6 Lord Shiva temples that are believed to cure illnesses and ailments

The month of Sawan is ongoing and the energies all around have the essence of Shiva in them. From the Kanwadiyas walking barefoot carrying Gangajal on their shoulders, to the devotees who wake up early every morning to do jaap (chanting) of Shiva’s name, the month of Sawan is truly divine. And why won't it be? Afterall, he is ‘Devo ke Dev, Mahadev’.

Mahakaleshwar temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India, is considered one of the most sacred temples of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the presiding deity of this temple, Shri Mahakaleshwar, has the power to protect against untimely death and to cure any chronic illnesses. Devotees come here to seek blessings for long life and relief from ailments that doctors have given up on.

Baidyanath temple is also a Jyotirlinga and is held in high regard by Shiva devotees all across India. According to legends, when Ravana asked Lord Shiva to come with him to Lanka, Lord Shiva agreed but on a condition. He put forward that if the Shivling is placed anywhere on the ground, before reaching Lanka, he will not get up again! On the way, Ravana had to place the Shivling down once, and it was in the land of Deoghar.

The name ‘Baidyanath’ translates to the ‘Lord of Physicians’. Devotees believe that offering prayers here can cure various diseases and ailments.

Vaitheeswaran Koil, also known as Pullirukkuvelur, is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vaitheeswaran, meaning the ‘Divine physician’. The temple is famous for its healing powers, especially for skin diseases and ailments. The sacred water of the Siddhamirtham tank within the temple complex is believed to cure devotees once they take a dip in it.

A temple located in one of the holiest places on Earth is Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi. This temple is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and is considered to have powerful, positive energies that can heal a person mentally and physically. Many people believe that worshipping Lord Shiva here can lead to physical and spiritual healing.

The Ramanathaswamy temple is another famous Jyotirlinga that is said to have powerful healing energies.

The Rameshwaram temple has 22 theerthams, which are basically sacred water tanks, and each of them are said to have a certain benefit. Devotees take a ritual bath in these theerthams before entering the temple, believing that the water can cure various diseases and purify the soul. Out of the 22, it is said that the Savitri, Gayatri, and Saraswati teertham are the one that help cleanse the soul, cure the body from infections and diseases, and protects the devotee from evil intentions.

A very lesser known temple in Kerala is the Kanhirangad Vaidyanatha temple. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva as ‘vaidyanath’ or divine healer. The temple is known for curing mental illnesses and other chronic ailments. Devotees believe that the rituals and offerings made here, especially on Mondays, have the power to heal and bring relief from suffering.