Veeratteswarar Temple, Korukkai – The Temple
This temple is facing towards west with five tiered rajagopuram. This temple covers an area of about 2.5 acres and has two prakarams. Balipeedam and Nandi can be found immediately after the rajagopuram facing towards sanctum. There is a second level three tiered gopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram. There is a mukha mandapam in front of the second left level gopuram.
The mukha mandapam is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (Vovval Nethi Mandapam). There is a separate south facing shrine for goddess Gnanambigai, consort of Lord Shiva can be seen on the left side of the mukha mandapam in the outer prakaram. Her shrine consists of sanctum, antrala and ardha mandapam. Sukravara Amman and Palliyarai (bed chamber) can be seen near her shrine.
The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. Presiding deity is called as Veeratteswarar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam on a square avudaiyar. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The marks left by the five flower arrows, especially the lotus, shot at Lord Shiva by Manmadha can still be seen on the avudaiyar of the Lingam on the front side.
Maha Ganapthy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhava with Brahma & Vishnu on both sides, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. The sanctum sanctorum is of Agazhi type. It is surrounded by a moat like formation on all the 4 sides. Stucco images of Yoga Moorthy, Manmathan aiming flower arrow at Lord Shiva, burning of Manmathan by Lord Shiva, Rati and Poorani Ammai can be seen on the vimana of the sanctum.
There is a separate shrine for Kamadhagana Murthy in the maha mandapam. He is also praised Kama Anga Naasan and Yoga Murthy. He is depicted in a sitting posture (meditative posture) with his left leg folded, right leg hanging down, his upper hands holds deer & battle axe, lower right hand showing Abhaya Mudra and the lower left hand resting on the left leg. He is surrounded by Sanakathi Rishis.
As Lord Shiva is in the form of Yoga Moorthy, people will not get his darshan so easily. It is said that people can have darshan only if one has good fortune and the blessings of Lord Shiva. It is believed that good times will start for the people who had the darshan of Lord Shiva here. Goddess Parvathy can be seen in standing posture to the left side of the Lord Shiva. She is praised as Poorani.
Procession idols of Rathi and Manmathan can be found opposite to this shrine. Manmathan is shown with his sugarcane bow & flower arrows and Rati is shown with parrot in her hand. There is south facing Nataraja Sabha in the maha mandapam. The sabha is called as Kama Naasini Sabha and Sambu Vinotha Sabha. The sabha enshrines the bronze images of Lord Nataraja, Shivagami and Manickavasagar. The cosmic dance (thandava) performed by Nataraja here is called as Veera Nadanam.
There is a separate shrine for Kurukkai Vinayakar in the inner prakaram. He is depicted with short hands (Kurunkai in Tamil). He is housed in square avudaiyar and in sitting posture. An image of Sage Theerthavahu can be seen besides the idol of Vinayaga. The vimana over the shrine is of Gajabrusta design. There is a separate shrine for Lord Vishnu called as Soha Hareswarar (Soham means sorrow in Tamil) in the temple premises.
There is a separate shrine Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena in the temple premises. He is depicted in standing posture with single face and four arms. Utsava Idol of Murugan is depicted with bow instead of his traditional Vel. Saint Arunagirinathar has sung Thirupugazh hymns in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple.
Shrines & Idols of Vinayakar, Murugan, Gaja Lakshmi, Suryan, Durga, Chandran, Sambandar, Cheraman Perumal, Chandrasekarar, Pradosha Nayagar, Somaskandar, Bhairavar and Navagrahas can be seen in the temple premises. Theertham associated with this temple is Trisula Gangai / Soola Theertham and Pasupathi Theertham. Soola Theertham is a large tank situated in front of the rajagopuram.
It is considered as holy as the Ganges. Sthala Vriksham is Kadukkai Tree. Thus, the place came to be called as Kaduvanam. There is a pit named Viboothi Kuttai, situated at about 500 metres from the temple. It is said that Manmathan was burnt to ashes by Lord Shiva at this place. White ash with a distinct odour is found in this pit.
