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| Location |
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Suriyanr Koil. |
| Main Deity |
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Suriyan. |
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Nearest Town : Kumbakonam
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District : Thanjavur
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State : Tamil Nadu
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Suryanar Koil is the only temple in the Dakshinapatha, exclusively dedicated to Sun god with Usha Devi and Pratyusha Devi --- his consorts along with the other eight grahas, each in a separate shrine around the main one. Though unostentatious, it has a tower and prakaram etc. At the entrance, a horse – the divine vehicle of Lord Sun greets us, like the Nandi in Sivaalayas and Hanuman in Ramaalayas. The main mandir enshrining the Sun God facing west is surrounded by separate shrines for Rahu, Ketu, Chandra, Angaraka, Budha, Sani, Sukra and Brihaspathi.
The pecularity that can be seen here – the image of lion is inset in the image of Sun, indicating thereby the truth that the Sun is the Lord of Leo-lion. The image of planet Jupiter – Brihaspathi is installed in the fore of the temple; may be due to his exalted office – Devaguru – Preceptor of Gods.
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