At Vaitheeswaran Kovil, the Lord Shiva himself takes the form of a healer, Lord Vaitheeswaran, and treats his devotees to health. The Vaitheeswaran Kovil also houses the shrine of the God Angaraka (Mangala) who relieves his devotees of any problems following the Chevvai Dosham through the pooja offered on Tuesdays.

The Siddsmirta tank (or the Siddamruta tank i.e. the pond of nectar) is the miraculous spot holding the key to cure many ailments. The holy waters of the Siddhamirtham tank within the temple complex contains nectar, and a holy dip is believed to cure all diseases. The temple is revered by the Tevaram hymns of 7th-century Saiva nayanars - Tamil saint poets and is also classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam (temple revered by the nayanars).

During the Ramayana period, Rama, Lakshmana and Saptarishi have worshipped the deity in this place. There is a pond at this temple called Jatayu kundam (pot of Jatayu having holy ash of Vibhuti). One of the nine planets, Angaraka (Mars), suffered from leprosy and was cured by Vaidhyanatha swamy ( Lord Vaidyanath ) and from then on it is treated as one of the Navagraha Temples for planet Angaraka.

Parvati, the consort of Shiva, asked her son, Subramanya to appear with one face from his regular appearance of six faces. When he did so, she was pleased and presented him with vel (a weapon) to slay the demons. Subramanya overcame the Asura Surapadman (a demon) and in the war, his army was severely injured. Lord Shiva came out as the healer Vaitheeswaran and cured the wounds. As per another legend, Lord Shiva came as Vaidya, a doctor, and cured the leprosy of a staunch devotee named Angahara. Jatya, Rig Veda, Muruga and Surya were all believed to have worshipped Shiva here. Murugan obtained a trident at this place and is thus called Selvamuthu Kumaran.

The fiery God Angaraka, also known as Kuja, Mangala (Mars), is a special connection to Lord Shiva. The popular legend started when Andhaka, a Rakshasa, did severe penance to please Lord Shiva, intending to attain immortality.

However, it is an all too familiar knowledge that immortality can never be granted to the beings who crave it for their selfish desires. Knowing so, the Asuras had creative ways of begetting boons from either Shiva or Brahma. Take, for instance, the Asura, Mahishasura, who asked for a boon wherein no man should be able to defeat him, only to meet his end at the hands of the Goddess Mahishasuramardini.

Then there was the Asura, Vritra, who had been blessed that he could not be defeated by any weapon made of ordinary means, only to be slain by Lord Indra through the weapon Vajrayudha – which was made from the bones of the sage Dadichi. Now, Andhaka became another addition to the long list of Asuras who thought they could cheat death with their ‘clever’ boons by praying to Lord Shiva, whom even the God of death bowed.

He asked Lord Shiva that whenever a drop of his blood fell to the ground, his clone should arise from it, to which the Lord agreed, and the boon was bestowed to him. Soon, the haughty Asura unleashed a reign of terror upon the entire universe, being nearly invincible with the help of his army and the clones who arose when his blood fell to the ground. Ultimately, the Devas pleaded to Lord Shiva to end him once and for all; and so, the Lord came face-to-face with the arrogant Asura, only to encounter the same problem again and again.

After a long time, even the Lord showed signs of tiredness as drops of his sweat fell to the Earth. From those drops of sweat arose the God Angaraka. Soon Andhakasura found himself pushed to the corner as the God Angaraka prevented the Asura’s blood from reaching to the ground, and thus, he met his end in the fight. Such is the power and the greatness of the God Angaraka, who resides in Vaitheeswaran Kovil and his temple, is one of the Navagraha temples; for this was the place where he was treated by Lord Shiva himself in the form of the Lord Vaitheeswaran when God Angaraka was afflicted by leprosy.

On Tuesdays, devotees offer special pooja to the God Angaraka to get rid of the Chevvai Dosham(malicious effects caused by planetary motion) by offering Toor Dal and Red Arali flower to the God Angaraka; as the red colour signifies his fiery nature. The benefits of the pooja include good health, improved financial conditions, freedom from poverty, success, resolving of marital problems etc. Not only is this sacred place the abode of the Lord Vaitheeswaran and God Angaraka, but it also houses the shrine of the Lord Kartikeya and that of Dhanvantari Siddhar.

In fact, this is the place where Sage Dhanvantari, who according to Sage Agasthya belonged to the ancestry of Lord Maha Vishnu, attained Jeeva Samadhi. As such, the devotees can obtain special oil from the temple and apply it to affected parts to seek relief. The Lord Kartikeya, revered as the God Muthukumara swami is offered a naivedhyam (food offering) of milk rice for the Arthajama pooja along with Sandal, Flowers, Rosewaters, Lime, Pacchai Karpooram (Borneol) and Punugu (a traditional cosmetic paste).

The abhishekam is performed with Sandal and a Sari is offered to the Goddess Thaiyalnayaki. Another form of worship at the Vaitheeswaran Kovil is the lighting of lamps in rice cakes, known as Mavilaku ma.

1. Panguni Uthram
The Panguni Uthram festival, celebrated in the month of Palguni (March-April) is marked by the auspicious Brahmotsavam held to commemorate the day when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married. It also celebrates the day when the Lord Kartikeya and Deva sena, Lord Rama and the Goddess Sita, Lord Ranganatha and the Goddess Aandal had their nuptials.

2. Karthigai
The Karthigai Deepam (festival of lights) is celebrated in the month of Karthika (mid-November to mid-December) when the elder son of the Lord came into being the six-faced God. According to the Puranas, his six forms were united by the Goddess Parvati on this occasion.

3. Skanda Shashti
Skanda Shashti (or Kantha Shashti) occurs in the month of Aippasi (mid-October to mid-November). Skanda Shasti is commemorated to celebrate the victory of Lord Kartikeya over Surapadmana. Usually, the festival starts six days before the Shashti and concludes on that day. During the entire duration of the festival, devotees recite the hymns related to Lord Kartikeya, read stories of him and enact his feats on the stage.

4. Aadi pooram
The Goddess Aandal, one of the celebrated Alwar poets in the Tamil tradition is celebrated through this festival; also known as Aandal Jayanti. The Goddess Aandal is considered as the consort of the Lord Ranganatha himself and many devotees throng for the festival, wherein the priests offer glass bangles to the Goddess and then distribute them among all her devotees.