Vaitheeswaran Koil

Coordinates: 11°11′42″N 79°42′51″E / 11.19500°N 79.71417°E / 11.19500; 79.71417
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India. For the Hindu temple in Vannarpannai, Sri Lanka, see Vannarpannai Vaitheeswaran Temple.

Vaitheeswaran Koil
Vaitheeswaran Kovil (Pullirukuvelur)
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMayiladuthurai
DeityVaidyanatha Swamy[1]

Thayyal Nayagi[1] Selvamuthukumarasamy[1] Shree Vinayakar, Angarakan (Mars)

Dhanvantari Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi[1][2]
Features
  • Tower: 4
  • Temple tank: Siddha Amritam
Location
LocationVaitheeswarankoil
StateTamil Nadu
Country India
Vaitheeswaran Koil is located in Tamil Nadu
Vaitheeswaran Koil
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates11°11′42″N 79°42′51″E / 11.19500°N 79.71417°E / 11.19500; 79.71417
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
Temple(s)1

Vaitheeswaran Koil is a

Indian state of Tamil Nadu.[3] Shiva is worshipped as Vaidyanathar or Vaitheeswaran meaning the "God of healing" and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. Vaitheeswaran is a Tamil derivative from vaidya (Doctor) and Ishvara (God/Master). The presiding deity is Sri vaidyanathan, facing towards West whereas East side is the common one. He is the God of Healing. When pronouncing in Tamil, it sounds like "vaideeswaran". It is one of the nine Navagraha (nine planets) temples and is associated with the planet Mars
(Angaraka).

The village is also known for palm leaf astrology called

Naadi astrology in Tamil. It is located 7 kilometers from Sirkazhi, 235 kilometers from Chennai, 27 km from Chidambaram, 110 km from Thanjavur and 16 km from Mayiladuthurai
.

The holy waters of the Siddhamirtham tank within the temple complex contains nectar, and a holy dip is believed to cure all diseases.[3][1]

The temple is revered by the

Tamil saint poets and is also classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam
(temple revered by the nayanars).

Legend

Pillars inside the temple

During the

Muruga and Surya were all believed to have worshipped Shiva here. Murugan obtained a Vel trident at this place and is called Selvamuthu Kumaran.[6] As per popular legend, 'Pul' (Jatayu), 'Irukku' (Irukkuvedam)', 'Vel' (representing Muruga) and 'Ooor' (place) worshipped in the place and hence it came to be known as 'Pullirukavelur'.[7]

History

The shrine of Vinayagar near the temple tank

The temple received contributions from various rulers of the region like

Saivite mutt or monastic institution located in the town of Mayiladuthurai, India. As of 1987, there were a total of 27 Shiva temples under the control of the adheenam.[10]

Architecture

Vaitheeswarankoil is located 13 km (8.1 mi) from

Dakshinamoorthy, Surya (Sun god), Jatayu, Sampati.[5] The shrine of Thaiyalnayaki in the second precinct facing south houses the image of Thiyalnayagi sported in standing posture with the medicinal oil to cure the diseases. The large precinct also has a small shrine to Dhanvantari and shrine of Angaraka in stone sculpture. The southern gateway from this precinct leads to the temple tank and directly faces the Thaiyalnayaki shrine. The Sthala Vriksha (temple tree) is margosa (Azadirachta indica, neem tree), believed to possesses medicinal properties, is present near the eastern gateway.[5] The eastern gateway also has the shrine of Adi (original) temple that has a smaller replica of the main shrines. There is a fine metal image of Gangavisarjanar inside the temple.[5] The shrine of Angaragan (Mars) is present near the Eastern gateway in the third precinct.[8]

Panoramic view of the temple

Worship and festivals

Thirukalyanam festival

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.[12] Tonsure ceremony of getting children shaved for the first time to promote proper growth is a very common practise.[5] Mavilaku ma (lighting lamp in rice cakes) is a form of worship practised. The practise of jamming salt and pepper in front of the temple mast and the pot near the temple tank is also followed. Unlike other temples in South India, where each shrine has a priest, each priest in the temple associates themselves with the devotees and perform worship on their behalf.[13] The holy soil rounded with ash (called Thiruchandu Urundai) is treated as medicine and believed to cure all the diseases.

