Veeratteswarar Temple, Keezha Parasalur – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards west with five tiered rajagopuram. There is an entrance arch on the road side. The entrance arch has stucco images of Rishabaroodar flanked by Murugan and Vinayaga. There is a separate shrine for Vinayaga on the other side of the entrance arch of this temple. The temple is completely enclosed within the compound wall and has two prakarams.
There is second level gopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram. This gopuram is of three tiers. There is a mandapam connecting the rajagopuram with the second level gopuram. Nandi and Balipeedam can be seen in this mandapam immediately after the rajagopuram, facing towards the sanctum. There is no Dhwaja Sthambam (Kodi Maram) but Kodi Mara Vinayagar can be seen near Balipeedam.
Presiding Deity is called as Veeratteswarar / Dakshapureeswarar / Yaga Samhara Moorthy and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam on a square avudaiyar. Lord is a Swayambu Moorthy (self-manifested). Naadana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls.
Sculptures of Vishnu and Brahma in worshipping posture can be on either sides of the koshta idol of Lingodbhava behind the sanctum. Thus, the devotees can have the darshan of the Hindu trinity in one place. This is considered to be very auspicious. There is a sculpture depicting Daksha worshipping Lord Shiva near the koshta idol of Nardana Ganapathy in the outside wall of the sanctum.
Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. There is a separate shrine for the processional (Utsava) idol of Daksha Samhara Moorthy / Dakshahateshwarar / Veerabhadra in Maha Mandapam. This shrine is situated next to Goddess Parvathy shrine and facing towards south. The Utsava idol is a bronze idol of Daksha Samhara Moorthy, depicted as having Daksha under his feet.
He is six-armed holding Soolam, Dhanda, Sword, Bell, Kapala and Sword. There is a metal plaque at the footsteps of the utsava image indicating Brahma starting the yagna of Daksha. Daksha with the head of ram can also be seen in front of the idol of Veerabhadra. This Utsava idol is kept in the maha mandapam. Nataraja Sabha can be seen next to the Daksha Samhara Moorthy shrine.
The Mahamandapam also houses other metal images of Somaskanda, Vinayagar and Pradosha Nayagar. There is a unique metal image of Lord Murugan standing with one leg perched on his mount, the peacock in the maha mandapam. Mother is called as Ilamkombanayal / Balambika. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in maha mandapam to the right side of the sanctum. She is in standing posture. She is four armed and shows abhaya & varada hastha.
There is a separate shrine for Kasi Viswanathar in the inner prakaram. Idols of Kala Bhairavar and Nardana Vinayagar can be seen at the entrance of this shrine. There is no Navagrahas shrine in the temple, but it has a separate shrine for Suryan. Shrines of Vinayagar, Murugan, Bhairavar can be seen in the inner prakaram.
Shrines of Vinayagar, Murugan, Maha Lakshmi, Bhairavar, Sthala Vinayagar and Nalvar can be seen in the outer prakaram. The ardha jama puja (last puja of the day) is dedicated to Bhairavar. Theerthams associated with this temple are Uthira Vedhika, Homa Kundam, Chandra Pushkarini. Sthala Vriksham is Paarijadam (Pavazha Malli) tree.
