The Navabashanam Temple – Devipattinam Temple

Devipattinam temple is also known as Navabashanam. It is located at a coastal Village that lies 70 km far from Rameswaram. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Lord Shiva here is known as Thilakeswarar and the Goddess is known as Soundaryanayaki. The shrine has a beautiful image of Goddess Durga with eight-arms holding weapons in each. It has a small temple inside which is dedicated to the goddess who is said to have killed the demon Mahishasura at this very spot.

Devipattinam is the only place in the world where Navagrahas (nine-planets) are located inside the sea. Most of the original statues of nine planets have got battered and are not recognizable as any particular planet. Devotees at the temple offer nine varieties of grains including paddy, wheat, pulses and other things to the Gods and Goddesses. About hundred yards inside the sea lies nine withered blocks of stone, supposed to be the Navagrahas. These stones can still be watched partly submerged in the water near the bathing place of Navagraha Temple.

The Hindus perform religious rites for their forefathers in this temple. People come here to perform Tarpan for their ancestors.

History of Navabashanam Temple – Devipattinam

According to the legend, Devi Mahishasuramardini came into Lord Rama’s dream and directed him to visit Devipattinam and worship Navagrahas to get relief from his misery. She told Rama that he was suffering from misfortune due to the adverse planetary conditions. Rama was heading towards Ravana’s lanka to save Sita from his wrath. After performing a special puja dedicated to Lord Vinayaka in Uppur, he went to Devipattinam for Navagrahas puja. When Rama came to Devipattinam he did not find any shrine dedicated to nine planets. He made the statues of nine planets out of the ocean’s sand. It is also believed that while Rama was creating the Navapashanas (Navagrahas), Lord Jagannatha calmed down the ocean so that he could perform his puja without any disturbance. The place is also known as Navabashana spot and the nine stones represent nine planets.

Since that day Devipattinam is well known as a place where a person can get relief from adverse planetary conditions by performing the appropriate rituals. This Navagraha temple in the midst of the sea is a divine wonder since ancient days.

Significance of Navabashanam Temple – Devipattinam

According to astrology, the life of a human depends upon the conducted and positions of nine planets. The outcome of these placements are subjected to rejoicing or sufferings based on their deeds in the previous birth. Therefore, devotees come here to worship these planets and get relief from their sufferings. Devotees offer nine varieties of grains, wheat, pulses, ellu etc. They take a round of the deities and perform Navagrahas puja i.e worshipping the nine planets.

In the month of Avani (August-September) all Sundays are celebrated as festival days. Devotees can be seen visiting the temple in huge numbers during these festivals. Adi Amavasya festival is observed for 10 days in the Thai month (January-February) and draws people from around the country to participate in it. Devotees visit the temple almost every Sunday, especially on the Aslesha Star (Ayilyam) days.