Vaitheeswaran Temple - Poonamallee, Chennai

 

 

This temple is very similar to the Vaidheeswaran Koil temple near Kumbakonam, which is one of the Navagraha Sthalam for Angaaragan (Mars in English or Chevvaai in Thamizh).
This temple is one among the Navagraha temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam) for Angaaragan. It is said that Sri Angaaragan worshipped Lord Shiva at this place.
Sri Angaaragan’s Paadham (foot mark) is found in the temple just outside the sanctum under the Panai (Palm) tree sculpted on stone. This temple is a Parihaara Sthalam for Chevvaai Dhosham. Special Poojas are done here on Tuesdays for Sri Angaaragan.
The temple is so huge with very vast praakaarams. The main deity is facing east in the form of Shiva Lingam. Goddess Sri Thaiyyal Naayagi is facing south.
In the inner praakaaram Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Sri Brahma, Sri Subramanyar, Sri Sandigeswarar and Sri Durgai are seen. There are 3 Chakras installed by Sri Aadhi Sankarar in the Praakaaram called Sri Chakram, Subramanya Chakram and Shanmuga Chakram.
On the northern praakaaram there is a Baana Lingam installed facing the entrance.
Though there is an entrance at the eastern side, the temple has its main entrance and Rajagopuram facing north.
There are some beautiful carvings on either sides of the entrance.
The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is Thaazhi Panai Maram (Palm tree). The temple pond (called Vinai Theertha Kulam) is located on the eastern side of the temple, which needs attention.
Surya Pooja happens in this temple in the Thamizh month ‘Maasi’. On the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th of Maasi, Sun’s rays directly fall on the main deity around 6 am in the mornings. This amazing act happens only on these 5 days of the year and never repeats again.
This temple is also called 'Uthara Vaitheeswaran Koil'. A wonderful temple with amazing architecture.

The temple is lavish, big and well maintained. Here the temple has a separate Sevvai Padam (legs) and a statue of the Sthala Vruksha Thaazhi Panai Maram (Thazhi Palm) and also 3 Chakrams which were established here by the Adi Shankara (Sri Chakram, Subramania Chakram, Shanmuga Chakram) near the Subramania Swami Sannidhi.
The munmandapam near the Shiva Shrine has beautiful carvings on the roof. The South entrance has some interesting sculptures on either side.

The main deity is touted to be having curative effect on the ailments and diseases, as going by the name “Vaitheeswaran” which in Tamil is equivalent to “A Physician”. People come here to pray in front of the main deity for their ailments, as the positive vibrations inside the temple gives curing/ healing effects on almost all diseases.