Madavar Vilagam Sri Vaidyanathar Temple, Virudhunagar

Address

Madavar Vilagam Sri Vaidyanathar Temple, MadavarVilagam, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District Phone: +91 – 4563 – 261 262

Diety

Sri Vaidyanathar Amman: Sivagami

Introduction

Vaidyanathar temple is dedicated to the god Shiva located in Tamilnadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Vaidyanathar or the “God of healing” and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. It is located in Madavar Vilagam, one kilometer from Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district. The holy water of the Siddhamirtham tank in the temple complex contains nectar and a holy dip is believed to cure all diseases. The temple was built by Thirumalai Nayak during the 16th century. Madavar Valagam is one of the holy places where lord Siva performed his miracles (Truvilayadalgal). On the first day of the Panguni Tamil month (March-April) the rays of sun fall on the presiding deity, Vaidyanathaswami. Special Poojas are performed to sun on this day. This is the biggest Shaivite shrine in Virudhunagar district.

Puranic Significance

Thirumalai Nayakar cured of his Stomach Pain: As per local legend, the Nayak king Thirumalai Nayak suffered from stomach pain and he arrived at Madavar Vilagam in an ivory palanquin and stayed there for 48 days. He was completely cured and as a mark of his gratitude, he constructed the Natarajar hall as in Madurai Meenakshi temple. He also built drum halls from the temple to Madurai as he would take his midday meal only after hearing the drum sounds indicating the mid-day pooja is completed in this temple. The stone halls could be seen even today on the Srivilliputhur Madurai highways. Lord taught lesson to Tax Evaders: Some traders procured pepper in Kerala and smuggled it to Madurai telling the authorities that the merchandise was just Dal. They intended to evade the tax payable on pepper. Reaching home, when they opened the bags, they were shocked to find only dal and not pepper. They went to lord Chockanaathar in Madurai and apologized for their act. They were advised to pray to Vaidhyanathar. It is said that the message of the story was to teach a lesson to tax evaders. Lord Shiva helped a pregnant Lady: A staunch devotee of lord Siva was living here with his devout wife. She was on the family way and it was time to deliver the child. She sent word to her mother for help. But she did not turn up; hence the lady started herself to the mother’s house. She developed labor pain on the way itself and loudly called the lord for help. The lord immediately appeared before her in the form of her mother herself and helped the delivery of the child. The woman was very thirsty, the lord just made a line on the earth with his nail and the water sprang up. The lord said that the water would be the medicine for her pain and delivery wound. The lord in the form of her mother disappeared then. The real mother also arrived just then. The girl said that she had delivered the child safely because of her timely help. The mother was very much confused. The lord with his consort Sivakami appeared before the mother and daughter and told them that he alone nursed her in time of need. The lord also said that as the spring healed her wounds and quenched her thirst, the stream would be known as Kayakudi Aaru. Those having a dip in the river would be free of all fears of life and attain all comforts in life.

Beliefs

It is an agreed fact that it is rebirth to a woman delivering a child. There is no second opinion about this fact. All pray to the almighty for a safe and normal delivery when the moment comes to the woman. Worshipping Vaidhyanathar swamy relieves one of the incurable stomach aches. Devotees perform abishek, archanas and offer vastras to Lord and Mother.

Special Features

The temple has a five-tiered gopuram (temple tower) and large precincts. The central shrine houses Vaidyanathar in lingam form. The first precinct around the sanctum has the metal images of Somaskanda and stone sculptures of Nataraja, Durga, Dakshinamurthy, Surya (Sun god). The shrine of Sivakami is located in a parallel shrine to the right of the sanctum. There are two gates to the temple, each leading to the Shiva and Sivakami shrines. The SthalaVriksha (temple tree) is Margosa (Azadirachta indica) which possesses medicinal properties. The temple has two water tanks, one located opposite to the temple and one right to the main gate. The temple has a Kalayana Mahal (marriage hall) in front of the Sivakami shrine and the sculpture of Nayak king can be found there. There are paintings from the Nayak period in ceiling of the hall leading to the sanctum.