Vaitheeswaran Koil
Shri Vaidhyanathaswamy - Vaitheeswaran Koil
Navagraha sthalam - Sri Sevvai
| Shri Vaidhyanatha Swamy-(file picture) |
The temple is located 13 Kms from Mayiladudurai towards Sirkazhi, and 6 Kms from Sirkazhi. This is known to be the sthalam for the presiding deity Angarakan (Chevvai in Tamil for Planet Mars), one of the nava grahas. However, the main deity in the temple is that of lord Shiva known here as Vaidhyanata swamy who is said to have arrived as a Vaidyan (physician or doctor), heeding to the prayers of Angarakan (Mars) who was suffering from leprosy. Vaidhyanata swamy consort is Thaiyalnayaki.
The temple is on the main road . Lord Shiva as Vaidhyanatha swamy is a swayambu in the temple. The five Gopurams of the temple are on a straight line. Navagrahas are behind the sanctum on a straight line, placed side by side, which is an unique feature here. As you enter you come across two flagposts, one coated with silver and the other with gold. In the north you see the sannithi for Avudaiamman and towards east is the important shrine of Lord Muruga,here called as Selva Muthukumaran. After having a darshan of Ganapathy, you proceed for the shrine of Vaidhyanatha Swamy situated facing the West. There is a sepearte shrine for ambal Thayalnayagi faceing South. As you come around Sri Vaidhyanatha swamy shrine you can see the shrines of Selva Muthukumar, Gajalakshmi, Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy, Sattanathar, the Jadayu kundam and the utsava murthy of Angarakan
| Sidhamrutha theertham |
In front of the ambal Thaiyalnayaki sannithi is the holy tank called 'sidhamrutha theertham'. A dip here at the tank is beleived to have a curing effect for all type of ailments, especially skin ailments. Angarakan is said to have bathed here for forty five days to get his leprosy cured. It is customary that devotees buy jaggery and dissolve it in the tank. Another ritual here is to offer salt and pepper to ambal Thayalnayaki. People also offer tiny body parts made of silver sheets to cure of their ailments, like devotees offer, leg or hand to cure ailments of their leg or hand, chest to cure ailments related to respiratory problems.
During the night pooja to Sri Selva Muthukumar, a sandal paste along with saffron is applied to the fore head of the Lord called 'Nethra pidi santhanam', and this is considered as a very valuable prasad. Another prasad from Sri Vaidhyanatha swamy called 'Thiru Chandu urundai' are small pellets (urundai) which were beleived to have been given to Angarakan to cure his leprosy. This can be consumed by the devotees.Both these are revered and is said to be medicines for the ailments.
Rama and Lakshmana is said to have cremeated Jadayu here after he was killed by Ravana.
| Sri Angarakan -Utsavar (file photo) |
In the south there is a sepearte shrine for Angarakan. He is seen with his consorts Malini and Suseelini.
There is also a shrine to the divine healer, Dhanvantari in this temple.
People pray here for removal of Sevvai dosha which generally affects their health, marital happiness, property loss,injuries and other malicious effects. It is beleived that fasting on Tuesdays, and performing abhishekams during rahu kalam, offering red vastras, offering red flowers, coral will please Angarahan and your chevvai doshams are alleviated.
This Shiva Temple is praised in Thevaram and Tirupugazh hymns by saints such as Tirugnana Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar, Arunagirinathar, Kumara Guruparar, Chidambara Munivar, Ramalinga Adigal, and Kalamega Pulavar .
FestivalsUsually crowded during Tuesdays and pradoshams. Ten days Thai festival dedicated to Lord Selva Muthukuraswami with daily procession during January-February, twnent eight days Panguni Brahmmotsavam , six days Aipasi Skanda Sashti during October-November are some of the important festivals here
Special offerings
As mentioned earlier it is customary that devotees buy jaggery and dissolve it in the tank.( to control the pollution, the temple has asked the devotees to put the jaggery pieces in the bin placed near the tank). Another ritual here is to offer salt and pepper to ambal Thayalnayaki. ( My suspicion is the salt and pepper reused !) People also offer tiny body parts made of silver sheets to cure of their ailments, like they offer, leg or hand to cure ailments of their leg or hand, chest to cure ailments related to respiratory problems./p>
Temple location It is situated in the heart of the Thirunageswaram town.
Temple Timings It is normally open from 6 am –1:00pm and 4.00pm- 9:00pm.
How to reach?The temple is located 13 Kms from Mayiladudurai towards Sirkazhi, and 6 Kms from Sirkazhi. Plenty of buses are available from Mayavaram, Sirkazhi and Cuddalore.
Where to Stay?There are only a few hotels here.It is better to have Mayavaram as your headquarters where you have plenty of budget, semi-deluxe and semi deluxe hotels. If you are day traveller , you can get rooms provided by temple devasthanam.Where to Eat?There are couple of decent restaurants in the vicinity. You can go back to Mayavaram for lunch/dinner
Trivia - Nadi Jothdam You can see plenty of astrologers who have set shops called Nadi Jothidam, a type of astrogy or future prediction using scripts written oo palm scripts. It is based on the belief that the past, present and the future lives of all humans were predicted by Hindu sages in vedic period. Please use your discretion and rationale before approaching and end up paying a lot of money.
Places nearbyMayavaram, Sirkazhi, Cuddalore, Karaikal where there are many important temples to be visited.
Contact Manager, Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy Devasthanam,Vaitheeswaran koil, 609 117
Phone : +91- 0436- 479423
Useful data
State: Tamil Nadu
District: Nagapattinam
Famous for: Pilgrimage
Languages: English,Tamil
Best Season: Throughout the year. Summer( from May to July) could be very hot and dry when the mercury shoots to 40 degree celsius.
Weather: Summer 33-42°C, Winter 16-28°C
Altitude: Sea level
