Vaitheeswaran Kovil Shrine to Mars

Vaitheeswaran Koil, located near Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu, is one of the most revered Navagraha temples in South India, dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vaitheeswaran, the “God of Healing.” The temple is also associated with the planet Mars (Chevvai) and is a significant stop on the Navagraha pilgrimage circuit. Vaitheeswaran means "Divine Healer" in Tamil. According to legend, Lord Shiva assumed this healing form to cure the ailments of devotees and even the gods. Pilgrims come here seeking relief from diseases, especially skin and blood-related issues, and to overcome the malefic effects of Mars in their astrological charts. The temple’s sacred tank, Siddhamirtham, is believed to contain holy nectar with curative powers. Devotees traditionally take a dip in the tank before offering prayers. The sanctum houses Lord Shiva as Vaidyanathar and Goddess Parvati as Thaiyal Nayaki, who is depicted holding medicinal oil.

Thiruvenkadu Swethaaranyeshwarar Thirukkoil

Thiruvenkadu Temple, also known as Swetharanyeswarar Temple, is a sacred Shaivite shrine located near Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Navagraha temples in South India and is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Swetharanyeswarar, the “Lord of the White Forest.” This temple is especially significant for worshipping the planet Mercury (Budhan). Thiruvenkadu is considered as holy as Kasi (Varanasi) and is mentioned in various Tamil scriptures. The presiding deity, Swetharanyeswarar, is believed to bless devotees with wisdom, intelligence, education, eloquence, and relief from Mercury-related doshas. The Goddess here is Brahma Vidya Nayaki, who represents divine knowledge. The temple also houses a rare and powerful depiction of Lord Shiva performing the cosmic dance (Nataraja) in his form as Agora Murti, who destroyed a demon named Maruthuvasuran here.