grahas granted cure to this rishi. Lord Brahmma got angry that in accordance with the orders of Lord Shiva, the planets were created to give the effects of good and evil according to the deeds of the individuals and that the grahas can not grant any boons to a devotee directly. Brahma cursed them to suffer from leprosy disease themselves. The planets came down to a jungle in the Earth, called 'Vellerukku vanam' and performed penance towards Lord Shiva for relief. Lord Shiva appeared before them and said that henceforth they can have their own sthalas and can grace the devotees who worship them.

ஒருவருடைய ஜாதகத்தில் சூரியன் நீச்சம் பெற்று இருந்தாலும் சூரியன் தசை, சூரிய புத்தி நடைபெற்றாலும்,சூரியனுக்குப் பரிகாரம் செய்து கொள்ள வேண்டும். தமிழகத்தில் சூரியனுக்கு மூன்று கோயில்கள் உள்ளன. திருக்கண்டியூர் வீரட்டம் (தஞ்சைக்கு அருகிலும்), திருப்புறவார் பனங்காட்டூர் (விழுப்புரத்திற்கு அருகிலும்), சூரியனார் கோவில் ஆகியனவே அவை.