Suryanar Kovil (Sivasuriyanar Temple)
Surya (Sivasuriyan), with consorts Usha Devi and Pratyusha (Chaya) Devi temple · Suriyanar Koil (near Aduthurai), Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Suryanar Kovil is a temple to Surya, the Sun, in the village of Suriyanar Koil near Aduthurai in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. It is counted among the nine Navagraha temples of the Kaveri delta, and the sanctum holds Surya with his two consorts, Usha Devi and Pratyusha Devi (also called Chaya Devi).
What sets it apart within the Navagraha circuit is that the planet itself is the presiding deity. Wikipedia and The Hindu both note that it is the only one of the nine temples where Shiva is not the main deity, and all the other eight planetary deities have their own shrines inside the same compound.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Suryanar Kovil (Sivasuriyanar Temple)
According to the Dinamalar temple guide, Surya stands in the sanctum facing west, holding a lotus in each hand, with Usha Devi on his left and Pratyusha Devi on his right, in a calm, wedded form. Guru (Jupiter) is placed directly opposite the Sun's shrine; a traditional explanation given by the guide is that Guru's presence tempers the Sun's heat for worshippers. The Hindu's 2006 account of a Navagraha pilgrimage also describes Surya and Guru facing each other, with the other planetary shrines arranged around Surya in the prakara.
Wikipedia records a legend in which the sage Kalava, gravely ill, prayed to the nine planets and was granted relief. Brahma, angered that the planets had given a boon directly, cursed them to live in the Vellerukku Vanam, a forest of white wild flowers. When they prayed to Shiva, he is said to have told them that the place was theirs and that they should bless devotees from here. Devotees believe that worship at the temple eases the adverse effects attributed to the planets in a horoscope.
Dinamalar describes a traditional practice called thala vasam, in which devotees stay in the village for twelve Sundays, bathe in the temple's tanks and worship at the nearby Prananatheswarar temple of Thirumangalakudi as well as at Suryanar Kovil. The guide also mentions offerings such as sweet pongal and tulabharam. These are customs of the temple, not promised outcomes. Muthuswami Dikshitar's kriti 'Suryamurthe' in raga Saurashtra is associated with this deity, according to The Hindu.
Heritage
History of Suryanar Kovil (Sivasuriyanar Temple)
Wikipedia cites a temple inscription stating that the present stone temple was built in the reign of Kulottunga Chola I (1060–1118 CE), when it was called Kulottungachola-Marttandalaya. The Thanjavur District Collectorate's tourism page likewise attributes the temple to Kulottunga Chola I, around 1100 CE. Wikipedia adds that there were later additions in the Vijayanagara period.
The temple appears in the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department's 2020 temple list as Arulmigu Sivasuriyaperuman Temple, Sooriyanarkoil, under the jurisdiction of the department's Joint Commissioner at Mayiladuthurai.
Architecture and sacred features
Wikipedia describes a rectangular plan enclosed by a granite wall, with a five-tiered rajagopuram (entrance tower). The central shrine of Surya stands on a raised base. The hall leading to it has images of Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Nataraja, Sivakami, Vinayagar and Murugan. Separate shrines for Chandra, Angaraka, Budha, Guru, Sukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu are arranged to face the Sun's shrine.
Dinamalar notes that the planetary deities here are shown without their usual mounts (vahanas), while a horse, Surya's mount, stands before his shrine in the way Nandi faces a Shiva shrine. The temple tank is called Surya Theertham and the sacred tree is the vellerukku (white crown flower).
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple has morning and evening darshan with a midday closure; The Hindu's writer arrived after the noon pujas and had to wait until the temple reopened. Dinamalar notes large crowds on the first day of each Tamil month, and Ratha Saptami is the temple's main festival, so expect busier days then. Devotees traditionally worship at the nearby Prananatheswarar temple of Thirumangalakudi as part of the visit. Confirm current timings, dress expectations and puja arrangements with the temple office (HR&CE, Mayiladuthurai division) before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Listed by the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department (TM018016, Joint Commissioner, Mayiladuthurai) before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Suryanar Kovil (Sivasuriyanar Temple)
Ratha Saptami
A ten-day festival that Dinamalar describes as the temple's most important, marking the Sun's turn northward (Uttarayana).
Monthly Maha Abhishekam
Special abhishekam and pujas to Surya, which draw large crowds according to Dinamalar.
Guru and Sani transit days
Special pujas are held when these planets move between zodiac signs.
Thai Pongal (harvest festival)
The Thanjavur District Collectorate notes that the harvest festival is celebrated here each year in thanksgiving to Surya.
Location
How to Reach Suryanar Kovil (Sivasuriyanar Temple)
Wikipedia places the temple about 15 km from Kumbakonam, 22 km from Mayiladuthurai, 2 km from Aduthurai and 58 km from Thanjavur, reached through Aduthurai on the Kumbakonam–Mayiladuthurai road or through Thiruppanandal. Dinamalar advises bus travellers from Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai or Aduthurai to alight at the Tirumangalakudi Kaliamman temple stop, a short distance from the temple.
The nearest railway stations named by Dinamalar are Aduthurai, Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai; the nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli. The Agniswarar (Sukra) temple at Kanjanur is about three kilometres away, according to The Hindu.
Location: Suriyanar Koil (near Aduthurai), Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli
Nearest railway station: Aduthurai, Kumbakonam or Mayiladuthurai
More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Surya (Sivasuriyan), with consorts Usha Devi and Pratyusha (Chaya) Devi temples · Temples in Sooriyanarkoil · Temples in Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk · Temples in Thanjavur District
Questions
Suryanar Kovil (Sivasuriyanar Temple): Frequently Asked Questions
Which planet is worshipped at Suryanar Kovil?
Surya, the Sun. He is the main deity of the temple, shown with his consorts Usha Devi and Pratyusha (Chaya) Devi, and the other eight Navagrahas have their own shrines in the complex.
How is Suryanar Kovil different from the other Navagraha temples?
It is the only temple in the Tamil Nadu Navagraha circuit where the planet is the presiding deity and Shiva is not, according to Wikipedia and The Hindu. It also houses shrines for all nine planets.
Who built Suryanar Kovil?
A temple inscription cited by Wikipedia says the present structure was built in the reign of Kulottunga Chola I, when it was called Kulottungachola-Marttandalaya. The Thanjavur District Collectorate also attributes it to Kulottunga I, around 1100 CE.
Why does Guru face Surya at this temple?
Guru's shrine stands directly opposite the Sun's. The Dinamalar temple guide gives the traditional explanation that Guru softens the Sun's heat for worshippers.
What is the main festival at Suryanar Kovil?
Ratha Saptami, a ten-day festival in the Tamil month of Thai (January–February). Special abhishekam is also held on the first day of every Tamil month.
How do I reach Suryanar Kovil?
It is about 2 km from Aduthurai, 15 km from Kumbakonam and 22 km from Mayiladuthurai. Buses stop at Tirumangalakudi near the temple; the nearest railway stations are Aduthurai, Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai, and the nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli.
Sources and attribution
- Dinamalar — Sri Suriyanar temple, Suriyanarkoil – temple details
- Wikipedia — Suryanar Kovil
- District Collectorate, Thanjavur (NIC), archived 2013 — Navagrahas – Suryanar Koil
- The Hindu — An exploration on foot (5 May 2006)
- The Hindu — The 12 splendid suns (16 December 2012)
- Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department, archived 2020 — Thirukoil – Temple List for Tamil Nadu (TM018016)
- OpenStreetMap — Suryanar Kovil (way 360508290)
Further reading: Suryanar Kovil (Sivasuriyanar Temple) on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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