Sree Vaidyanatheshwara Temple at Kokkada Town, Belthangady Taluk in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka State is more famously known as the Doctors Temple. The temple has three idols Sree Vishnumurthy, Sree Vaidyanatheshwara and Bali Murthy of Sree Vaidyanatheshwara.
A temple in remote Western Ghats is making news for its special healing powers. Popularly known as ‘doctor’s temple’, Sri Vaidyanatheshwara temple is believed to have curing powers; be it for skin diseases, drought or even Chikungunya! Sri Vaidyanatheshwara temple is located at Kokkada village (Belthangady taluk, Dakshna Kannada district), nestled in Western Ghats and is nearer to popular pilgrim spot Dharmasthala.
It is believed that this temple is more than 2600 years old. It is also believed that Sree Madhwacharya consecrated the idol of Sree Vishnumurthy and wrote the book Krishnamruthamaharnava here.
Goddess Durga, Ganesha, Subramanya are also worshiped here. Apart from these, ‘Daivas’ like Annappa, Guliga, Panjurli, Ullakulu and Ullalthi are also worshiped in the temple, according to the Tulu culture.
Interestingly, the tender coconuts are the votive offerings at this doctor’s temple. People from near and dear and even from far off places like Bengaluru visit the place with a tender coconut in their hands.
“Six years ago, the entire village was affected by Chikungunya. So, each of us had vowed to the God to save us from Chikungunya and miraculously, we were cured and as a votive offering, we decided to offer tender coconut to the deity. The tender coconut offering is popularly known as Seeyala Abhisheka,” said an ardent devotee.
Seeyala means tender coconut water. Many of the patients, who haven’t got cured with various skin diseases prefer to visit the temple. The water body near the temple is supposed to have special healing powers and many of them claim to have undergone miraculous recovery. These days, the devotees are flocking the temple to bring down the clouds. As the area is suffering from severe drought, devotees are seen performing Seeyala Abhisheka to impress the rain gods.
Popular offerings to the deity are tender coconuts also known as Seeyala Abhisheka. The Ratha / Car Festival will be held on 7th May 2018.
Villagers help the restoration of Serpent Shrine at Kokkada Vaidyanatheshwara temple
The Nagabana or the Serpent Shrine was restored today at Sri Vaidyanatheshwara temple at Kokkada town in Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, nestled in the Western Ghats.
Devotees from villages around Kokkada voluntarily came together for the re-installation work. Some villagers donated money, food grains and vegetables, while some took part in ‘Kara seva'(free labor) in rebuilding the shrine.
Speaking to eNarada, B.Vasanth Rao, president of organising committee of the temple said, active participation of villagers is inspiring the temple management in taking up many initiatives. “With the help and active participation of villagers, the serpent shrine was restored today in this historic temple premise. last year Annappa temple was restored in this ancient temple complex and Anna Santharpane (Free meals to devotees) once a week was also re-introduced a few years back,” said Vasanth Rao.
With the reinstallation of Naga Bana, devotees can now perform milk abhishekam to serpent deities, the offering of arati, Ashlesha Bali pooja and other rituals, according to temple communication.
Contact details
Kokkada Vaidyanatheshwara Temple
Kokkada,Belthangady taluk Karnataka 574198
Videos
ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಕೊಕ್ಕಡ ವೈದ್ಯನಾಥೇಶ್ವರ ನಾಳೆ ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಕೈ ಕಾಲಿಗೆ ಶಕ್ತಿ ನೀಡಿದರೆ101 ಸಿಯಾಳ ಅಭಿಷೇಕ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ಪ್ರತಿ ಸೋಮವಾರ ಸಿಯಾಳ ಅಭಿಷೇಕ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುವೆ ತಂದೆ, ನನ್ನ ಮನೆದೇವರು ರಾಮಲಿಗೇಶ್ವರನ ಮೇಲಾಣೆ.
ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವೈದ್ಯನಾಥೇಶ್ವರ ನಾಳೆ ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಕೈ ಕಾಲಿಗೆ ಶಕ್ತಿ ನೀಡಿದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಜೀವನ ಪರ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರತಿ ಸೋಮವಾರ ನಿನಗೆ ಸಿಯಾಳ ಅಭಿಷೇಕ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುವೆ ತಂದೆ ನನ್ನ ಮನೆದೇವರು ರಾಮಲಿಗೇಶ್ವರನ ಮೇಲಾಣೆ.