Veeratteshwarar temple at Thiruvathigai

This shiva temple is third in Ashta Veerattanam Sthalangal. This is the Veeratteshwarar temple. It is located at Thiruvadigai which is about two kilometers from Panruti in Cuddalore district. The temple covers an area of about 7 acres. The shaiva saints Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar have sung sacred hymns about this temple. This is one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams.

Mulavar: Veeratteshwarar, Veerattanar, Athigainadar, Thirukedilavanar

Devi: Periyanayaki, Tripura sundari, Umay Amman

Utsavar: Chandrasekhar

Kshetra Vruksha: Bahava (Sara Kondrai in tamil)

Sacred Teertha: Shulaa Teertha, Kadila River, Chakra Teertha, 

Puranik name: Adhigapuri, Thiri adigai veerattanam

Present Name: Thiruvadigai, Kadalur district

The temple has two gopurams, and two parikramas. The temple is about 1500 years old. The rajagopuram is seven tiered and has idols depicting 108 bharatnatyam postures. The second gopuram is five tier and it is the entrance to the second prakaram (corridor). The sanctum sanctorum of Lord Shiva and shrine of devi are in the second parikrama. There is a sixteen pillar hall known as Thiruneetru Mandapam. This was constructed to commemorate Saint Appar’s conversion to shaivism from jainism. In the outer parikrama there is a garden containing trees and plants representing Nakshatra and Rashis. The temple tank is on the southern side entrance of the second rajagopuram. Nandi can be seen from the entrance of the second parikrama.

Other idols and shrines:

The sanctum sanctorum houses a huge swayambhu shiva linga. There are sixteen stripes of sacred mark on the Shiv Linga. In the sanctum there is an idol of Ayyar Appar. The entrance to the temple is from the south gate. On the Viman (tower) above the sanctum we come across the sculpture of the Tripurasamhar murti with twelve hands. The shadow of the gopuram of mulavar’s shrine does not fall on the ground. Which is the same case at Tanjore and Kanchipuram temples. 

There are idols on all the three sides of sanctum sanctorum and the gopuram which give a chariot like appearance. The koshta murtis are Lord Dakshinamurti, Durga, Chandikeshwar, and Ardhanareeswarar. In the shrine of Devi we find Shiva Linga believed to have been worshiped by Lord Vishnu. Devi’s shrine is to the right of Lord Shiva’s shrine. Lord Muruga’s shrine is behind Devi's shrine on the western corner. Inner prakara has a shrine of Thilakavathiyar (sister of Saint Appar), 63 Nayanmars, Shanishwar, Durga, Siddhivinayak, Lord Muruga, Shiva Lingas, Nataraja, and Surya. The temple tank is named as Chakra Teertha has a mandap at the north and is known as Vasant Mandap. The temple was originally constructed by Pallava king Mahendra Verma I. He demolished a Jain temple and constructed the present one as he got converted into Shaivism. From the remains of the original Jain temple he built another shiva and vishnu temple. A king named Kalingarayan made several endowments and built additional structures in the original temple. 

Kshetra Purana:

This place is associated with Tripura Samhara. Three demons namely Tarakasur, Kamalaksha, Vidyunmali performed penance and got boon from Lord Brahma. This made them powerful without any fear of death. When deva, sages and others were harassed by these demons, they prayed to Lord Shiva. Heeding to their pleas he decided to destroy the demons. He made Earth his chariot, Sun and the Moon as his wheels, Lord Brahma as his charioteer and devas as his army. He had meru mount as his bow, Vasuki as a chord, Vishnu as bow and agni. When he mounted the ratha, the axel broke as he forgot to pray Lord Vinayaka. After praying to Lord Vinayaka, he mounted the ratha. Lord Shiva started laughing and a fireball came out of his mouth. The fireball burned the demons to ashes. Thus he redeemed the pride of devas. Later he pardoned the three demons. Two of them, he made them his dwarapalakas and one he made the player of his musical instrument known as Kudamuzha (a sort of pipe). As per another purana, this is the place where Lord Shiva destroyed the three demons and three cities created by them. Lord Vishnu as Saranarayana perumal helped him by giving an arrow. As per Shiva purana, the demon Tripuran was annihilated by Lord Shiva and the city of Tripura was destroyed by him. Shiva attained the name of Tripurantaka. Lord Shiva dipped his three fingers into the ashes of these cities and wore the ash on his forehead. This signifies the three lines of ashes worn by Lord Shiva. 

Thirunavukkuarsar was earlier known as Vageesar. His sister was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. She wanted her brother to leave Jainism and become a shaivaite. When Thirunavukkuarsar was suffering from an incurable disease, she convinced her brother to come to this place and made him believe that he would be cured by Lord Shiva. Vageesar visited this temple and sang hymns and worshiped Lord Shiva. On the instruction of Lord Shiva he took a dip in the temple tank and drank water from it. He was instantly cured of his disease. Lord Shiva named him as Navukkuarsar for the first time. Later on the name struck to him and he became known as Thirunavukkuarsar. There is a separate samadhi for Thirunavukkuarsar and his sister. 

Lord Shiva granted darshan to Appar in bridal form. Appar had entered the temple and Sundarar had not entered. When he was asleep by the side of the temple an old man trampled his hand. Therefore Sundarar avoided him by turning in another direction, but still the old man stepped on his hand. Lord Shiva appeared in front of Sundarar as the old man vanished. This temple is called as Siddhapureeshwarar temple near Panruti.

The tradition of breaking coconut on the ground by throwing it (sitharathengai in Tamil) started at this place. 

Those who worshiped here: Lord Indra, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Pandavas, Saptarishi, Vayu, Varun, Yama. All these devas came to worship Lord Shiva in their chariots. So the temple is designed as a chariot. 

About the temple: Thevaram hymns were uttered first at this place. All Shiva agamas were first formulated here. Chariot festival and chariot design started from this place. Maximum number of thevaram hymns started from this place. 

Festivals:

1) Fortnightly worship on pradosham, new moon, full moon, chaturthi.

2) Special worship on Krittika nakshatra

3) Special worship on Mondays and Fridays besides daily worship

4) In the month of Chithirai (Apr-May) 10 days Vasant Utsav is held and the mulavar is paraded on different mounts. The shatabhisha nakshatra festival is associated with Appar’s salvation.

5) Vaikasi (May-June) 10 day Brahmotsavam festival. Pancha murtis are paraded on various mounts.

6) Adi Purva Phalguni festival for 10 days

7) Margazhi (Dec-Jan) 1 day Ardra darshan festival. Manik Vasagar utsav for 10 days.

Courtesy: Following sites

1. https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and

2. https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/

3. http://www.indiatemples.in/

Thiru Kovilur Veeratteshwarar temple

This shiva temple is the second of the eight veeratteshwarar temples. It is located at Kizhur (or Kizhaiur) in Thirukovilur (Villupuram district). This is one of the 276 Padal Pethra Sthalams. Several Nayanmars have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. The place is associated with the destruction of demon Andhakasur. The temple is about 2000 years old. 

Mulavar: Veeratteshwarar, Andhakaantanadar, 

Utsavar: Andhakarsamhar (vadha) murti.

Devi: Sivanthavallie, Periyanayaki

Kshetra Vruksha: Bahava, Bilva

Kshetra Teertha: Thenpennai River,

Puranik Name: Thirukovilur, Andhakapuram

District: Villupuram, Tamil Nadu

The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. Even after digging about 25 feet, the base of the linga could not be reached. The temple has two rajagopuram both facing west. They are three tiered and about 70 feet in height. There are two parikramas (or Prakarams) in this temple. Both mulavar and devi’s shrines face the west. In this place Lord Shiva himself is Bhairavar. We find a number of Chola and Pallava stone inscriptions in the temple. The idol of devi is about 5 feet. 

