Navagraha Itinerary 2015 Nine Planetary Temple Trip
The nine planets used in Vedic Astrology are known as Navagraha. This tour will visit the Nine Temples dedicated to the Planetary Gods; Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn Rahu and Ketu.
Meals on your own unless specifically stated.
Puja costs: As part of the Temples visits we will be conducting many pujas and prayer ceremonies. The costs of these will be shared by the participants. Komilla will inform you of the costs. This sharing is voluntary.
28 to 31 Jan nights – overnight at Hotel Annamalai International, Pondicherry
10:00am Free transfer from Chennai. Pick up at Chennai at a central location – to be given later and drive to Pondichery. You will need to be at the pickup location before 10 am. You may need to book overnight accommodation in Chennai for 27 Jan.
On arrival check in Hotel Annamalai International.
Evening - Shri Aurobindo Ashram
29 January 2015 (Thursday): Pondicherry – Ganesha, Irumbai and Navagraha Temples
10:00am Manakula Vinayaka temple for Puja- to seek blessings for the trip. There will be a Yagya (fire ceremony) to Lord Ganesha.
2:00pm - Mahakaleshwara Temple in Irumbai and Navagraha temple, Tindivanam. Mahakaleshwara temple is one of the Thevara Padal Petra Sthalangal of Shiva. It is a very ancient temple, antiquity unknown and with beautiful spiritual art on the walls. The Navagraha temple is a new temple with 15 ft. tall Navagraha deities.
8:00pm - Welcome dinner –orientation of the conference
30 - 31 January2015 (Friday, Saturday): Pondicherry – Workshop with Komilla Sutton – Upaya, Remedies for the Navagraha
10:00am to 5:00pm - This Navagraha temple trip is a pilgrimage to balance the nine planetary energies. We are all born with Karma that influences our life by understanding how to calm the planets and work with their powers is part of this workshop. Komilla will talk about planets, their main deities and sub deities, mantras, pilgrimage, coping with planetary crisis, practical remedies for Sadesati and other tough transits, and what Parasara has advised. Each planet will be discussed including their colours and colour therapy, flowers and the grains that are connected with them. The right time to do the Upaya keeping in mind the dina (day), tithi and special jayantis.
01 February'15 (Sunday): Drive to Kumbakonam (175Kms / 5 hour drive) - Enroute visit to Chidambaram Temple.
8:00am Two hour drive to the Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram. The Chidambaram temple has great significance for Komilla, this was the temple where the first batch of graduating students was given their certificates and we go to the temple to thank and seek blessings. We will meet Deekshithar Subramania Swami, the temple trustee and visit the inner sanctum. There will be a major puja at Chidambaram temple. (Cost to be shared). As this is the gateway to the Navagraha temples and the belief is that it is important to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva before visiting the Navagraha Temples.
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort / Kumbakonam.
02 February'15 (Monday): Suryanaar Koil (Sun) and Shukra (Venus) Temples at Kanchanoor
9:00am - Sun and Venus temples. At the Sun temple, there are nine small temples dedicated to the planets, we will be doing prayer ceremony at each one of the temples. Next we will visit the Venus temple, which is one mile away.
1:00pm – Lunch at Mantra Resort – Cost included.
3:00pm – Garbharakshambigai Temple in Thirukarugavur. This is the Cancer Rashi temple. We will try to visit the Taurus temple too.
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort / Kumbakonam.
03 February 2015 (Tuesday): VaitheeswaranKovil: 100 Kms and 02 hours drive each way
Mars Temple
8:00am - VaitheeswaranKovil, which is the temple for Mars. VaitheeswaranKovil is the home for Nadi - Palm leaf astrology. After the visit and puja at temple, those who are interested , we will arrange for a palm leaf reading. Costs to be given.
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort / Kumbakonam.
