Vaidyanatha Swami Temple,
Vaitheeswaran Koil – The Temple
The temple has a
five-tiered gopuram (temple
tower), four inner gopurams and 3 large precincts. The Temple is west facing.
The five towers – Gopurams of the temple are on a straight line. Presiding Deity is called as Vaitheeswaran / Vaidyanathar.
Lord Shiva is a Swayambhu Murthy. He is housed in the sanctum (the central
shrine) in the form of Lingam. Lingam is very small. Dhwaja Sthambam, Bali
Peedam and Nandi can be found facing the sanctum in the inner prakaram. The
sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala, Artha Mandapam and Maha
Mandapam.
There are two flag
posts-Kodimarams before the presiding deity made of silver and gold. The other metal images in the sanctum are of Nataraja,
Somaskanda, Angaraka and stone sculptures of Durga,
Dakshinamurthy, Surya (Sun
god), Jatayu, Vedas, Sampati. Mother is called as Thaiyalnayaki. The
shrine of Thaiyalnayaki in the second precinct facing south houses the image of
Thaiyalnayaki sported in standing posture with the medicinal oil to cure the
diseases.
The large precinct also has a
small shrine to Dhanvatri and is located behind the sanctum. Lingams
worshipped by Lord Rama, Jatayu, Subramanya, Suryan and Angaragan can be seen
in the prakaram. The first precinct around the sanctum has the metal image of
Subramanya, worshipped here as Chella Muthu Kumara Swamy. Lord Muruga is facing
west. Lord Muruga is always worshipping his divine Father and Mother in the
temple.
As a beloved son of Lord
Vaidyanatha and Mother Thaiyal Nayaki, Lord Muruga in the temple is praised as
Chella Muthukumaraswami – Chella-beloved. Lord Muruga enjoys all prominence in
the temple. Hence all festivals are dedicated to him. Pujas to Lord and Mother
are offered only after pujas to Lord Muruga. 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.
The shrine of Angaragan (Mars)
is present near the Eastern gateway in the third precinct. Planet Angaraka, Mars
blesses the devotees on his Goat Vahana on Tuesdays. Lord Bhairava protects the
temple in the east, by Lord Veerabhadra in the west, Lord Vinayaka in the south
and Ma
Kali in the north. The Maragatha Linga (Emerald Linga) is very
famous. Navagrahas the nine planets are generally in the front side of the
sanctum facing different directions in Shiva temples. Here they are behind the
sanctum on a straight line obeying the presiding Lord blessing the devotees
freeing them of their adverse aspects, it is believed.
To the east of the western outer
corridor, there is a shrine for Kumara Guruparaswami. There are shrines for Nataraja,
Sivakami, Durga, Sun, Sapta Kannikas, 63 Nayanmars, etc., in the southern
corridor. The southern gateway from this precinct leads to the temple tank, Siddamruta
Theertham and directly faces the Thaiyalnayaki shrine. It is known to have
medicinal property. Devotees believe that taking bath in this water cures them
of their diseases, especially skin diseases.
Priests perform abishekam holy
bath) to Lord Shiva joins in the sacred tank of this temple using the way
provided and hence, the holy tank inside the temple is known as Siddhamirth (Amirtha
means the elixir and siddhi means success) Tirtha. Snakes and frogs, it is
unique, are unable to survive in the holy tank. The holy Siddhamirtham tank is
situated within the temple complex contains nectar, and a holy dip is believed
to cure all diseases.
There is also another Theertham
known as Jatayu Kunda near-by where it is believed that Rama and Lakshmana
cremated Jatayu. There are images of Rama, Lakshmana, and Vishwamitra. Vasishtha
and Jatayu near the Kunda. Singaravelar, Ayyanar, Mariamman, Draupadi and
Bikshadana are the other Deities enshrined near-by.
Kodanda Theertham / Rama
Theertham is in the southwestern corner of the temple and a deity of Sri Rama
is enshrined here. The Sthala
Vriksha (temple tree) is Vembu / Margosa (Azadirachta indica, Neem tree), believed
to possesses medicinal properties, is present near the eastern gateway. The
temple belongs to Dharumapuram Aadheenam of Tiru Kayilaya Parambara –
descendants of Kailash dynasty.
