NAVAGRAGAM TEMPLE TRIP DAY 1

My family decided to go for a trip to the navagragam temple in a very short period and decided to take our own car. We started from Chennai on 06/08/2011 at around 5.00 from Chennai and took the route towads kumbakonam via pudhuchery. We did not have any exact guide other than some small maps got from various web pages. But, the best map for this trip with least errors was taken from the below web page. http://www.marskarthik.com/navagraha.html.

We first decided to fill our petrol tank at pudhuchery. Since, it was cheaper by 5 Rs per liter compared to other states. Our plan was to visit Thirunallaru- shani temple first. But, its best to visit thiruvengadu (bhudan temple), Vaidheeswaran (chevva temple) and kezhaperumpallam (Kedhu temple) first. Since, they are much closer to sirkari a town on the way to sani temple or kumbakonam. The roads from pudhuchery to kumbakonam is not a very straight road so, it will take a lot of time to reach the town.

Sani Temple:   We reached sani temple at around 11.30Pm with just a single 10 minute brake. At sani temple there were two ponds and the first one was little further and housed a small vinayagar temple. We have to visit this temple first before going to sani temple. In side sani temple it was very crowded when we entered, but the crowd vanished within minutes. Only then we realized the crowd was from a single Bus, they vanish as soon as they come, sometimes few minutes of waiting will make it easy for us to view the god in peace. One more important thing we learnt is that on week days the temple closes at 12.00 pm and on weekends it is open for extra time (mostly till 1.00pm), which helped us to see the god after the crowd cleared.

 We stoped at karaikal to have a quick meal at nandan restaurant and left immediately.   Then we left to thiruvengadu (bhudan temple), Vaidheeswaran (chevva temple) and kezhaperumpallam (Kedhu temple). It was one long trip back we reached karuvi a small town on the way to poompugar, both thiruvengadu (bhudan temple and kezhaperumpallam (Kedhu temple) are located on the way to poompugar and have to be care full where we are taking the turning. Map really helped us out to break down the route for the locals.

Kadu temple: We reached Kadu temple at around 3.40 pm and stayed there till 4.30pm. After which we visited poombugar, though there was not much to see in this place we got to relax at the beach.

Budhan temple: After few minutes we left to budhan temple and reached the place by 5.50pm, that is even after missing the turn towards it. The map in the link is not exact on the turn and its better to enquire. The timing to this temple was good since temple is very huge and there is not much tree cover and path gets really hot during mid day. I visited budhan temple when I was a kid and memories of me running for just a small shade to save my feet is still there a fresh. Budhan a very powerful god cures many ailments and helps in education and to improve health. worshiping the god and going around him 17 times will help in getting the blessings of the god. We had to leave early from this temple because by 8.00 Pm all temples get closed.

Vaidheeswaran: Vaidheeswaran (chevva temple) was really a beautiful temple very huge and had lot of nadi jothidam locations near the temple. Because of the time at which we went to the temple, there was no crowd and we were able to worship the gods in peace. After this we left to kumbaknom to our booked hotel Aditya.  One important thing is its advisable to eat on the way to your room, since 9.00 is the closing time for most of the good hotels.