04 February 2015 (Wednesday): Thanjavur (110kms – 3 hours’ drive). Brihadeshwara Temple at Thanjavur
9:00am - Brihadeshwara Temple – The Peruvudaiyar Koyil is the world's first complete granite temple and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by Cholas. The 'Vimana' – or the temple tower – is 216 ft. (66 m) high and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. Brihadeshwara Temple celebrated thousand years in 2010
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort / Kumbakonam.
05 February 2015 (Thursday): Alangudi Jupiter temple: 25 kms -01 hour drive
9:00am - Alangudi is the main temple for Jupiter. Here Dakshinamurti is worshipped as Guru.
5:00pm Swamimalai Temple dedicated to lord Murugha (Mars). This is where Lord Murugha gave the meaning of the pranava Om to Shiva.
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort / Kumbakonam.
06 February 2015 (Friday): Kumbakonam temples and Darasuram
9:00am – Kumbakonam is a city of thousand temples. We will visit some of the important ones like Kumbheshwara temple where they have the nakshatra carving on the roof and a special Brahma temple.
4pm Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram was built in 1147 and is an amazing and historic temple monument.
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort / Kumbakonam.
07 February 2015 (Saturday): Shani temple Thirunallar: 80 Kms and 2.5 hours drive
Mangala Shani temple at Thirunaraiyur
8:00am – We are visiting two Shani temples. One – the grand Shani temple at Thirunallar and the other more personal one at Mangla Shani. At both temples we will be doing pujas, lighting the lamps and praying to Saturn. Being Saturday, we expect them to be very busy as many devotees come to Thirunallar and Mangala Shani for Saturn remedies.
Lunch at Neemrana Hotel - Bunglow on the beach at Traquebar.
4pm - Puja at Ramanathaswami Temple housing Mangala Shani Temple. This is a rare Saturn temple where he is with his two wives Jyeshta Devi (also known as Neela Devi) and Manda Devi and two sons, Mandi and Gulika. This is where Lord Rama’s Father Dasaratha did puja for Shani.
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort / Kumbakonam
08 February 2015 (Sunday): Rahu Temple Thirunageswaram, Nageshwara temple
9:00am - Thirunageswaram is one of the most important temples that devotees go in order to worship Rahu – for Kala Sarpa yoga, difficult Rahu dashas, challenging Rahu placements and any other Rahu dosha. Sunday is the day for visiting, the temple has a special puja which we will participate in and visit all the shrines.
4:00pm – Nageshwara temple is one of the oldest temples in Kumbakonam. There is a wonderful wheel of the twelve Adityas, Surya temple and ancient architecture. The navagraha shrine here is special and the energy from thousands of years of worship is very powerful.
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort / Kumbakonam
09 February 2015 (Monday): Moon Temple Thingaloor, Shweta Ganesha temple
9:00am - It is a beautiful 18 mile drive through the lush rice fields of the Kaveri delta to the moon temple. The temple itself is very small and ancient. It has navagraha temple with Surya and his two wives.
4pm – Shweta Ganesha temple. Dedicated to the white Ganesha. Very close to our hotel.
Overnight stay at Hotel Paradise Resort/ Kumbakonam.
10 February 2015 (Tuesday): Kumbakonam to Mahabalipuram enroute visit to Mercury Ketu : 250 kms – 6 hours drive
9:00am - Ketu temple is a small temple in the bamboo forest. It is very peaceful and spiritual. After that we will go to the large Mercury temple with its many shrines. This is a long day and we will stop enroute for lunch.
Overnight stay at Ideal Beach Resort, Mahabalipuram.
11 February 2015 (Wednesday): Sightseeing Mahabalipuram
Sea Shore temple, Five Rathas (World Heritage Monument) and Arjuna Penance & rest of the day relax at the hotel. Ideal Beach Resort is on the sea with beautiful views and a great pool. Time to relax and process all we have experienced at the Navagraha temples
8:00pm – Farewell dinner.
Overnight stay at Ideal Beach Resort, Mahabalipuram.
12 February 2015 (Thursday): End of program.
Check out time is 11:00am. You will need to arrange your own transfers to the airport at Chennai or onward journey. Drive time to Chennai is 2 hrs.