Description
The Shani Bhagavan Temple is situated in a place called Kuchanur near Chinnamanur town in the district of Theni in Tamil Nadu. The temple is in the banks of the river Surabhi. The presiding deity in this temple is Lord Shani. He is one of the Nava Grahas and in English he is called as Saturn. Normally in all the Hindu temples is portrayed along with other planets or as a sub-deity. But here he is the main deity and all Dhoshas related to the Saturn planet are believed to be absolved if prayed in this holy shrine.
Facts/Mythology
In Hindu Astrology he is known as Saneeshwara Bhagwan and he also has name called Mandhi. He is the slowest of the planets and takes a long time to move from one rasi to another. The lord is said to offer beneficial results as well as bad ones depending upon the position of the planets I the Rasi chart. He appears in this temple with two of his consorts Bogamatha and Poon Mulayal. He is the lord for two Rashis – Makara and Kumbam. His direction is west. Shani Bhagwan is the son of Sun god and Chaya Devi. He is also believed to have a limp in his legs that was created when one of his brothers hit him when he was a child.
Pujas conducted in the temple:
Saturdays are special days for the Shani Bhagwan and Pujas are conducted six times on that day. On other days regular pujas are performed as per the Hindu Sashtra,
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
Every year Aadi month (July / August) is celebrated in the temple. Every Saturday in the month of Aadi is considered auspicious to ShaniBhagwan and devotees come here in thousands to offer their prayers to the temple to obtain the blessings of Lord Shani Deva.