Pray Lord Vaitheeswaran for health.

Pray  Lord Shiva , the doctor God   , Who  has a great temple  in Vaitheeswaran Koil    and get cured physically and mentally 

Compiled  by

P.R.Ramachander

Vaitheeswaran koil   is a temple occupied  by  Lord Shiva   as   the Doctor king form of Lord Shiva . It also is called  Pullirukuum velur in Tamil because  devotees believe the Bird Jatayu  , The RigVeda    and the Vel   worshipped Lord Shiva   at this temple .It is believed that Lord Rama and Lakshmana performed the cremation of the bird Jatayu in this spot. It is also believed that Lord Angaraka (planet Mars) who was afflicted by leprosy got cured in this place. It is also believed that Lord Subramanya got his trident (vel) after worshipping in this temple.
There is a temple tank called Siddha Amrutha Theertha (the all curing nectar water) in this temple. Bathing in this tank is supposed to cure all diseases. This tank is devoid of fishes and frogs, till this day. Tiru Chandu pills distributed in this temple are considered as a cure of all diseases. This is purported to be the medicine, which Vaidyanatha gave to Angaraka to cure his illness.. Pilgrims who come here to get their illness cured take this medicine after observing the following directions. They are first required to take bath in the Angasanatana Teertham on an auspicious day during the Sukla Paksha, get the Mrittika (mud) in a new pot to the temple, mix it with sacred ash and a few drops of water from Siddhamurta Teertham.
They should grind this into a paste and offer it in prayer to the Goddess and take it in with a little water from the Teertham, whereby they will be relieved of any sort of illness. After the abhishekam, the feet of Lord Subrahmanya are covered with sandal paste mixed with saffron powder in equal weight and devotees receive it as prasad.

It is also believed that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple Lord Shiva faces west in this tewmple. It is believed  that worshipping Lord Shiva facing west is equivalent of worshipping  in 1000   shiva temples  .

         There is a very simple prayer    to   call Lord Vaidhyanatha   for help from wherever you are

Balambikesa vaidyesa bava roga haredisa,
Japen nama thrayam nithyam maha roga nivaranam.

Those who recite this prayer,
Thrice a day with devotion,
And pray the Lord Vaidyanatha,
Who is with his consort Balambika,
And who removes the fear of birth and death,
Would get cured of all great diseases.

    But devotees  who want to get cured of ailments are   requested to chant the two great prayers   given at the end  of  this write up daily .

         It seems Goddess  Parvathi (Called in this temple as Thayyal Nayaki, meaning  leader of ladies)   wanted her son to appear before her  in a form with one head  and when he appeared like that, She gave him the powerful weapon called Shakthi.  Lord Muruga(called in this temple as Muthukumaraswamy)  it seems fought with Asuras and killed them . as a result many  of his army were  injured.  Lord Shiva appeared   in the form of the  doctor form and cured all of them.  As a result Lord Vaidhya Natha and well as Lord Muthukumaraswamy   decided to  stay here  and bless  their devotees. The Pond where  Rama did obsequies to Jatayu  is called Jatayu kundam    and is within the precincys of the temple  .It seems  the planet Mars called  Angaraka  in Sanskrit,  as Chevvai in Tamil and as Mangala in hindi once suffered  with leprosy and was cured   of his disease    by taking bath in  this tank. Later he also  decided to bless  devotees by having a temple  here. A few miles from the main temple is another   temple of Adhi Vaidhyanatha  Swamy, which is believed  to the  original temple. One of  the peculiarities of this temple is that  the five gopurams of the temple are o in a straight line.The Temple also has an Emerald (Margatha) Linga  which is very famous.Another fact is that there two Kodi Marams (Flag posts) one of gold and another of silver in this temple. The Nava Grahams (Nine planets ) which are usually kept on the front side  of the temple  are kept in a straight line behind the main temple, The temple o is protected by  Lord Bhairava on the east  , Lord Veerabhadra   in the west  , Lord Vinayaka in the south   and Goddess  Kali in the west. The temple is managed extremely well  by Dharmapuri Adheenam , a Tamil Saivite Mutt located  in  Mayiladuthurai. It is also Known that  Dhanvanthari Sidha  attained his Sidhi here.

 Devotees believe that if they come to this temple and worship Lord Vidyanatha  , there  diseases would be cured   and that all problem caused  by planet Mars (chevvai/Mangal/Kuja)   are  cured by worshipping the planet  here. For curing diseases of the body, a special Abishekam oil (Punugu oil)   is given in the temple  which has to be applied  on the affected part. People also   buy salt and  Pepper , which they used to put it in the temple tank.Now they put it it in a vessel  kept near the ttank.The Holy soil  from the ant hill of the temple is made in to pills (called Chandhu Urundai)  is distributed to the devotees.  Devotees believe that  it has very great medicinal powers.

   The Brahmothsavam of the temple is celebrated in the months of Panukuni and Thai  (January-February)

Thirunavakkarasar  in Thevaram says about the deity

"வெள்ளெ ருக்கர வம்விர வுஞ்சடைப்

புள்ளி ருக்குவே ளூரரன் பொற்கழல்

உள்ளிருக்கு முணர்ச்சியில் லாதவர்

நள்ளி ருப்பர் நரகக் குழியிலே."^[14]

Which means

Those who  do not deal in their mind  the golden feet,

Of The  God  open matted  hair  decorated  by a snake ,

And the  White Erukkam flower  of Pullirikku Velur (The great city of bird/rig veda   and vel),

Would   live  in the  centre of  the pit   of hell.

     The temple is open between 6 am to 11 Am in the nm morning   and 4,PM   to 8.30 Pm at night . The temple office can be contacted by phone   -04364 279423. The office is situated near the eastern gate of the temple.Devotees   interested in doing Pooja, abhishekam etc are  requested to directly contact the office and pay the money there  instead of many  so called guides /shop owners of the temple  .They make all arrangements including the priest at    reasonable expense  . The temple town has a railway station and good hotels to stay  .There is Dharam Sala   maintained by the Kanchi Shankar Mutt  near to the temple  .The nearest town is Mayiladuthurai (16 km from temple) 

I . Vaidhyanathashtakam

Vaidyanatha Ashtakam
(The Octet to the king of physicians.)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
.

(Devotees who are desirous of getting cured of diseases are also requested to recited the Vaidyanatha Ashtakam, thrice a day.)

Sree rama soumithri jatayu veda,
Shadanadithya kujarchithya,
Sree neelakandaya daya mayaya,
Sree vaidyanathaya namasivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who is worshipped by Rama and Lakshmana,
Who is woshipped by Jatayu,
Who is worshipped by the Vedas,
Who is worshipped by Lord Subrahmanya,
Who is worshipped by the Sun God,
Who is worshipped by the Mars God,
Who is having a blue neck,
And who is the personification of mercy.

Ganga pravahendu jada dharaya,
Trilochanaya smara kala hanthre,
Samstha devairapi poojithaya,
Sree vaidyanathata namasivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who wears the flow of Ganges and the moon,
On his head,
Who has three eyes,
Who had killed the God of love and death,
And who is worshipped by all devas.

Bhaktha priyaya, tripuranthakaya,
Pinakine dushta haraya nithyam,
Prathyaksha leelaya manushya loke,
Sree vaidyanathaya namasivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who is the lover his devotees,
Who has destroyed the three cities,
Who holds the bow called Pinaka,
Who destroys bad people daily,
And who plays in the world of humans.

Prabhootha vadadhi samastha roga,
Pranasa karthre muni vandhthithaya,
Prabhakarennd wagni vilochanaya,
Sri vaidyanathaya nama sivaya.


I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who cures all great diseases,
Like rheumatism and arthritis,
Who is saluted by great sages,
And to whom, the sun god,
Moon and God of fire are eyes.

Vakchrothra nethrangiri viheena jantho,
Vakchrothra nethrangiri sukha pradaya,
Kushtadhi sarvonnatha roga hanthre,
Sri Vaidyanathaya nama sivaya.


I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who blesses those beings,
Who have lost their speech, hearing, sight and ability to walk,
With these abilities,
And who provides cure,
For devastating diseases like leprosy.

Vedantha vedhyaya jagan mayaya,
Yogiswara dhyeya Padambujaya,
Trimurthy roopaya sahasra namne,
Sri vaidyanathaya nama sivaya.


I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who can be known through vedantha,
Who is spread through out the universe,
Who has a lotus feet ,
That is meditated upon by great sages,
Who is of the form of the holy trinity,
And who has thousand names.

Swatheertha mrudbasma brudanga bajam,
Pisacha dukha arthi bhayapahaya,
Athma swaroopaya sareera bajaam,
Sri Vaidyanaathaya namasivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who removes all suferings,
Caused by bad spirits, sorrows and fears,
By dip in his holy tank,
By the holy ash in the temple,
And by the mud below the neem tree of the temple,
And who is the personification of soul,
Occupying human body.

Sree neelakandaya vrushaba dwajaya,
Sarakkanda basmadhya abhi shobithaya,
Suputhradarathi subagyathaya,
Sri vaidyanathaya nama sivaya.

I salute that God Shiva,
Who is the king among physicians,
Who has a blue neck,
Who has the the bull on his flag,
Who shines by flowers, sacred ash and sandal,
Who grants good children and good wife,
And who blesses us with all good luck.

Balambikesa vaidyesa bava roga haredisa,
Japen nama thrayam nithyam maha roga nivaranam.

Those who recite this prayer,
Thrice a day with devotion,
And pray the Lord Vaidyanatha,
Who is with his consort Balambika,
And who removes the fear of birth and death,
Would get cured of all great diseases.

