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.