Vaitheeswaran Koil

Overview

Vaitheeswaran Koil is the Navagraha temple of Angaraka, the planet Mars. Its presiding deity is Vaidyanathar, Shiva as the healer, and the temple is famous as a place where devotees pray for relief from illness. The name Vaidyanathar or Vaitheeswarar means the curer of ills.^[2][1]

It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam sung by Tirunavukkarasar and Sambandar, and one of the Pancha Vaidyanatha sthalams, the five temples associated with the curing of illnesses. The temple stands in the town of Vaitheeswaran Koil, between Chidambaram and Sirkazhi.^[2][3]

Legends

The healing anthill

The devas asked Shiva for a cure for 4,448 illnesses. He told them to find an anthill under a neem tree on the northern bank of the Kaveri and to pour Kamadhenu's milk over it. A self-manifested (swayambhu) lingam was found there and named Vaidyanatha Swami. The milk that dissolved the anthill became the Siddhamrita Teertham.^[2]

Angaraka's cure

Angaraka (Mars) had leprosy. A heavenly voice told him to bathe in the Siddha Teertham for 48 days and then pray to Vaidhyanathar, and he was cured. That is why the temple is considered a remedy for Mars-related afflictions.^[2][1]

Jatayu

In the Ramayana, Jatayu fell here after Ravana cut off his wings. Rama performed Jatayu's last rites. The Jatayu Kundram in the southern prakaram marks the spot, and the ash there is believed to have healing properties.^[2][3]

Murugan's spear

Before his battle with Soorapadman, Parvati is said to have given Murugan his vel (spear) here. The Muthukumaraswamy shrine, facing east, marks the place. Shiva, as the healer, is also said to have cured the wounds of Murugan's army.^[2][3][1]

Thaila Nayaki

Parvati brought medicinal oils while Shiva prepared the medicine, so she is named Thaila Nayaki, often corrupted to Thaiyal Nayaki.^[2]

The name Pullirukkuvelur

The old name is explained as Pull (the bird Jatayu), Irukku (the Rig Veda), Vel (Murugan) and Ur (Suryan).^[2][3]

History and inscriptions

The TN Temples Project says the structural temple is a much later addition, and that the original (adi) shrine of Adi Vaidhyanathar is in a small temple near the eastern entrance, beneath the neem tree.^[2][3]

Wikipedia names no single builder. It records contributions from Vikrama Chola, Vira Rajendra Pandya, Achuthappa Nayak (1560-1614) and the Maratha prince Thulaja, and says most of the five inscriptions date to Kulothunga Chola I (1070-1120 CE).^[1]

Architecture and shrines

The temple is enclosed by high walls, with a five-tiered gopuram and two inner gopurams. The main sanctum faces west, and the TN Temples Project says worship at a west-facing temple is held equal to worship at 1,000 east-facing Shiva temples. The Linga is described as relatively small, with two tall flagstaffs in front.^[2][3][1]

The eastern gateway leads first to the neem tree with the Adi Vaidhyanathar shrine beneath it, opposite the Veerabhadra shrine. An inner gateway leads to the Dandapani shrine and then the Siddhamirtham tank, and the western gateway leads directly to the main sanctum.^[3]

Thaiyal Nayaki's shrine faces south in the second precinct. The northern prakaram has shrines for Bhadra Kali, Annapoorni, Dakshinamurthy, Gajalakshmi, Ashta Lakshmi, Nataraja and Durga. A small shrine to Dhanvantari, god of medicine, stands in the large precinct. A maragatha (emerald) lingam is also kept in the temple.^[3][2][1]

Unlike other Navagraha temples, the Navagrahas do not have separate shrines here. The nine planets stand together in a single row behind the Lord, all facing west as if looking at him, without their usual vehicles or weapons.^[2][3]

Worship and customs

• The TN Temples Project describes the usual order: wash the feet in the temple pond, offer salt and pepper (sold in shops in the temple) at the assigned place, and then enter the main shrine.^[2]
• Devotees may not bathe in the Siddhamritam tank but may sprinkle its holy water on themselves. The page says the tank's waters are mixed with those of 18 Punya Teerthams, and that the tank has no frogs or snakes because of a sage's curse.^[2]
• In the evening Ardhajama puja, worship is first offered to Murugan as Selva Muthukumaran and then to Shiva. The Krithikai festival follows the same order.^[2][3]
• The TN Temples Project warns that the town is known for Nadi astrology and that fake practitioners exist, advising visitors to consult one only on strong recommendation.^[2]

Nearby Paadal Petra temples

• Distances from the temple as listed on shivatemples.com: Tiru-Punkur 4 km, Tiru-Kannar-Koil 5.5 km, Tiru-Nindriyur 6.4 km, Sirkazhi 7 km, Tiru-Karu-Pariyalur 9.3 km, Tiru-Kurakkuka 10.8 km, Needur 14 km, Tiru-Kadai-Mudi 14.9 km.^[3]

How to reach

• The town has bus access from Chidambaram, Sirkazhi and Mayiladuthurai. The distance from Chennai is about 270 km by road.^[3]
• Distances on the TN Temples Project page: Mayiladuthurai 18 km, Kumbakonam 55 km, Tiruvarur 60 km, Nagapattinam 63 km. Budget accommodation is available nearby, and Chidambaram is an alternative base.^[2]

Festivals

Photos

Timings

Sources

1. Vaitheeswaran Koil — WikipediaEncyclopedia (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
2. Vaidyanathar, Vaitheeswaran Koil, Nagapattinam — TN Temples ProjectTemple database (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
3. Vaidhyanathar temple, Tirupullirukkuvelur — shivatemples.comTemple guide (Tevaram sites) · accessed 2026-10-31

Page last checked: 2026-10-31