Vaitheeswaran Koil, also called Pullirukkuvelur Temple, is devoted to Lord Shiva, who is worshiped here as Vaidyanathaswamy, the divine healer. His consort, Thaiyalnaayaki or Valambigai, carries a pot of medicinal oil called Sanjeevi Thailam. This temple, one of the Nine Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu, is associated with the planet Mars (Angaraka).
Vaitheeswaran Koil is the 16th temple of the 276 dedicated to Lord Shiva alongside the northern bank of the River Cauvery. These temples are celebrated in the historical Tamil hymns, Thevaram and Tirupugazh. The temple is also well-known for its collection of palm leaf manuscripts used for Nadi Josiyam, a form of astrology that attracts many visitors.
The name Vaitheeswaran means "Lord of Medicine" in Tamil. According to legend, Mars (Angaraka) was cured of leprosy by Lord Vaidyanathaswamy here. Bathing in the holy Siddhamirtham tank is believed to cure all diseases. Another story from the Ramayana tells how Lord Rama and Lakshmana performed the final rites for the bird Jatayu in this temple, and a pond known as Jatayu Kundam commemorates this event.
The Tamil name for Vaitheeswaran Koil, Pullirukkuvelur, is derived from Jatayu (Pull), Rig Veda (Irukku), Skanda (Vel), and Surya (Ur), all of whom worshiped Shiva here. The Saptarishis (seven sages) also worshiped Lord Shiva at this temple. The renowned Tamil poet Arunagirinathar and other saints have praised this temple in their hymns. Valuable historical inscriptions from various periods can be found in the temple, which is located on the northern side of the Cauvery River.
Vaitheeswaran Koil is a significant temple with numerous halls (mandapams) and five entrance towers (gopurams) decorated with colorful deities. The temple pond, Siddhamirtham, is known for its medicinal properties. Inside the temple, you will find many deities, including Vaidhyanathaswamy, who is worshiped as a self-manifested lingam. The temple also has shrines for Lord Muruga, Dhanvantari (Lord of Ayurveda), and Jvaraharesvara (Lord of Fevers).
The temple’s Navagrahas (nine planets) are uniquely positioned in a line behind the sanctum. Mars (Angaraka) is particularly significant here, and his image is taken out in procession every Tuesday. Other notable features include the temple's neem tree, which has been considered sacred since ancient times, and medicinal prasadams like Thiruchandu Urundai and Nethrapidi Sandhanam.
Vaitheeswaran Koil is renowned for Naadi Josiyam, a form of astrology based on ancient palm leaf manuscripts. These leaves contain predictions written by great sages (Siddars) who had the power to see the past and future. For any kind of palm leaf reading, contact us at Nadi Jyothisham, one of the best online Nadi astrology centers in India.
Talk to us?
