- Deity
- Vaidyanatha Swamy (Shiva) and Thaiyal Nayaki
- Navagraha
- Angarakan (Mars)
- Timings
- 6 am to 1 pm, 4 pm to 9 pm
- Distance from Chennai
- About 240 km
- Nearest railway station
- Chidambaram or Mayiladuthurai
- Nearest airport
- Tiruchirappalli
History and legend
The temple is believed to be older than the Ramayana, and tradition holds that Rama and Lakshmana worshipped Vaidyanatha Swamy here. Thaiyal Nayaki is shown holding a vessel of medicinal oil, in keeping with the theme of healing that runs through the shrine.
Rituals and offerings
Pilgrims usually bathe in or sprinkle water from the Siddhamirtham tank before worship. Dissolving jaggery in its water is believed to cure skin ailments. At the Angarakan shrine, devotees offer red cloth, fruit and toor dal to ease the effects of Mars in their horoscope.
- Holy dip in the Siddhamirtham tank
- Jaggery dissolved in the tank for skin ailments
- Red cloth and lentils for Angarakan
Festivals
The Thai Brahmotsavam (January to February) and the Panguni Brahmotsavam are the major annual festivals, along with the Karthigai festival in November to December, Skanda Sashti and Maha Shivaratri.
Timings and dress code
The temple is open from 6 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm, closed in the afternoon. Traditional dress is preferred: men usually wear a dhoti or pyjama and cover the upper body with a cloth, while women wear a sari or half-sari.
How to reach
Sirkazhi is 7 km away and Mayiladuthurai 16 km; the town is also 27 km from Chidambaram, about 110 km from Thanjavur and around 240 km from Chennai. Vaitheeswaran Koil has a small station, but Chidambaram and Mayiladuthurai are better connected railheads. Tiruchirappalli is the nearest airport. We can combine this temple with the other Navagraha temples around Kumbakonam, and Poompuhar beach is close by.
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