8.An Angarakasthalam ,VAIDESWARAN KOVIL

Address	VAIDESWARAN KOVIL, THIRUVARUR (D.T)
City	THIRUVARUR
State	Tamilnadu
Location	South India
Year of Construction	the period of Vikrama Chola (12th century CE), the Nayakas (16th century CE) and the Mahrathas (18th century)
Type of Construction	Ancient Adorned with imposing towers, Mandapams and pillars, Adorned with imposing towers, Mandapams and pillars.
Type of Building	ThisTemple built in the Dravidian style
Managed By	The Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department
Histroy (the sthalapuranam )	Tirupulliruku Velur, Jatayu(Pul), Rigveda(Irukku), Muruga(Vel), Surya(Voor) -- popularly known as Vaitheeswaran Koil. This shrine is known under several names like lalayapuri, Vedapuri, Panarapuri, Pathiripuri, Angarakapuram and Ambikapuram Planet : Mars Vehicle : RAM Gem : Coral Flower : Red Arali Mars, Kartikeya, Jatayu and the Rig Veda worshipped Shiva here. Sri Vaidyanathaswamy, is hailed as the healer of all ills. Lord came here as a Vaidya and cured Angaraha of leprosy. Among the Navagrahas, Angaraha is worshipped here with great reverence. Hence this shrine is also known as Angaraha Kshetra. Jatayu, Rig Veda, Muruga and Surya worshipped the Lord here. Muruga enshrined here is known as Selvamuttukumaraswami. At the dying request of Jatayu, Sri Rama brought his remains here and cremated them.All the Navagrahas are also here and among them Angaraka is worshipped with great reverence and thus this shrine is also known as Angaraka Kshetra. Mars is a malefic. He rules over the two sidereal signs of Aries and Scorpio. He is exalted in Capricorn and fallen in the opposite sign of Cancer. Mars is often depicted as a god with a red body exemplifying the natural color of the astronomical body in the sky.
Dedicated To
Saint	the Saivite Saint had rendered songs of lord Siva. Also Nayanmars, Arunagiri Nadar, kumaraguruparar, Ramalinga Adigalaar, kalamega pulavar have visited this temple and sung in praise of the deity.
Main diety	Vaitheeswaran, Thaiyal Nayaki
Other Deities	Vinayakar , subramaniaya swamy , (Muthukumaraswamy ) ,Sandikeswarar.Separate sanctorum for Angaraka is a speciality out here as you cannot find it elsewhere.
Religion	Hinduism
Famous For	Parigharasthalam: prayer to this Angaraka frees one from debts, poverty and illness afflicting the skin. This graha bestows property and conveyance (Locomotion). A prayer to Angaraka can restore loss of eyesight. Their prayers for regaining their health with the grace of the deity. Tuesdays are intended for the worship of Angaraka. one observes the fast on Tuesday for 21 times, the unlucky influence of Tuesday (Mangal) can be got rid off. Angaaraka: The Angaaraka shrine here is also of great significance and is indeed unique to this temple. A bronze of image of Angaaraka is housed in this shrine and is taken out in procession on a goat mount every Tuesday. Angaaraka represents the planet Mars and is described as one with a fiery red complexion attired in red and as the overlord of the zodiac signs of Aries and Scorpia and as being the strongest in the zodiac sign of Capricorn. The Dharumapuram Adhinam has made several endowments to this temple.
Temple (Holy) Tree &threetham	Temple (Holy) Tree (Sthalavirutsha):- the Vembadimal VARIOUS NAMES. It was known as Kadamba in the Kritayugam; Bilva, during the Tretayugam, Vakula in the Dwaparayugam and Neem in the Kaliyugam. Sacred Tank (Theertham):- Theertham
Festival	Six worship sercvices are offered each day. Kartikai is celebrated in great splendour here.T The final worship service (arthayama puja) is offered to Skanda before being offered to Shiva. The annual Bhrahmotsavams are celebrated in the months of Pankuni and Thai. Skanda Sashti is celebrated with grandeur here.
Best Time	All seasons
Opening Schedule	5.30AM to 1.30PM and 3.30PM to 8.30PM.
Visit Timings	5.30a. m to 1. p.m., 4.p.m. to 8.p.m.
Pooja Schedule	7 a. m to 1. p.m., 4.p.m. to 8.p.m. Special Abhisekas are between
special pooja	Dhosa parigharam: FIVE ARCHANA -Rs 51 Laksharchana - Rs.125 ABISHEGAM& DHOOSA NIVARTHI PARIGARAM - Rs. 1500
the custom of worshipping.	Shiva is considered to be the Divine Healer Vaidyanathar. His consort Thaiyalnaayaki is said to accompany him with a vessel containing medicinal oil. There is also a shrine dedicated to Dhanwantari here. The prasadam offered at this temple goes by the name Tiruchaandu Urundai and it is considered to be a panacea capable of curing many ailments. It is made of ashes taken out of the homa kundam in front of the Subramanya shrine. Rituals are performed where a mixture of earth and ashes from the homakundam are shaped into pills and placed at the Thaiyalnayaki shrine and distributed. Another prasadam offered here is sandal paste mixed with saffron again at the Murugan shrine here. It is referred to as Nettirapidi Chandanam. Offereings of salt and pepper are made in this shrine. Offerings of unrefined sugar are placed in the temple tank Siddhamrita Theertham.
Entry Formalities	Free
Accomodation	Many hotels and restaurant are there in Thanjavur and kumbakonam
Accesibility	Thanjavur is accessible by road and train from most cities of Tamil Nadu, which includes of course Madras. Trichy has an airport with flights from Madras and is also an important railhead. The city of Kumbakonam is 40 kilometers from Thanjavur . Bus facilities are available from Thanjavur and kumbakonam (4 Kms. from Mayiladuthurai on the Chidambaram Road). It is nearly 281 km south of Madras and can be reached by trains going via Main line and also through road. Best way to reach Mayiladuthurai from Chennai is through ECR (East Coast Road) via PONDICHERRY. Mayiladuthurai is one of the major junctions in Southern railway with lines branching off to Madras, Trichy, Tiruvarur and Tharangampadi. The town was in the composite Thanjavur district but now it is part of Nagappattinam district. .