Navagraha sculpture from
Bihar, India, 10th century AD, now at the San Diego Museum of Art.
It is only in south India Navagrahas face 8 different direction, with Sun in the middle.
As per Hindu legend, Sage Kalava was suffering from serious ailments along with leprosy. He prayed to the
Navagrahas, the nine planet deities. The planets were pleased by his devotion and offered cure to the sage.
Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, was angered as he felt that the planets have no powers to provide boons to humans. He cursed the nine planets to suffer from leprosy and were sent down to earth in Vellurukku Vanam, the white wild flower jungle - the modern time Suryanar Kovil. The planets prayed to
Shiva to relieve them off the curse. Shiva appeared to them and said that the place belonged to them and they would have to grace the devotees worshipping them from the place. This is the only temple where there are separate shrines for each of the planet deities.
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