Vaidyanathaswamy Cheranmahadevi

Saivite Temples, Tirunelveli District

God

Vaidyanathaswamy, Cheranmahadevi

Goddess

Oppila Nayaki facing south

Other Deities

Inner Prakaram – Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, 63 Nayanmar, Juradevar, Mahaganapathi, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Ekanthalingam, Subramanya with consorts, Chamundeswari, Saneeswarar, Natarajar, Sivakami, Kanni Ganapathi. Outer Prakaram – Naagar, Shanmuga with consorts, Vishnudurgai, Navagraha, Jadamandalam Kalabhairavar, Chandran, Suryan, Adhikara Nandi, Pancha Kannigal, Saastha

Vaidyanathaswamy Cheranmahadevi is an east-facing temple with 2 Prakarams. Entrance is through a large gateway in the east which is followed by a 3 tiered Gopuram. The Jadamandala Kalabhairava is a special feature here. The Sanctum Sanctorum is entered through a Mahamantapa and Ardha Mantapa.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Tamiraparani River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Nagavalli (Cannonball Tree – Couroupita guianensis)

History

Vaidyanathaswamy Cheranmahadevi is an ancient temple going back to the Chola era. There are a lot of stone inscriptions on the walls of the inner Prakaram. The sanctum sanctorum and the Ardha Mantapa go back to the Raja Raja Chola period. The Mahamantapam and other additions were constructed by Jatavarma Kulasekara Pandyan in 1322 CE. Later additions were made by Viswanatha Naicker and Krishnappa Naicker. In the ancient days, this village was called Nadambuja Kshetram. The Cholas changed it to Cholachaturvedi Mangalam. Parantaka Chola II (regnal years 957–970 CE) married one of the princesses of the Chera Dynasty by name Vanavan Mahadevi. The name of the town was then changed to Cheran Mahadevi. She is the mother of the famous Rajaraja Chola.

Legend

Vaidyanathaswamy Cheranmahadevi is where Sage Agastya is believed to have worshiped the Lord in acknowledgment of his medical (Vaidhyam in Tamil) learnings from Lord Shiva’s son Muruga and hence the name of the Lord here is so.

Directions

Vaidyanathaswamy Cheranmahadevi is adjacent to the Cheranmahadevi Bus Stand in the town. Cheranmahadevi is about 25 kilometers west of Tirunelveli.

Stay and Food

None locally except tea shops. Closest is Tirunelveli or Ambasamudram depending on your travel plan.

Saivite Temples