Veeratteswarar Temple,
Thirukkovilur – History
The
temple finds mention in Sangam
literature in Tamil from
3rd BC to 3rd centuries CE like Akananuru, Purananuru, Natrinai and Kurunthokai.
Malayaiman Thirumudikkaari, the ruler of Thirukovilur, was praised in the texts
for his charitable disposition to the institutions. Thirukovilur has the
reputation of being the place where the weddings of Angavai and Sangavai (the
daughters of noted Tamil philanthropist and King Pari Vallal) were held. It is
also believed that this wedding took place because of the efforts of poets
Avvaiyar and Kabilar. The bridegroom was Deiveekan, the king of Nadu Naadu.
After King Pari Vallal’s death,
his daughters Angavai and Sangavai had suffered a lot. The poet - saint
Kabilar, a good friend of Pari and the caretaker of the girls could not find a
suitable groom for them because of King Pari’s enmity with the rest of the
kings. Kabilar requested the great poetess Avvaiyar, who was also a good friend
of him, to help him arrange their marriage. Despite continued efforts, Kabilar
was unable to find a suitable match for them.
Unable to bear the agony of not
being able to help his friend’s daughters, he went to a cave (Kugai), and started
fasting till his death. It was after his death that Avvaiyar finally convinced
King Deiveekan to marry the girls. There is a small temple called Kabilar
Kugai (also known as Kabilar
Rock or Kabilar Kundru) situated in the middle of the Pennaiyar river. This
Kabilar Kundru, is being maintained by the State Archaeological Department.
It is said that King Rajaraja
Chola was born in this place. As per inscriptions found in this
temple, his elder sister donated funds for lighting lamps in this temple. Rajanarayana
Sambuvarayar was a chieftain of Medieval
Cholas whose contributions are documented in his inscriptions
across various temples in modern day Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts and also in
his Sanskrit work Madhuravijayam.
He repaired, revived the services and inaugurated festivals of the
temple.