Swetharanyeswarar Temple

Swetharanyeswarar Temple – Mercury God

Swetharanyeswarar Temple, otherwise known as the Budhan Templethe planet Mercury, is located in Thiruvengadu, near Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is worshipped here as Swetharanyeswarar. This temple is important for those seeking blessings from Budhan, the planet Mercury. Thiruvengadu, meaning "White Forest," is a sacred place believed to improve knowledge, intellect, and communication skills, as Mercury is associated with wisdom and learning. This temple is particularly famous among the locals and devotes because of its calm environment and long history making it a cherished destination for spiritual seekers.

Historical Origins :Swetharanyeswarar Templewas constructed during the Chola dynasty by Aditya Chola and Rajaraja Chola, with inscriptions dating back over 1,000 years and the present monuments were built by Vijayanagar kings during the 16th century.
Architectural Style: : The Swetharanyeswarar Temple displaysfeatures of Dravidian architecturewith a seven-tiered gopuram.The temple shrines and water bodies are housed inside granite walls within 2 acres (0.81 ha) of land.
Main Deity: Lord Shiva known here as Swetharanyeswarar is the main deity, with a separate shrine for Budhan (Mercury).The lingam represents Lord Shiva. His wife Parvati is called Brahmavidyambigai.
Spiritual Beliefs: : It is believed that worshipping here will improve mental clarity and resolve Mercury-related doshas.

Key Festival: There are 4 major festivals. In those 4 festivals, Chitra Pournami and Aani Thirumanjanam are the most important festivals that are celebrated in the temple during the Tamil month of Aaani (June–July).
Prime Location and Nearby Attractions: : It is close to Sirkazhi, making it easily accessible to nearby temples such as Bhramapureeswarar Temple and other ancient temples, enhancing the spiritual experience.
Ritual Timing: The temple rituals are performed 6 times a day at 8:30 am, 10:30 am, and 12:30 pm. At 6:00 pm Sandi is performed, and Sayarakshai between 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering), and deepaaradanai (waving of lamps) for both Swetharanyeswarar and Brahmavidyambigai. The temple performs weekly, monthly, and fortnightly rituals.