Vaitheeswaran Koil, known as Tirupullirukkuvelur during the ancient era when the revered Thevaram hymns were sung, is considered one of the most significant and popular 'Paadal Petra Shivasthalam', regarded as a 'prarthanai sthalam' in the north of River Kaveri. According to the temple's ancient Puranic legends, the name 'Pullirukkuvelur' is said to be derived from the worship and veneration of the presiding deity by the bird known as Jadaayu, the Rig Veda, Muruga, and the Sun God Surya himself. Lord Shiva is revered in the form of Vaidhya Nathar, the divine Healer and Physician, who is believed to possess the power to cure the physical ailments and infirmities of all those who come to pray at this sacred sanctum with devotion and faith. Devotees fervently believe that by offering prayers and seeking the blessings of not just Lord Vaidyanathar, but also the Goddess Thayalnayaki who is enshrined alongside him, they can find relief and remedies for all kinds of illnesses, disorders and afflictions that may be troubling them, whether physical, mental or spiritual in nature.
Surrounded on all sides by imposing, towering walls, this magnificent Shiva temple features two grand, ornate gopurams, or monumental gateways on the eastern and western ends. As one enters through the eastern gateway, the first sight to greet the visitor is a majestic neem tree, which serves as the revered 'sthala vruksham' or sacred tree of this temple. Beneath the sprawling branches of this ancient neem, one finds the sannidhi of Adi Vaidhyanathar, the primordial healer, facing towards the west. Directly opposite this sannidhi stands the powerful Veera Bhadrar. Proceeding further through the inner gateway, one is drawn towards the sannidhi of Dhandapani, followed by the tranquil 'Sidhamirtham' pond. The western gateway directly leads to the main sannidi, where the presiding deity Vaidhya Nathar, is enshrined facing westward. Two towering 'Dwajasthambam' or temple flagpoles stand guard before this primary sannidhi. It is truly a profound blessing to behold the small, auspicious Shiva linga form of Vaidhya Nathar, which embodies both the physical and spiritual dimensions of healing and wellness. Oriented towards the south is the sannidhi of the temple's female consort deity, Thaiyal Nayaki, while nearby stands the east-facing sannidhi of Lord Muruga, known here as Muthukumaraswamy. It was at this very spot Muruga is said to have received the divine spear from his mother, Goddess Parvathy, to vanquish the demon Soorapathman. The revered poet-saints Kumara Guruparar and Arunagirinathar have both composed verses extolling the glories of this Muruga. During the auspicious 'Krithikai' festival, special poojas are performed for Muthukumaraswamy, and the 'Artha Jaama pooja' is first offered to him before the main deity of Vaidhya Nathar.
Nestled within the Southern Prakaram lies a place known as 'Jadaayu Kundam', steeped in rich mythological significance. According to the ancient Puranas, this is the very spot where the valiant Jadaayu met his demise while courageously battling the fearsome Ravana. It is said that after this tragic event, Rama and his brother Lakshmana would come to perform daily rituals and honor the memory of the fallen warrior. To this day, the Jadaayu Kundam remains blanketed in a perpetual layer of ashes, which the devout believe possess profound healing properties. Venturing northward, one encounters the revered Bhadra Kaali Amman sannidhi and within the Northern Prakaram also reside the sanctums of Annapoorni, Veerabadhrar, Dakshinamurthy, Gajalakshmi, AshtaLakshmi, Natajarar, and the mighty Goddess Durga herself. Manikkavasakar, Kaaraikal Ammayar, and Sivakami are nestled within the Nataraja Sabha. The four Vedas and the sacred lingas bearing the names of Kailasa Nathar, Meenakshi Sundareshwarar, and Viswanathar further imbue this temple with an aura of profound spiritual potency.
Vaitheeswaran Koil is a highly revered temple that holds immense significance within the spiritual and astrological traditions of the region. The temple is celebrated as one of the 'Navagraha Sthalams,' meaning it is considered a sacred site associated with the nine major planetary deities in Hindu astrology. Numerous deities and sages are said to have venerated the deity, including Jadaayu, Sages Parasara and Durvasa as well as Muruga, the sun deity Surya, Brahma, Rama, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Durga. The temple's primary significance, however, is its association with the planet Mars, known as 'Angaraka' in Sanskrit. Legend has it that Angaraka himself prayed to the presiding deity to be cured of an ailment, and as such, the temple is revered as a 'parihara stalam,' or a site of atonement, for those seeking to mitigate the malefic influences of Mars. Devotees flock to Vaitheeswaran Koil in droves, seeking the divine blessings to overcome the negative astrological effects of Sevvai Dosham, or the afflictions caused by an inauspicious positioning of the planet Mars. Interestingly, the temple does not house sannidhis for the Navagrahas, or nine planetary deities. Instead, these celestial entities are depicted standing in a line without their characteristic mounts or weapons, symbolizing their subservience to the primary deity. It is believed that Vaitheeswaran Koil is the place to go to effectively mitigate the malevolent influences of the 9 planets.