At Thiruvenkadu near Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu — the white forest, Swetaranya — the Swetharanyeswarar temple is the Navagraha Sthala sacred to Budha, the planet Mercury, which governs intellect, learning, and speech. A revered Paadal Petra Sthalam sung in the Tevaram, the temple is ancient and rich with legend, enshrining Shiva in forms including the fierce Aghora Murti.
Devotees come to propitiate Mercury for wisdom, eloquence, and success in study and enterprise, especially on Wednesdays. Thiruvenkadu is the shrine of Budha among the nine planetary temples.
