The Navagraha Temples of Tamil Nadu

Quick answer: The Navagraha temples are a group of nine ancient shrines clustered around Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, each dedicated to one of the nine planets of the Navagraha. Pilgrims visit them to honour the planets and to perform remedies for difficult planetary influences. If your reading recommends a pooja or homa at one of these temples, Mypalmleaf can arrange it on your behalf.

What are the Navagraha temples?

The Navagraha are the nine celestial influences of Vedic astrology — the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. Around the temple town of Kumbakonam, nine separate temples each enshrine one of these planets as the presiding deity. Built largely under the Chola kings over a thousand years ago, they form a sacred circuit that devotees travel to balance the planetary forces in their lives.

The nine planetary temples

• Suryanar Koil — the Sun (Surya)
• Thingalur — the Moon (Chandra)
• Vaitheeswaran Koil — Mars (Angaraka)
• Thiruvenkadu — Mercury (Budha)
• Alangudi — Jupiter (Guru)
• Kanjanur — Venus (Shukra)
• Thirunallar — Saturn (Shani)
• Thirunageswaram — Rahu
• Keezhaperumpallam — Ketu

Vaitheeswaran Koil, the temple of Mars, is also the heart of the Nadi palm leaf tradition, where many of the manuscripts are read.

Why people make the pilgrimage

Visiting all nine in a single circuit, known as a Navagraha yatra, is a cherished tradition. Devotees light lamps, circle the shrine, and offer prayers to the planet that most affects them — often Saturn at Thirunallar, sought for relief during Sade Sati. The pilgrimage is an act of devotion and reflection: a way to face one’s karma with humility rather than fear.

Remedies at the temples

A reading often prescribes a remedy tied to a specific planet — a pooja, an archana, or a homa at the matching temple. These rituals are performed by the temple priests, who chant the planet’s mantras and make the traditional offerings on behalf of the person named.

Have the recommended pooja arranged for you

You do not need to travel to Tamil Nadu yourself. If your Nadi reading recommends a remedy, Mypalmleaf can arrange the pooja or homa at the appropriate Navagraha temple on your behalf, with photos or video shared with you afterwards. Readings are delivered live over Zoom with a translator in your own language, and if no leaf is found the reading is fully refunded. Over 6,000 people in more than 70 countries have taken part.

How it works · See pricing · What is Nadi astrology?

Explore further

• Navagraha Pilgrimage
• Fire ceremony – Homa
• Online Palm Leaf Reading
• Navagraha: The Nine Planets and Their Remedies
• What Is a Homa (Fire Ceremony) and Why It’s Performed
• The Siddhas of Tamil Nadu: Sages Behind the Palm Leaves
• Gemstones in Vedic Astrology: The Navaratna

Frequently asked questions

What are the Navagraha temples?

They are nine ancient temples around Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, each dedicated to one of the nine planets of the Navagraha. Pilgrims visit them to honour the planets and perform remedies for difficult planetary influences.

Which temple is for which planet?

Suryanar Koil is for the Sun, Thingalur for the Moon, Vaitheeswaran Koil for Mars, Thiruvenkadu for Mercury, Alangudi for Jupiter, Kanjanur for Venus, Thirunallar for Saturn, Thirunageswaram for Rahu, and Keezhaperumpallam for Ketu.

Why do people visit the Navagraha temples?

Devotees visit, often as a single circuit called a Navagraha yatra, to honour the planet that most affects them and to perform remedies such as poojas. Saturn at Thirunallar is especially sought during Sade Sati.

Can a temple pooja be arranged for me?

Yes. If your reading recommends a remedy, Mypalmleaf can arrange the pooja or homa at the appropriate Navagraha temple on your behalf, with photos or video shared with you afterwards.