Veerataneswarar Temple, Thiruvirkudi, Thiruvarur
Veerataneswarar Temple is a Hindu
temple located at Thiruvirkudi
in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Veerataneswarar. His consort is known
as Elavarkuzhali / Parimala Nayaki. It is considered one of the Ashta (eight)
Veerattanams where Shiva is worshipped as “Samhara Murthi”. Sthala Vriksham is
Tulsi. Theerthams of this temple are Chakkara and Changu Theerthams.
It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the
early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 191st Devaram Paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam and 74th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in
Chozha Nadu.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
The Temple with a 5 tier Rajagopuram and two praharams
is facing west. Presiding deity is called as Veerataneswarar and is facing
west. Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy with square Peedam. A Bronze
Nandhi is located in front of Moolavar. His consort is known as Elavarkuzhali /
Parimala Nayaki and is facing north. The festival image of Shiva here,
Jalandhara Samhara Moorthy, bears the discus and chakram. Sthala Vriksham is
Tulsi.
Theerthams of this temple are Chakkara and Changu
Theerthams. Chakkara Theertham is located opposite to the Rajagopuram with safe
and convenient steps and compound wall. It is a big tank with a Lord
Vinayaka temple on the bank. Passing the Gopuram entrance, a beautiful
Nagalinga sculpture greets the devotee. A Shiva temple worshipped by Lord
Vishnu and the place from where Lord Shiva restored Brinda to life as Tulsi are
in the outer prakara.
There are also shrines for Vinayaga, Mother Mahalakshmi,
Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai, Bhairava, Anjaneya, Sani
Bhagwan, Bhairavi, Mariamman, Naalvar with Sekkilar, Somaskanda, Navagrahas the
nine planets, Sun, Moon, Pidari and a well called Gnana Theertham in this
prakara. There is also a separate temple for Lord Bhairava. Brahma,
Maha Vishnu, Dhakshinamoorthy and Narthana Vinayagar are located in Koshta
Walls.
Temple
Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from
4.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
All Shiva related festivals are celebrated in the
temple. Appar is said to have spent his last years here, dedicating his life to
the upkeep of this temple, and the Appar Peruvizha which lasts for a period of
10 days, celebrates these events.
Singers
The lord of the temple is praised by Saint Tirugnanasambandar
in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 191st Devaram Paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam and 74th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in
Chozha Nadu.
Tirugnanasambandar describes the feature of the deity
as:
செங்கண் மாலொடு நான்முகன் தேடியுந் திருவ டியறியாமை
எங்கு மாரெரி யாகிய இறைவனை யறைபுனன் முடியார்ந்த
வெங்கண் மால்வரைக் கரியுரித் துகந்தவன் விற்குடி வீரட்டம்
தங்கை யால்தொழு தேத்தவல் லாரவர் தவமல்கு குணத்தாரே.
எங்கு மாரெரி யாகிய இறைவனை யறைபுனன் முடியார்ந்த
வெங்கண் மால்வரைக் கரியுரித் துகந்தவன் விற்குடி வீரட்டம்
தங்கை யால்தொழு தேத்தவல் லாரவர் தவமல்கு குணத்தாரே.
Prayers
If one has any difficulty while building a house, they
are advised to come and pray here and take a stone for use in the construction
to solve the problem. If anyone in the family had expired with the curse of the
ancestors, their heirs should pray here to relieve the dead of such effects. People
pray here for solutions caused by Vasthu Dosha-wrong designing of a building affecting
peace and prosperity.
Contact
Veerattaneswarar Temple,
Thiruvirkudi – 609 405,
Thiruvarur District
Mobile: +91 – 94439 21146
/ 8870887717
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 10 Kms from Thiruvarur, 2
Kms from Kangalancheri, 37 Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 30 Kms from Nagapattinam,
15 Kms from Thirumarugal and 123 Kms from Trichy. The visitor has to get down
at Kangalancheri on the Thiruvarur – Mayiladuthurai Road to reach the temple.
Buses from Tiruvarur to Aamur and Thirumarugal pass through this place. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Kangalancheri and Thiruvarur. Nearest Airport is
located at Thiruvarur.