Shri 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 Shri Vishnumurthy, Shri Vaidyanatheshwara and Bali Murthy of Shri Vaidyanatheshwara.
A temple in remote Western Ghats is making news for its special healing powers. Popularly known as ‘doctor’s temple’, Shri Vaidyanatheshwara temple is believed to have curing powers; be it for skin diseases, drought or even Chikungunya! Shri 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 Shri Madhwacharya consecrated the idol of Shri 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.
A few years ago, the entire village faced a severe outbreak of Chikungunya. In desperation, the villagers prayed to the deity, seeking protection and healing. Miraculously, they were cured. As a gesture of gratitude, they pledged to offer tender coconuts to the deity, a ritual now widely known as Seeyala Abhisheka,” shared a devoted worshipper.
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 include tender coconuts, commonly known as Seeyala Abhisheka. The temple also celebrates the grand Ratha or Car Festival with great devotion and enthusiasm.
Villagers help the restoration of Serpent Shrine at Kokkada Shri Vaidyanatheshwara temple
The Nagabana, or Serpent Shrine, has been restored at Shri Vaidyanatheshwara Temple, located in Kokkada town, Belthangady Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District, amidst the picturesque 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.
The villagers actively contributed to the restoration of the serpent shrine within this historic temple premises. Additionally, the Annappa Temple was renovated as part of the ancient temple complex, and the tradition of offering Anna Santharpane (free meals to devotees) once a week was revived a few years ago.
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
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.