Vaidyanathar, Thoravalur, Cuddalore

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Vaidyanathar	Ambal / Thayar:	–
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	– to – & – to –	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Thoravalur	District:	Cuddalore
Maps from (click):	Current location	Ariyalur (58 km)	Perambalur (65 km)
	Viluppuram (67 km)	Cuddalore (74 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

There is no known sthala puranam for this temple.

This temple is reckoned to have been built in the time of Kondama Nayaka, a chieftain of the Thanjavur Nayak dynasty, who ruled from 1578 to 1594. This places the age of this temple at 400-500 years. Kondama Nayak belonged to the Senji Nayak clan of the Thanjavur Nayak dynasty, and ruled this area with their seat in Senji / Gingee (between modern day Tindivanam and Tiruvannamalai). Based on inscriptions available here, the temple land and nearby lands (which have since been usurped) were given to the temple by the rulers, to conduct regular pujas and festivals.

The temple entrance is located on a street, with one side of it being a public health centre and government school. There is no gopuram of any sort here.

Immediately upon entering the gates one can see a tin-roof covered “maha mandapam” for Lord Siva, followed by a similar structure for Amman. Both shrines are east-facing, and have Nandis in front.

Around Lord Siva’s shrine are the usual kostha murtis for Vinayakar, Dakshinamurti, Lingodhbhavar and Brahma, and. The only deviation from norm is that the Vinayakar in the koshtam faces east instead of south. In the prakaram is Chandikeswarar, and there is also a separate shrine for Vishnu. Similarly, the Amman shrine also has Ichcha Sakti, Kriya Sakti and Gnana Sakti in the koshtams, as also Durgai Amman. There are also shrines for smaller pariavara deities, such as Bhairavar, Suryan, Nagars, etc, around the temple premises. There is a separate navagraham shrine in the northeast corner.

Being a temple for Lord Siva as Vaidyanathar, naturally the locals and those living in the vicinity worship here to be cured from illnesses.

Other information for your visit

The temple does not appear to have regular puja timings. However, the temple gates are usually kept open, or residents in the neighbourhood can help get it opened quickly.