Saneeswarar Temple (Navagraha Temple), Moratandi,
Villupuram
Navagraha Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Navagrahas located in Moratandi Village near Union Territory of Pondicherry in
Villupuram District of Tamilnadu. The Temple covers an area of 2 acres. The
main deity Saniswaran Bhagwan is about 27 feet tall and each Navagraha idol is
15 feet tall. All Navagrahas are huge idols with their vahanas. Among them,
Surya the sun god is present at the centre who resembles his importance
compared with Navagrahas.
There is also a huge Vinayagar Statue in this Temple. He
is 34 feet tall and made of gold paintings. The idol is present at the entrance
and gives darshan to the devotees as soon as you enter the temple. The steps
that lead you to the immense Vinayaga are also high. There was also a Vasthu
Bhagwan, Lord Shiva as Kalyana Sundareswarar in this Temple.
As each Navagrahas have each distinct tree, there also
certain trees that denote the zodiac signs. People with various zodiac signs
worship the tree that belongs to their star. Worshipping the god with oil lamps
and trees related to star is all a kind of worship in Hinduism. Poojas are also
done with various kinds of flowers according to the star of an individual. The
temple is fully maintained with calm atmosphere as it is slightly away from the
busy city.
The Temple is situated on NH 32 (Chennai to Nagapattinam
Highway) between Tindivanam and Pondicherry. The Temple is located very close
to Pondicherry. The Temple is located at about 2 Kms from Moratandi
Prathiyangara Devi Temple, 4 Kms from Thiruchitrambalam Junction Koot Road, 1.5
Kms from Pondicherry – Tindivanam Toll Gate, 5 Kms from Panchavati Anjaneyar
Temple, 5 Kms from Irumbai Maha Kaleswarar Temple, 7 Kms from Sedarapet, 10 Kms
from Vanur, 10 Kms from Pondicherry Main Bus Stand, 11 Kms from Puducherry
Railway Station, 6 Kms from Pondicherry Airport, 35 Kms from Tindivanam, 155
Kms from Chennai and 141 Kms from Chennai Airport. Buses from Pondicherry to
Tindivanam and vice versa will stop at Toll gate.