Vaidyanadar Ukkal

Vaidyanadar, Ukkal

Saivite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Vaidyanathaswamy, facing east

Goddess

Maragathambikai, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayakars, Kala Bhairava, Perumal, Dharmasastha, Vishnu Durga, Muruga with consorts, Mahaganapathi, Alakshmi. Sanctum Niches – Bala Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Vaidyanadar Ukkal is a small east facing temple with the entry gateway at the south. A large courtyard with Flagstaff, Balipeedam and Nandi is in front of the Mahamantapam. The single Prakaram is entered through a door just left of the sanctum sanctorum and houses all the shrines and the sanctum sanctorum itself. The Goddess shrine is in the front of the Mantapam facing south. An ancient idol of Alakshmi is kept here in the Prakaram inside facing north. Another idol of an old and very beautiful uninstalled Nandi is kept in the courtyard ground. A temple tank is southwest of the temple a short distance away.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Pond

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Vaidyanadar Ukkal was built by Raja Simha Narasimha Varma Pallava II (695 – 722 CE). The Cholas have also contributed much to the temple as per inscriptions found here. The details of the inscriptions are not available to us as of now.

Legend

It is believed that Raja Simha Narasimha Varma Pallava II was cured of his stomach ailment after eating the Vilwa leaves provided by a Sidhdhar who was performing Pooja to the Shiva Lingam here. In gratitude he built the temple for the Lord here at Vaidyanadar Ukkal and named him so (Vaidyanadar means Doctor).

Directions

Vaidyanadar Ukkal is 2 kilometers east of Koolamandal Village which in turn is is about 21 kilometers north of Vandavasi and 17 kilometers south of Kancheepuram in the road connecting the two towns. You have to drive on after crossing the Gangaikonda Choleeswarar Temple at Koolamandal.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Kancheepuram or Vandavasi depending on your travel plan.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples