Vaitheeswaran Koil
Pullirukkuvelur
Śiva the healer — and the Navagraha sthala of Mars
⭐ Why it is famous
Śiva as divine physician: pilgrims dissolve jaggery and pepper in the Siddhāmṛta tank and take it as medicine, and offer salt and pepper for cures. The town is also famous for Nāḍi jyotiṣa palm-leaf readings.
📜 Pilgrimage history
Sung by all three Tevaram saints. Aṅgāraka (Mars, Sevvāi) is said to have been cured of leprosy here, making it the Mars sthala. Jaṭāyu of the Rāmāyaṇa is believed cremated at the nearby Jaṭāyu kuṇḍam.
🕰️ Temple timings
- Darśan 06:00 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 20:30
- Tuesdays are the Aṅgāraka day
🙏 Darśan details
- Free darśan; special abhiṣeka tickets at the counter
- Buy the traditional 'Tiruchandu urundai' medicinal prasāda
- Offer red cloth and toor dal to Aṅgāraka
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Vaitheeswaran Koil, Vaitheeswaran Koil, MayiladuthuraiVaitheeswarankoil (VDL) — 1 km
Vaitheeswaran Koil bus stand — state transport buses stop here.
Tiruchirappalli International (TRZ) — 130 km
On the Mayiladuthurai–Chidambaram road, 26 km from Kumbakonam; frequent buses.
🪔 Poojas, sevās & tickets
This temple does not publish a rate list. Darśan is free; ārcanā, abhiṣeka and other sevās are booked at the counter inside the temple on the day.
🧭 Around the temple
Places to see besides the temple — tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Lodges in Vaitheeswaran Koil town, ₹700–₹2,500
- Hotels at Mayiladuthurai and Chidambaram
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,800 | ₹3,500 | ₹8,000 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Poompuhar seashore museum
- Sirkazhi Sattainathar temple
🧵 Part of these circuits
📅 Best time to visit
October–February