At Kanjanur near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, the Agniswarar temple is the Navagraha Sthala sacred to Shukra, the planet Venus, which governs love, beauty, comfort, and the arts. By a singular tradition, Shukra is not enshrined separately but is held to reside within the Lord himself, so that worship of Agniswarar is worship of Venus.
A Paadal Petra Sthalam of deep antiquity, the temple draws devotees seeking the blessings of Shukra for marriage, harmony, and prosperity, especially on Fridays. Kanjanur is the shrine of Venus among the nine planetary temples.
