Vidur’s Travel Diary – 4 : Vaitheeswarankoil

VAITHEESWARANKOIL    –   NAGAPATTINAM   –   TAMILNADU          NOVEMBER 29 , 2011            00.45 A.M.

I know that most of my readers and friends have not heard about Vaitheeswarankoil . I was also unaware of its existence . It is a small town in Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu . It is 285 km. from Chennai and 125 km. from Puducherry . Numerous buses and taxis plying on an exceptionally well – maintained Chennai Puducherry highway can drop you there .

Main Road of Vaitheeswarankoil

It is famous for Nadi Shastras . It is said and believed that sage Agastya is the originator of this shastra . According to Hindu mythology , Agastya is the first sage , who crossed mighty Vindhyas and came to South India . He made his Ashram in Puducherry , previously known as Pondicherry . In olden and pre – historic days , Pondicherry was known as Vedapuri . Sage Agastya is credited for many things in South Indian folklore ; like Tamil language , grammar and this Nadi Shastra .

Today while I am writing this blog , I remember a shloka about Sage Agastya , which I used to recite during my childhood days :

अतापी भक्षितो येन ; वतापी च निपातितः
समुद्रः शोषितो येन ; मे अगस्त्य प्रसीदतु

Today many followers of Sage Agastya are settled in Vaitheeswarankoil , a small town near Puducherry and follow his principles of Astrology , which is called Nadi Shastra . These sooth – sayers check your ancestry and tell about your past , present and future .

According to their predictions and recommendaions , I came for Nava Graha Darshanam and some Archanam . Of all the 9 Nava Graha temples , 7 are situated in Nagapattinam district , 1 is in Thanjavur district and 1 is in Karaikal part of Puducherry .

I started with Budha [ Mercury ] temple . It is in the Thiruvenkadu village of Nagapattinam district .

Budha Temple

After Budha [ Mercury ] we visited Ketu temple situated in a village called Keezha Perumpallam of Nagapattinam district .

Ketu Temple

After Ketu , it was the turn of Shani [ Saturn ] temple . This temple is not in Tamilnadu , but it is in the Thirunallar village of the Karaikal part of Puducherry . And is famous not only in South India but whole of the world .

Shani Temple

After Shani [ Saturn ] it was now turn of Rahu temple . It is situated in the Thirunageswaram village of Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu .

Rahu Temple

Guru [ Jupiter ] temple was the next destination . It is situated in the Alangudi village of Nagapattinam district . By the time we reached the temple , it was night . And after this temple , we ended our first day’s  Darshanam .

Guru Temple

Next day that is on November 27 , 2011 we started our pilgrimage again . We first went for Chandra [ Moon ] temple , which is situated in the Thingalur village of Thanjavur district .

Chandra Temple

After Chandra { Moon ] temple , we went for Surya [ Sun ] temple , which is situated in Suriyanarkoil village of Nagapattinam district .

Surya Temple

Second day’s last visit was for Shukra [ Venus ] temple . It is situated in the Kanchanur village of Nagapattinam district . Since it was too dark , I could not click a clear picture . Our second day’s pilgrimage ended here .

On November 28 , 2011 we went for the last Nava Graha darshanam . Mangal [ Mars ] temple is situated in Vaitheeswarankoil town , where we are staying . We did Mangal darshanam and Sahasrashankhabhishekam .

Mangal Temple

In between we visited numerous temples ; some very new like this Vitthal – Rukmini temple ;

Vitthal - Rukmini Temple

While some are more than one century old like this Shiva temple where people remarry their spouses , when they are 60 , 80 or 100 years old . It is situated in Thirukkadaiyur village of Nagapattinam district .

Shiva Temple

With darshanam and abhishekam on November 28 , 2011 , I concluded my pilgrimage to Vaitheeswarakoil . It is very remote place . though my astrologer has advised me to come back again in 2018 , but with advancing age  and less strength , I don’t know it would be possible or not . Though , sitting in my room of Subam Lodge , I am promising myself that I will visit this place again . And again Agyeya’s lines haunt me . This time in the real sense .

पार्श्व गिरि का नम्र चीड़ों में , डगर चढ़ती उमंगों सी ;

बिछी पैरों में नदी ज्यों दर्द की रेखा , विहग शिशु मौन नीड़ों में ; 

मैंने आँख भर देखा , दिया मन को दिलासा ; 

पुनः आऊँगा , भले ही बरस दिन , अनगिन युगों के बाद ;

क्षितिज ने पलक सी खोली , दमक कर दामिनी बोली ;

” अरे यायावर ! रहेगा याद ? “

………………………………………………..अज्ञेय

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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