This navagraha temple is for the planet Mars (Angaraka or Mangal). This Shiva temple was revered by Nayanmars and is one of the 275 temples on which sacred hymns were sung by them. The temple is about 2000 years old.
Temple Name: VAITHEESWARANKOIL [VAIDH (Cure Provider) + ISHWARAN (God/Lord) + KOIL (Temple)]
Mulavar - Sthala devata (Main deity): Shri Vaidyanath
Goddess: Thaiyal Nayaki
Ganapati: Karpaga Vinayaka
Graha name: Angarakan (Chevvai in Tamil)
Kshetra Vruksha: Neem
Village Location: Vaitheeswarankoil, District Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu 609117, India
How to reach the Temple:
This place is located on SIRKAZHI – MAYILADUTHURAI highway.
The Shiva linga is a swayambhu shiva linga. The five gopurams (towers) are in a straight line. There are two flagstaffs in front of shiva linga and are made - one of gold and the other is silver. The navagraha shrine is generally located in front of the main deity. But in this temple they are located behind the sanctum sanctorum. There is an emerald shiva linga in this temple. The shrine of planet mars (angaraka) is located behind the sanctum sanctorum. On the eastern side we have a shrine of Bhairava. On the western side we have the shrine of Veerabhadra, on the southern side that of Lord Vinayaka and on the northern side we have a shrine for Goddess Kali. It is believed that they are acting as guard of this place. The temple has five parikramas.
Legends associated with this temple:
1. Siddha amruta teertha: It is stated that the siddhas did abhishek at this place with amrut and obtained many boons. At that time some amrut spilt into the teertha and teertha got the name Siddha Amrut Teertha. Due to a curse of Sage Sadananda no frog or snake is found in this teertha.
2. It is believed that, a potion (a paste) that cures number of diseases made from anthill, abhishek teertha, neem leaves, abhishek chandan and abhishek bhasma, have been prepared by Lord Shiva himself. Even now such a paste is prepared at this place and it is believed that it cures more than 400 diseases.
Kshetra purana:
When angaraka was suffering from white leprosy (leukoderma) a celestial voice asked him to go to this place and worship Lord Shiva after taking a bath in the sacred amrut teertha. Angaraka reached this place and did penance as directed by the celestial worlds. Lord Shiva prepared a medicine for him and at that time Goddess Parvati brought a vessel containing a special oil for preparing the medicine, hence she got the name Tailanayaki.
History of Mangala Graha Temple:
According to the scriptures, this place was originally known in history as PULLIRUKKUVELUR [PULL (name of Jatayu) + IRUKKU (Rig Veda) + VEL (Murugan/ Kartikeyan Swami) + UR (Village)] i.e. town where Jatayu fought with Ravana to protect Sita, and where Brahma created Rig Veda, and where Vel (weapon of Lord Muruga) is worshiped.
Reportedly, all Vedas were initially Brahmin/ Human Being/ God.
All 3 (Jatayu, Rig Veda and Murugan) have worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. Besides these three, Parvati and Angarakan have also worshiped Lord Shiva here.
Rig Veda worshiped here and got rid of his deficiency.
Also at this place, Lord Shriram cremated Jatayu (mentioned in Valmiki Ramayan). Jatayu fought with Ravana to protect Sita and in that battle lost his life.
Also at this place, Lord Murugan got the sacred spear (Vel), from Parvati, for annihilation (samhar) of demon SuraPadman. It is believed that Gods who were injured in the battle with SuraPadman were cured by Lord Shiva while His Consort Parvati helped by attending/ nursing them at this place. The name VAITHEESWARAN signifies the nature of work done here by ShivaShakti as a VAIDH – healing/ tending to wounds, restoration of health/ well-being, providing cure/ remedy.
There used to be 18 sacred ponds (Punya Teerthaa) here, some of which are not traceable. Some of the known ones are
1. SiddhaAmritTeertha – the first teertha created by KAMADHENU.
2. GoDandaTeerth – (Dand = Bow/Stick) According to mythology, Shri Ram had taken a bath here when He was en route to Lanka.
3. Gautama Teertha – Created by Gautam Muni (Sage).
4. BilwaTeerth,
According to the legends one’s desires are fulfilled by worshiping at this place. It is believed that the following boons can be obtained by worshiping the deities as mentioned below.
1. Karpagavinayaka will fulfill all boons
2. Angaraka removes angaraka dosha
3. Vaidyanadar swami cures all diseases
4. Selva muttu kumaran (Lord Muruga) fulfills boons to get the children
5.Tailanayaki for the welfare of the children
Festivals:
1. A 10 days festival is held on a Tuesday in the month of Thai (Jan-Feb) for Lord Selvamuttukumaran
2. Brahmotsav is held for 28 days in the tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Aprl)3. Skanda shasthi festival is held for six days in the Tamil month of Aippasi
4. Kartikeya Abhishek is done in the month of Vaikashi (May-June)
5. Every month special puja is performed on the day of Kartika (Krittika) nakshatra
6. Pradosha puja is performed on every pradosha day
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