Thirumazhapadi Vaidyanathaswami Temple is a Shiva temple located at Thirumazhapadi, Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu State. The presiding deity is manifested as Vaidyanathaswami (Lord Shiva) with his consorts Balambika and Sundarambika. Lord Shiva is Swayambhu here ie. the self-manifested lingam of Lord Shiva is also known as Swayambhu. 2 Separate shrines are there for Balambika and Sundarambika.
Nandhi’s marriage is celebrated on the Panguni Punarvasu star day in March-April. It is believed that those who attend this marriage will get married soon, so there will be more young people of both sexes of marrying age attending the festival. Thirumazhapadi Vaidyanathaswamy temple is associated with the Panchanadeeswara temple in Tiruvayaru, which is on the other side of the river and located at a distance of about 15 km from Thirumazhapadi.
After Nandimarriage, Lord Shiva take the newly married couple to seven Shiva temples surrounding Thiruvaiyar. These seven temples are known as saptha sthanams. This group of temples are very close to each other and can be covered in one sitting. In the Tamil month of Chittirai, the deity (Utsavar) of Thiruvaiyar is transported on a palanquin to all these temples. It is a very important festival in these temples around Thiruvaiyar. These seven temples to are as follows
Sage Siladha Tiruvaiyaru resident, performed penance on Lord Shiva in search of the blessing of a child. A voice spoke to the sage telling him that his wish could be fulfilled if he led the Puthrakameshti Yajna and that he would have a box with a child while he tilling the land for the yagna. He was advised to raise the boy who had longevity of only 16 years. Siladha found the box and upon opening it, he found a boy with 3 eyes, 4 shoulders and a crescent moon decorating the head.
Struck with shock, he closed the box and opened it again and found a child in normal human form and named the boy Japesar. Japesar turned 14 and had two years left to complete the designated lifespan. The sage was very sad. Knowing the agony of his father, Japesar began the penance by standing on one leg in the Ayana Theertha tank in Tiruvaiyaru.
The creatures in the tank began to consume him slowly, but Japesar didn’t stop then also. Lord Shiva was pleased by his penance, healed him completely and granted him long life. Later, Japesar married Suyasambikai in Tirumazhapadi. Japesar continued his penance even after marriage and was rewarded with a post at the head of Shiva Ganas and further elevated as the first chief of security at the first gate of Kailash and was appointed Nandhi Deva.