Therapeutic Shrines

One such temple is the Mariamman temple at Samayapuram. The deity here is said to have magical powers. Pilgrims come here and offer to the God small metallic images of various body parts. This temple is believed to be especially good for curing any eye ailment.

Another such temple is the ancient Vaitheeswaran temple in Tanjore District. Before entering the temple, people bathe in the temple tank. The water is supposed to have curative powers for skin ailments.

The temple at Suchindiram and Gunaseelasn are especially beneficial for people with mental disorders. The Temple at Gunaseelan provides temple accommodation for the pilgrims.

One such place is exclusively for the mentally deranged. It is believed that staying here for 45 days and taking holy water twice a day, cures insanity.

The temple at Sholinghur is dedicated to Lord Anjeneya or the Monkey God. The temple is ancient though the period of construction is not known. It was renovated in 1588.The temple tank water is said to be mineral water quality and believed to cure diseases.

As already stated the people in this state are very secular visiting Muslim shrines, temples and churches are very popular among people of all faiths.

One such place is Nagore near Tanjore. This Muslim shrine is about 500 years old and is the tomb of a Muslim saint Sultan Syed Shahabdul Hameed. The tank here is called Peer Kulam and the water is believed to have curative powers. People of all Faiths visit this shrine.

Velankanni Church, near Tanjore, is the site of the Roman Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health. This impressive white neo-Gothic structure was elevated to the status of Basilica in 1962 during the pope’s visit. People of all faiths and religions come to this church to pray at the shrine. Many bring with them small gold and silver replicas of parts of the body to donate to the church.

If you are a non believer Courtallam called the “Spa Of the South” is the place for you Situated at a small elevation it is near Tirunelveli. There is a water fall here. The waters of Courtallam is believed to have medicinal and therapeutic qualities as it falls through a forest of herbs.