Vaidhyanatha swamy temple is located 13 Kms from Mayiladudurai towards Sirkazhi, 6 Kms
from Sirkazhi and this temple is known to be the sthalam for the presiding deity Angarakan
(Chevvai in Tamil for Planet Mars), one of the nava grahas. Lord shiva named, Vaidhyanata
swamy, is the main deity in the temple. It is said that lord shiva have arrived as a Vaidyan
(physician or doctor), heeding to the prayers of Angarakan (Mars) who was suffering from
leprosy and the Vaidhyanata swamy consort is Thaiyalnayaki.
In this temple, Lord Shiva as Vaidhyanatha swamy is a swayambu in the temple and the five
Gopurams of the temple are on a straight line. Unlike other shiva temples, Navagrahas are
behind the sanctum on a straight line, placed side by side, which is an unique feature of this
temple. There are two flagposts in this temple, one coated with silver and the other with gold.
Avudaiamman sannathi is in the north and towards east is the important shrine of Lord Muruga
( Selva Muthukumaran ). The shrine of Vaidhyanatha Swamy situated facing the West and
shrine for ambal Thayalnayagi faceing the South. The shrines of Selva Muthukumar,
Gajalakshmi, Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy, Sattanathar, the Jadayu kundam and the utsava
murthy of Angarakan are also seen.
This Shiva Temple is praised in Thevaram and Tirupugazh hymns. The saints such as Tirugnana
Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar, Arunagirinathar, Kumara Guruparar, Chidambara Munivar,
Ramalinga Adigal, and Kalamega Pulavar praised the shiva of this temple. In astrology, Sevvai
dosha generally affects their health, marital happiness, property loss,injuries and other
malicious effects. People pray here for removal of Sevvai dosha and it is beleived that fasting on
Tuesdays, and performing abhishekams during rahu kalam, offering red vastras, offering red
flowers, coral will please Angarahan for the alleviation of chevvai doshams.