Brihaspati is the name of a Vedic deity, personification of piety and religion, the chief offerer of prayers and sacrifices, represented as the Purohita of the gods with whom he intercedes for men.
He is the Lord of planet Jupiter. He is of Sattva Guna and represents knowledge and teaching.
According to Hindu scriptures, he is the guru of the Devas and the arch-nemesis of Shukracharya, the guru of the Danavas.
He is also known Guru, the god of wisdom and eloquence, to whom various works are ascribed, such as the "atheistic" Barhaspatya sutras.
He is described of yellow or golden colour and holding a stick, a lotus and his beads. He presides over 'Guru-war' or Thursday.
The Devas, when churning the paarkadal for nectar, were hindered by the poisonous fumes from the snake Vasuki and prayed to Lord Siva for deliverance.
Lord Siva consumed the deadly poison (Ala Visham), thus giving rise to the name Alangudi to this sthalam and the Lord came to be called Aabathsagayar.
Lord Ganesha subdued Gajamuhasuran who gave the Devas a horrid time and he is thus worshipped in this sthalam as 'Kalangaamal kaatha Vinayagar'.
Ambal undertook severe penance and married Lord Siva and hence this place is hailed as Thirumana Mangalam.
This sthalam is the Parivara sthalam for Madhyarjuna Mahalinga Peruman.
This is the fourth amongst the Panchavarunya Sthalas. Vishwamithrar, Thirumal, Brahma, Lakshmi, Garuda, Ashta Thikku Balagas, Ayyanar, Veera Badrar, Mukunda Chakravarthy, Suvasanan, Sundarar have worshipped at this sthala.
Lord Siva as a ferryman(boatman) was helping Sundaramurthy Swamigal cross the river (Vettaru) which was in spate, to reach this sthalam.
The boat capsized hitting a rock, when halfway.
Lord siva seated on his Rishaba Vahana helped him reach the sthala safely.
Sundarar received his Gnanaupadesam after his darshanam of Dakshinamurthy at this sthala.
Fame, wealth, siblings are the beneficial aspects of Guru.
The sthlam of Guru Bhagavan is Alangudi, 17 kms from Kumbakonam enroute to Mannargudi.
His wives are Tharai, Sangini.
The presiding deities are Kasi Aaranyeswarar and his consort Elavarkuzhali.
Guru is the Lord of Dhanusu and Meena Rasi and he faces North direction.
The Adi Devatha is Brahma and the Prathyathi Devatha is Indran.
His colour is yellow and
his vahana is elephant.
The grain assciated with him is kadalai;
the flower - white mullai;
fabric - yellow cloth;
gem - pushparagam(white topaz);
food - rice mixed with bengal
gram dhal powder.
Worship of BRIHASPATI or GURU (JUPITER) Devata results in a cure from ailments affecting the stomach and helps one to ward off his/her sins, helps him/her in gaining strength, valor, longevity etc.
He grants the boon of father-hood to the childless, good education (Vidya). He is revered as the Guru of Devas, protector of the world and is a Sreshta among the wise. Kind-hearted he is considered the Loka Guru and dispenser of justice and can be known only by a proper study of the Vedas.
Thursdays are considered to be the best day for the worship of Jupiter.
In the Zodiac. He is the Lord of Dhanus and Meena.
Guru stays for one year in each Rasi, taking 12 years to complete the cycle.