Saivite Vaitheeswaran Kovil.[15] Brahmotsavam (annual festival) is celebrated during the Tamil calendar months of Pankuni
and Thai (January–February). Karthigai festival during November is also celebrated with pomp and glory. Kantha Sashti, a festive occasion for Subramanya, is celebrated in the shrine of Muthukumaraswamy.

Navagraha temple

Eastern gateway with 'Adi' shrines and temple tree

The temple is one of the nine Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu and is a part of the popular Navagraha pilgrimage in the state - it houses the image of Angaraka (Mars).[16] The planets are believed to influence the horoscope computed based on time of one's birth and subsequently influence the course of life. Each of the planets are believed to move from a star to another during a predefined period and thus sway over an individual's fortunes. The Navagrahas, as per Hindu customs, are believed to provide both good and bad effects for any individual and the bad effects are mitigated by prayers. As in other Navagraha temples, the common worship practises of the devotees include offering of cloth, grains, flowers and jewels specific to the planet deity. Lighting a set of lamps is also commonly followed in the temple. As per local legend, Shiva was doing penance at mount Meru when a drop of water fell from his forehead which turned into a beautiful child. Bhoomidevi brought up the child, who went on to become a staunch devotee of Shiva. Pleased by the devotion, Shiva turned him to a planet. Based on his colour, Angaraka (Mars) is usually clad with red coloured cloth.[17] Vaitheeswaran is believed to preside over Angarakan in the temple. Along with Angarakan, Sambathi, Jatayu and Surya deva are believed to have worshipped Vaitheeswaran at this temple.[18]

Nadi astrology

Saraswati Mahal Library
of Tamil Nadu. The British rulers later showed interest in the Nadi leaves concerned with herbs and medicine and future prediction, but left most of the leaves to their loyal people. Some leaves got destroyed and the remaining were auctioned during the British rule. These leaves were obtained and possessed by the families of astrologers in Vaitheeswaran temple and was passed down the years from one generation to the other.

Religious importance

View of entrance of the temple

The temple is revered by Tevaram hymns of saint poets

mantras (sacred text) as invocation of Shiva. In addition the hymns from Thirunavukkarasar likens Shiva to luminous objects - a flame, a pearl, a diamond and pure gold.[21] He also indicates wasting lot of days not worshipping Shiva at this temple.[22]

"வெள்ளெ ருக்கர வம்விர வுஞ்சடைப்
புள்ளி ருக்குவே ளூரரன் பொற்கழல்
உள்ளிருக்கு முணர்ச்சியில் லாதவர்
நள்ளி ருப்பர் நரகக் குழியிலே."[23]

translating to

Those who have no perception of the golden feet of deity in Puḷḷirukku Vēḷūr on whose matted hairs cobra and white yarcum flowers are mingled, staying in their minds. will be in the centre of the hollow of the hell.[24]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Seth 2005, p.77
  2. ^ "18 Siddhars". www.satsang-darshan.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu 2007, p. 53.
  4. ^ Evensen 2007, p. 209
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ayyar 1991, pp. 260-261
  6. ^ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 31.
  7. ^ Selvaganapathy, R., ed. (2013). Saiva Encyclopaedia volume 5 - Temples in Tamil Nadu (Later period) (in Tamil). Chennai, India: Saint Sekkizhaar Human Resource Development Charitable Trust. pp. 534–5.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-81-8468-112-3
    .
  9. ^ C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre 2002, p. 321
  10. ^ Thangaraj 2003
  11. ^ "Navagraha temples". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  12. ^ Barnes 2005, pp. 65-66
  13. ^ Raj 2006, p. 79
  14. ^ Sundararajan 2003, p. 425
  15. ISBN 9780190291983
    .
  16. ISBN 9781482847864
    .
  17. ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8
    .
  18. ^ Thondaman, R. Vijayakumar (5 May 2006). "An exploration on foot". Friday Review. The Hindu. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  19. ^ Mersmann 2010, p. 209
  20. ^ Prentiss 1999, p. 49
  21. ^ Prentiss 1999, p. 58
  22. ^ Prentiss 1999, p. 170
  23. ^ Thirunavukkarasar, p. 39
  24. ^ "Aintham Thirumurai". thevaaram.org. Retrieved 6 August 2012.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vaitheeswaran Koil.
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