II. Vaidyanatha Namaskaram
Translated By
P.R.Ramachander

Achikithsa chikithsaya cha,
Aadhyantha rahithaya cha,
Sarva lokaika vandhyaya,
Vaidyanathaya they nama. 1

I salute that Vaidyanatha*,
Who is the cure for the incurable,
Who does not have beginning or end,
And who is saluted by the entire world.
* Doctor Divine

Aprameyayaya mahathe,
Suprasanna mukhaya cha,
Abheeshta dhayine nithyam,
Vaidyanathaya they nama. 2

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is greatest and immeasurable,
Who has a very pleasing look,
And who daily fulfills our desires.

Mruthyunjayaya sarvaya,
Mrudani vama bhagine,
Veda vedyaya rudraya,
Vaidyanathaya they nama. 3

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is in everything and wins over death,
Who has Parvathi on his left side,
And who is the Rudra, worshipped by Vedas.

Sri Rama bhadra vandyaya ,
Jagatham hithakarine,
Somardha dharine thubhyam,
Vaidyanathaya they nama. 4

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is saluted by Sri Rama,
Who does good things to the world,
And who wears the crescent of moon.

Neelakandaya soumithri,
Poojithaya Mrudaya cha,
Chandra vahnyarka nethraya,
Vaidyanathaya they nama. 5

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who has a blue neck,
Who is worshipped by Parvathi and Lakshmana,
And whose eyes are the moon, sun and the fire.

Shikhi vahana vandhyaya,
Srushti sthiyanantha karine,
Mani manthraoushadesaya,
Vaidyanathaya they nama. 6

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is worshipped by Lord Subrahmanya,
Who is responsible for creation, upkeep and destruction,
And who himself is the lord of gem, chants and medicine.

Kruthra rajabhi vandhyaya,
Divya gangadharaya cha,
Jaganmayaya sarvaya,
Vaidyanathaya they nama. 7

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is worshipped by fearful kings,
Who carries the holy Ganga,
And who is spread in everything in the world.

Kuja Veda vidheendryayai,
Poojithaya chidathmane,
Aadhithya Chandra vandhyaya,
Vaidyanathaya they nama. 8

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Whose holy spirit is worshipped,
By Mars , Vedas and Brahma,
And who is saluted by Sun and the moon.

Veda Vedhya krupa dhara,
Jagan moorthe, shubha pradha,
Anadhi vaidhya sarvagna,
Vaidhyanatha namosthu they. 9

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is the drops of mercy worshipped by Vedas,
Who is the form of the world ,which does good,
And who is the primeval doctor who knows all.

Gangadhara mahadeva,
Chandra Vahnyarka lochana,
Pinakapane Viswesa,
Vaidhyanatha namosthu they. 10

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is the great God carrying Ganga,
Who has moon, Sun and Fire as eyes,
And who is the Lord of Universe holding the Bow Pinaka.

Vrushavahana Devesa,
Achikithsa chikithsaka,
Karunakara Gowreeesa,
Vaidhyanatha namosthu they. 11

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is the Lord of Devas riding on a bull,
Who is the doctor who cures the incurable ,
And who is the Lord of Gowri , who is merciful.

Vidhi Vishnu mukhaidevai,
Archyamana Padambhuja,
Aprameya haresana,
Vaidhyanatha namosthu they. 12

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Whose lotus like feet is worshipped,
By Brahma , Vishnu and other Devas,
And who is the immeasurable Lord Shiva.

Rama , Lakshmana, Suryendu,
Jatayu sruthi poojitha,
Madanandhaka Sarvesa,
Vaidhyanatha namosthu they. 13

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is being worshipped by,
Rama, Lakshmana, Sun, Moon and Jatayu,
Who is the God of everything ,
And who killed god of love.

Prapancha bhishageesana,
Neelakanda maheswara,
Viswanatha Mahadeva,
Vaidhyanatha namosthu they. 14

I salute that Vaidyanatha
Who is the doctor of the entire world,
Who is the great God with blue neck,
Who is the greatest God ,
And who is lord of universe.

Umapathe lokanatha,
Mani manthraoushadeswara,
Deenabandho, daya sindho,
Vaidhyanatha namosthu they. 15

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is the Lord of Uma and the world,
Who is the God of gems, chants and medicine,
Who is the friend of the oppressed,
And who is the sea of mercy.

Trigunatheetha chidroopa,
Thaapa thraya vimochana,
Viroopaksha , jagannatha,
Vaidhyanatha namosthu they. 16

I salute that Vaidyanatha,
Who is the holy form beyond the three gunas,
Who helps us win over three types of suffering,
Who is god of universe with misshapen eye.

Bhootha pretha pisachathe ,
Uchadana vichakshana,
Kushtathi sarva rogaanaam,
Samharthre , they namo nama. 17

Salutations and salutations,
To He who drives away ,
All diseases like leprosy,
And by chanting whose name,
Ghosts, devils and goblins,
Are made to run away.

Jadyantha kubjather,
Divya roopa pradhaine,
Aneka mukha jandhoonam,
Divya vak dayine nama. 18

Salutations to Him ,who gives good words,
To beasts of several type of faces,
And who gives divine form,
To those who are born to the lowliest and bad.