Kilimarathukavu Navagraha Temple

Kilimarathukavu Navagraha temple is situated in Kadakkal, a village in Kollam district of Kerala.Unlike other Navagraha temples,Kilimarathukavu navagraha temple is elliptical in structure, much like the galaxy.

The temple is constructed by craving krishnashila (blackstone) from adisthana the base to pillars. The roof is fully forged on wooden cross-beams which are arranged in a deep ellipse obtained by combining two semicircles on either side of a square and placing the axial on the frame with wooden planks paved with copper sheets on the top which gives the temple rare and unique structure.

The mandapa had been built according to the rules of precision, symmetry and proportion of Vastu Shastra that render its beauty and structure stability. Such mandapas are best combined with a deep elliptical unique construction . Navagraha temple mandapa is the first elliptical shaped temple of its kind which was built with the concept to combine the energy of the Milky Way with delicacy- the principles of the universe where the planets revolve around the sun in an elliptical shape along with the 12 zodiac signs and 27 stars. The Navagraha spirit is acquired according to the standards of Vastu to provide the life force energy.

The Navagrahas which includes nine major celestial bodies in Hindu astronomy is portrayed into deities deployed creatively as a wedded pair in the temple. The nine deities named Surya (the Sun),Chandra (the moon), Mangala(the mars), Budha( the mercury) , Brihaspathi(the jupiter), Shukra (the venus), Shani (the saturn), Rahu (the north lunar pole) and Ketu (the south lunar pole) combines to form the navagraha temple.

Another uniqueness of the temple are the AshtadikPalakas (Guardians of the Eight Directions) and Ashtadiggajas (Elephants of the eight directions) which are carved on the eight stone pillars. AshtadikPalakas are deities named Kubera in the north , Yama in the south, Indra in the east , Varuna in the west, Isana in the northeast, Agni in the southeast, Vayu in the northwest and Nirrti in the southwest are the guardians of eight directions. Ashttadiggajas which means eight elephants in eight directions which refers to the Hindu belief that eight elephants hold the earth in eight directions. The 27 stars are also chipped around pachavargam of the temple signifies the lunar mansions called nakshatras.Also the 12 zodiac signs Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are crafted on wooden planks on the roof with lotus in the middle which denotes Brahma who is the god of creation, knowledge , Vedas and the creator of universe as per Hinduism.

It is believed that visiting this temple can help alleviate the negative effects of planetary positions in one’s horoscope.