Vaitheeswaran Koil is a Hindu temple associated with Mars (Angaraka) and dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Vaidyanathar or Vaitheeswaran meaning the “God of healing” and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases.

The names Vaidya (specialist) and Ishvara (god/expert) are combined to form the Tamil name Vaitheeswaran. The ruling deity, Sri Vaidyanathan, faces west, while the common side is on the east. He is the Regeneration God. When spoken, it sounds similar to the Tamil word “vaideeswaran”. It is connected to the temple for Mars (Angaraka), one of the nine Navagraha (nine planets) temples.

Story Behind Vaitheeswaran Koil

In the epic Ramayana, Rama, Lakshmana, and Saptarishi offered worship to the god in the Vaitheeswaran Koil. A pond in this temple is known as Jatayu kundam, which translates to “pot of Jatayu with holy ash of Vibhuti.” Since Vaidhyanathaswamy cured Angaraka (Mars), one of the nine planets, of leprosy (a skin condition), it has been revered as one of the Navagraha Temples for Angaraka. Parvati, Shiva’s consort, requested that Subramanya change from his usual appearance of six faces to just one.

When he did, she was pleased and gave him Vel, a weapon to slay the demons. In the battle, Subramanya defeated the evil spirit known as Surapadman, but his army suffered severe losses. When Shiva manifested as the physician Vaitheeswaran, the injuries were healed.

History of Vaitheeswaran Koil

The temple was built with help from numerous individuals, including Vikrama Chola, Vira Rajendra Pandya, Achuthappa Nayak (1560-1614 AD), and Maratha prince Thulaja. The temple contains five inscriptions, the majority of which date to Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE). According to the writing on the steps of the Subramanya shrine, the shutter of the passageway at Sattainathapuram is 35 inches long and 8 inches wide.

The tank to the right indicates Nachiyar shrine, and its hall was completely renovated when Kanderayar was in charge of the Sigali Simai and Muthukumaraswami Tambiran, a pupil of Sivagnanadesikar-Sambandar of the Dharmapuram Adheenam, was in charge of the temple.

A deed granted by Sankarabaragiri Rengopanditar by Ambalavanatambiran, a temple specialist, is listed on the floor near the bookkeeper’s seat. According to the inscription on the Easter gateway, Manipallam gave taxes to Tiruvalipparu. The temple is run by Dharmapuram Adheenam, a Saivite mutt or monastic establishment in the Indian town of Mayiladuthurai. There were a total of 27 Shiva sanctuaries that were significantly influenced by the adheenam starting around 1987.

Architecture of Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil has two inner gopurams, a five-tiered gopuram (temple tower), and extensive precincts. Vaitheeswaran, a lingam in the innermost sanctum, serves as the central shrine. The metal image of Subramanya, also known as Muthukumara Swamy, can be found in the first precinct that surrounds the sanctum. Nataraja, Somaskanda, and Angaraka are the other metal images in the sanctum. Stone sculptures of Durga, Dakshinamoorthy, Surya (the sun god), Jatayu, and Sampati are also there.

In the Thaiyalnayaki shrine in the second precinct facing south, the image of Thiyalnayagi is kept. The image of Thiyalnayagi shows her standing and holding the medicinal oil. In the vast precinct, there is also a small shrine to Dhanvantari and a stone-sculpted shrine to Angaraka. The Thaiyalnayaki temple is directly in front of the southern entrance from this area, which leads to the temple tank.

The neem tree, also known as the margosa or temple tree, is located close to the eastern entrance and is thought to have restorative properties. A scaled-down version of the main shrines is also present in the original shrine of Adi, which is situated at the eastern gateway. Gangavisarjanar is portrayed in fine metal inside the temple. In the third precinct, the shrine of Angaragan (Mars) can be found close to the Eastern entrance.

Facts about Vaitheeswaran Koil

• Shiva is worshipped as Vaitheeswaran or the “God of healing” and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases.
• .It is one of the nine Navagraha temples associated with the planet Mars (Angaraka).
• The western tower of Vaitheeswaran Koil allows the sun’s rays to fall on the Shivalingam (Shiva Linga) for a few days each year. The temple has four rajagopurams and a number of mandapams.
• The Sthala Vriksha (temple tree) is margosa (Azadirachta indica) which possesses medicinal properties. It is located in the eastern gateway of the temple.
• Devotees take a holy dip in the temple tank before worshipping Vaitheeswaran in the temple.
• It is also a local belief that dissolving jaggery (Tamil:vellam) in the waters cures skin diseases.
• The tonsure ceremony of getting children shaved for the first time to promote proper growth is a very common practise

Famous Festivals In Vaitheeswaran Koil

• Brahmotsavam (annual festival) is celebrated during the Tamil calendar months of Pankuni and Thai (January–February).
• In November, the Karthigai festival is also celebrated with pomp and circumstance. Kantha Sashti, a happy event for Subramanya, is praised in the hallowed place of Muthukumaraswamy.

How To reach Vaitheeswaran Koil

The village is also known for palm leaf astrology called Naadi astrology in Tamil.

By Air: The nearest airport is Chennai Airport, 238 km from Temple

By Rail: The nearest railway station is the Vaitheeswaran Koil Railway Station, 2 km from Temple. While Mayiladuthurai Railway Station is 18 km from the temple.

By Road: It is located 7 kilometres from Sirkazhi, 235 kilometres from Chennai, 27 km from Chidambaram, 110 km from Thanjavur and 16 km from Mayiladuthurai. You can reach there by government bus service and also by private cabs/buses.

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