Other shrines and idols:

We have shrines of Periyanayaki and Ganapati. In the koshta we have koshta murtis. We have the shrines of Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai, Nardana Ganapati, Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareshwara, Goddess Vishalakshi and Kashi Vishwanath, Goddess Abhijit Gujaambal and Arunachaleshwarar. We have a shrine of Meipporul Nayanar at the entrance of the temple. We have the Shiva Lingas of Chidambareshwar, Agasthishwarar, Kalahastishwarar, Jambukeshwarar and Ekambareshwarar i.e. we can have the darshan of Pancha Bhuta Lingas in this place. The idols of Nataraja, Varadaraj Perumal, Gajalakshmi and 63 Nayanmars on the corridor. There is a shrine of Navagraha, Surya, and Chandra. In the koshta we have the koshta murtis, Lord Brahma, Lingodbhava, Ashtabhuja Durga, Chandikeshwarar, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Dakshinamurti. Lord Muruga is with six faces and twelve hands and seated on a peacock and is known as Lord Shanmukha.

Special Features:

Shaiva saint (poet) Avvaiyar has sung a hymn praising Lord Ganesha. Since Lord Shiva is a Bhairav there is a belief that people can get rid of black magic effect by worshiping at this place. It is stated that this place is responsible for the birth of Vastushastra. Shukra got rid of his curse at this place. This is the  place where sapta matrikas manifested. The devi Mahatripurasundari (Bhairavi) manifested at this place. This is the place where the sixty four Bhairavas manifested.  

Greatness of the temple:

There is a rock where the great tamil sangam period poet Kapilar attained his nirvana by fasting. He lived in a nearby place known as Perur. Here the daughters of King Pari (known for his charity) got married to King Deiveekan of this place. 

This is the place where Saint Arunagirinadar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga. This is the birth place of Meipporul Nayanar, Narasingha Munaya Nayanar.

Ashtabhuja Durga in the parikrama has a calm and beautiful face with white eyes and black pupil. 

It is believed that  by worshiping her one can get rid of marriage obstacles. 

Periyayanai Ganapti:

It is believed that Lord Ganesha gave darshan to Avayyar and told her not to hurry with the worship. By taking vishwarup, he took the saint to Mount Kailash for darshan of Lord Shiva before the saint sundarar and the King Cheraman reached there. Lord Ganapati known as Periyayanai Pillayar.

Lord Muruga had annihilated a demon and therefore he was affected by Brahmahatya dosha. He requested Ambika for a suitable place to perform Shiva Puja as an atonement. Ambika in order to show him place, threw a spear towards the earth. The place where it fell was known as Thirukaivelur which later on has become Thirukovilur.

This place is also one of the 108 Divya Desham temples. 

There is Vishnu temple nearby where Lord Vishnu is known as Ulaganadar Perumal

Kshetra Purana:

Once Goddess Parvati closed the eyes of Lord Shiva playfully. As the eyes of Lord Shiva represented the sun and the moon, the world beccame totally dark. i.e. Andhakar or Ignorance. A giant (demon) named Andhakasur manifested due to this event. Lord Shiva struck him on the head with the club in his hand.  The demon began to bleed. From every rop of blood, a new demon started manifesting, Goddess Parvati as Kali collected the blood in Kapala (skull bowl) and drank it so that she prevented the blood from falling on the ground. The blood that had fallen below became eight vertical and eight horizontal lines forming 64 squares. From each square a demon manifested. Lord Shiva created 64 bhairavas (one for each square) and prevented further manisfectation of demons. This later on came to be known as vastushanti puja for bhairavas. This also signifed the destruction of ignorance leading to Enlightenment. 

Those who worshiped here:

Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga, Lord Shriram, Lord Parashuram, Lord Shri Krishna, Lord Indra, Lord Yama, Lord Surya, Kubera, Adishesha, Goddess Kali, Sages - Roma, Kanva, Patanjali, Vyaghrapad and Sapta rishis.

Pujas and fetivals:

Regular daily puja, pradosha puja, and weekly pujas are performed regularly. In the Tamil month of Masi (Feb Mar) there is 13 day festival on the magha nakshatra. On the 13th day, Andhakasur Samhar murti is taken in procession on the sixth day.

In the Tamil month of Karthigai, on the third monday a special worship is held. 

In the tamil month of Adi (July-Aug) special worship on Fridays known as Shukrawar puja is held.

In the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct) 19 day Navaratri festival is held. 

In the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct-Nov), Anna abhisek, Skanda shashthi festial and Sura Samhar are held. 

In the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan) Ardra festival and Manikavasagar festival are held.

In the Tamil month of Ani (Jun July) Thirumanjanam festival is held.