Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram – Veerabhathirar
Temple
The Veerabhadrar Temple is directly behind Periya Nayaki
Amman's shrine. This temple predates Airavatesvara Temple. It is now in ruins
as the raja gopuram was built of bricks and mortar and not stone.
Ottakkoothar, a famous Tamil Poet, the author
of Thakkayaparani, a monumental Tamil Literary work depicting the story
of Datchan the father of Dathchayani (also known as Parvathi or
Sakthi) conducted a Yaga (a Holy Sacrifice) without inviting the
supreme Lord Shiva visited this temple and sung about the main
deity - Veerabhathirar - created from Shiva's curls.
This temple was believed to exist even before the Darasuram
Airavatesvara temple i.e., before 12th Century A.D. Flat
bricks are used to construct the Raja gopuram. The stucco figures (dolls)
on the gopuram are made up of grinding the bricks.
This is one of the ancient brick work done on
large scale. The Kalasam and the top stage of the Raja gopuram
underwent environmental destruction. One could see the bright saffron color of
the Gopuram made up of bricks reflects during the sunset.
General Information
It is noteworthy that there are Mantra letters behind
Sri Veerabhadra Idol. Special pujas are offered to the Lord on Tuesdays,
Fridays and during Rahukalam time on Sundays – between 4.30 p.m. and 6.00
p.m. Nandhi is in a hexagonal shaped mandapam before the shrine.
It is believed that Nandhi is watching all the 8
directions. Presiding deity Sri Veerabhadra appears soft in look.
There are shrines for Saivite Saint Gnanasambandar and Badrakali.
Temple History
Poet Ottakkoothar also wrote the Utharakanda for
Ramayana and was a devotee of Lord Veerabhadra. King Rajaraja Chola built
this as requested by the poet on the banks of Kumbakonam Mahamagam tank.
The poet was visiting the temple for worship. He saw one day a person
going in the street chanting Thevaram hymn. The poet intercepted and demanded
the meaning which the singer could not offer.
Angry Ottakkoothar slapped the person for his
ignorance. The person died due to the severity of the blow. His relatives
came in search of the poet. Ottakkoothar told the king what
happened. The king was not willing to lose a good poet to mob fury.
He sent his son covered in a palanquin and told the mob that it was a sin even
to see the face of a killer and asked them to kill the son with the
palanquin. Doubting people were shocked to see prince in the palanquin.
Meantime, Ottakkoothar himself came to the spot and
offered him to be killed with a request that he be executed after his usual
darshan of Lord Veerabhadra. People granted permission. After the
worship, Ottakkoothar hide himself in Mulaichalamman shrine and closed the
doors. The crowd demanded him to come out. He prayed to Ambica to
save him from the danger.
Ambica asked him to write Thakkayaga Parani singing the
glory of Lord Veerabhadra. Ottakkoothar authored the epic in one night. Next
early morning Ottakkoothar handed over the epic through a window. People
were happy to see the beauty of the poetry and paid rich tributes to the poet
instead of demanding his head. The epic was staged in this temple.
Greatness of Temple
The Samadhi of poet Ottakkoothar is behind Sri Veerabhadra
shine. A Linga is also installed on the Samadhi with a Nandhi opposite.
The Guru Puja is performed on Aavani Uthiradam star day in August – September.
That special puja is performed for a day only.
During full moon days, devotees light ghee lamps.
Though Sri Veerabhadra looks furious generally, He is soft and smiling in this
temple. This is the place where eminent Tamil poet Ottakkoothar authored his
famous Thakkayaga Parani and attained salvation.
Prayers
People pray to Sri Veerabhadra to achieve merits in
education and oratory skill. Devotees submit their commitment with betel leaf
garland and sweet pudding nivedhana.
Temple Opening Time
Only one time puja is conducted in the temple between
5.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. Those desiring to visit the temple during other hours
should contact the priest in advance to avoid disappointment.
Festivals
Ottakkoothar Gurupuja on Aavani Uthiradam in August – September
and Shivrathri in February – March are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Contact
Sri Veerabadraswami Temple,
Darasuram - 612 702,
Kumbakonam Taluk, Tanjore district.
Phone: +91- 92454 18708 /
+91- 97905 25241.
Connectivity
The temple in Darasuram is 3 km far from Kumbakonam. It
is well connected to Kumbakonam by Road. Nearest Railway Station is located in
Kumbakonam. Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.
