Kalpaathy Sri Viswanaatha Swaamy Temple

"Kaasiyil Paadi Kalpaathy!"
The above statement in Tamil/Malayalam compares this Kshetra with Kaashi.
Located near Palakkad town in Kerala, the famous Visaalaakshi Sametha Viswanaatha Swaamy temple has Lord Shiva as Viswanaatha and His consort Parvathi as Visaalakshi (the one with big eyes).
Also known as "Kundukovil" due to its lower elevation than the surroundings, the temple is located at the banks of the Neela Nadhi/Kalpathy river. This area is home to the "Palakkad
Brahmanas" who speak Tamil with a Malayalam accent.
Like the Viswanaatha temple in Kaashi, Kaala Bhairava is present here too. The temple also houses Lord Subrahmanya along with Valli and Devayaanai. The Shiva Lingam worshipped here was brought from Kaashi by a lady, who got the temple built by the king who ruled this place, about seven centuries ago.
This temple is well known for the annual ceremony called the Kalpaathy Rathotsavam, held
towards the end of the Tamil month of Aippasi (Mid-November). This grand event, in which
temple chariots are taken in procession draws huge crowds. Veda Manthras are chanted and
cultural events take place during the festival.Chariots take members of the divine family throughout the neighbourhood. While Viswanaathar and Visaalaakshi occupy a chariot, another chariot has their first son, the Vignaharta Ganesha, and the last one has the second son, Lord Murugan.
Those who are near Palakkad/Coimbatore during this time, must take part in this event to
feel the aura of this holy place!

Lord Vaidyanatha, the doctor!

There is a famous temple near my native place dedicated to the Mrutyunjaya, Lord Shiva who relieves the faithful of diseases. Vaitheeswaran Kovil, situated about 15 km from Mayilaaduthurai in Tamilnadu, is a temple where the presiding deity is Vaitheeswaran, meaning the “Lord of medicine”. One of the Navagraha temples situated in this region of Tamilnadu (Mars, Angaaraka is worshipped here), this is the Kshetram where Angaaraka was cured of leprosy. Also, there is a pond here, called jataayu kundam, where Jataayu, the vulture was cremated by SriRaama after the former was killed by Raavana.
Relief from diseases:
Thiruchandu Urundai, or balls made of ash from the Homam, are provided here. These, when taken along with the sacred mud from near the neem tree in the temple, and some water from the Siddha Amrita Teertham, can cure diseases. The devout also donate salt, pepper and silver images of body parts to get relief from ailments. The Prasaadam given here is sandalwood powder mixed with Kumkumam, after Abhishekam to Lord Subrahmanya who is present here as Muthukumaaraswaamy.
Reciting the Vaidyanatha Ashtakam, an octet describing the glory of the Lord, thrice a day, is helpful in maintaining good health, and this is mentioned in the last Shloka in the Ashtakam itself:
Sri Baalaambikesa Vaidyesa Bhava Roga Haredisa
Japen Naama Thrayam Nityam Maha Roga Nivaaranam.

Interestingly, there is a majestic, but curiously not-so-well-known temple very near to the famous Andaal temple in Srivillipputhur near Madurai, dedicated to the same Vaidyanaatha Swaamy. I visited this Vaidyanaatha temple recently, when I went to Srivilliputhur, and found that this temple also has a place from where devotees take sacred mud!

Andal Temple, Srivilliputhur

Two hours from Madurai, Srivilliputhur has one of the most famous Vaishnava temples of South India.
I had the fortune of visiting this holy Kshetra recently.
The majestic Gopuram of this temple is prominently shown in the Tamilnadu Government's official logo. The town is famous for the delicious "PaalKhoa", a milk sweet.

Lord Vishnu bestows His grace in the form of VadabhadraSai, and Andal, the prominent lady saint who becomes Lord Naaraayana's consort through her devotion, is the Thaayaar(mother) deity here.

Andaal and Periyaazhwaar are 2 great Tamil Vaishnavite saints who were born here.
Periyaazhwaar made a garden near the Vishnu temple, from where He took flowers for Pooja for the Lord everyday. It is in this garden that Andaal was born, and Periaazhwaar took care of Her. This is why Periaazhwaar is called the father-in-law of Lord Vishnu! The garden, with the icon of Andaal, can still be seen today near the temple.

Within the temple complex, there are shrines for SriRama, SrinivasaPerumal and Chakrathaazhwaar, another Vaishnavite saint. Exquisite paintings of the Lord adorn the Mandapams leading to the Garbhagraha/Moolavar Sannidhi or Primary shrine.

In the Moolavar Sannadhi is Aranganathar (Vishnu), accompanied by Andal and Garuda. Unlike most Vaishnava temples where Garuda is found facing the Lord, here He's with Him. This is in the top floor, and there's a floor beneath this, where Narasimhar and the 12 Azhwaars (Vaishnava saints) are worshipped.

Definitely a great temple to visit if you happen to travel in South Tamilnadu!

Hare Raama Hare Raama Raama Raama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare