Vaitheeswaran Navakurichi

Vaitheeswaran, Navakurichi

Saivite Temples - Salem District

God

Vaitheeswaran, facing west

Goddess

Thayyalnayaki, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Bhairava, Navagraha. Sanctum Niches – Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara, Dakshinamurthy

Vaitheeswaran Navakurichi is a small west-facing temple. The entrance is through a small gate on the south side that is common with the Perumal Temple opposite on the east side. The temple is in bad shape and largely dilapidated. The single Prakaram is filled with weeds. Nandi is in a Mandapam and some idols are kept in the open. The goddess is in a separate south-facing shrine in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Vaitheeswaran Navakurichi could date back to the 12th century CE based on some Panchaloha idols recovered from an underground chamber of the Perumal Temple some years back. It could have been built by kings of the Bana dynasty who ruled under the Cholas at that time. Contributions to the development of the temple could also have been made by Pandyas and Vijayanagar Kings. The discovered idols were taken by the Government HR&CE department and safeguarded. We also understood that some researchers discovered an inscription here, but could not find it when they went back.

Legend

No information

Directions

Vaitheeswaran Navakurichi is about 75 kilometers east of Salem off the road going to Kallakurichi. Take a left towards the north at Thalaivasal to reach Vaitheeswaran Navakurichi temple.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is the Kallakurichi to Salem highway and Salem.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples