Vazhuvoor Veerateshwarar Temple

This Shiva temple is the 6th of the Ashtaveerat sthalam. At this place Lord Shiva killed the rogue elephant (Gajasur). This place is located on Mayiladuthurai – Thiruvarur highway. The temples in which the Nayanmars (Shaiva saints) visited and sung secret hymns are known as Padal Petra sthala. The temples which find a mention in the hymns of Shaiva saints are known as THEVARA VAIPPU STHALAMS. Of the sapta matrikas, Varahi worshipped Lord Shiva at this place as per the directive of Lord Shiva.

The place got the name Vazhuvoor as the place was not submerged during the pralaya (great deluge). This Veerata sthala is believed to be surrounded by Pippli Vanam, Shami Vanam, Daruka Vanam & Badri Vanam. 

Moolavar: Veerateshwarar, Kruthivasar, Gajasamharar, Gajari, Gyansaban

Devi: Balambika, Bala-gujambika, Elankilyai nayaki

Kshetra Vruksha: Shami, Deodhar (India teakwood), Kapuri madura (jadi)

Sacred Teertha: Patala-ganga, Panchamukha teertha

Place: Thiru Vazhuvoor

District: Nagapattinam (TamilNadu)

Puranik Name: Daruka Vanam

The temple has 5 tiered Rajagopuram. The structure of this temple differs from others. There is a tank between Nandi and Sanctum-sanctorum. Lord Shiva in this temple is a swayambhu linga. We can have the darshan of Lord’s feet only at this place. The sacred teertha has 5 wells in it and is known as Panchamukha kinaru well in Tamil. The sacred Teertha is also known as Pancha brahma teertha. The temple is about 1500 years old.

Idols and other shrines:

Lord Ganesha in this temple is known as Selva-Vinayaka. In this kshetra the special feature is the idol of Gaja-samhara Moorthy. It’s a huge one-off Lord Shiva. The Lord has one leg on the elephant's head. He is in the act of skinning the elephant and wearing its skin. Near this idol we find Goddess Parvati carrying infant Lord Muruga on her waist. Her face expresses fear and she is about to turn away from the scene. The infant Muruga is pointing to her towards his father with finger. Just like in Chidambaram temple, here also we have a yantra behind Gaja-samhara Moorthy. The mandap in which Gaja-samhara Moorthy is located is known as Gyansaba. Lord Shiva did a tandav at this place which is known as Urdhwa tandava. There is a separate shrine for Lord Shanishwar. He is standing with a bow in his hand. The teertha in front of the sanctum sanctorum is known as Patal ganga or Eshan teertha. The moolavar has a Nagabhooshan and is very attractive and beautiful. On the walls of sanctum, the ashtaveerat stories are depicted as paintings (murals). There are more than 10 stone carvings carrying various details. At this place Lord Veerabhadra has a dog as his mount. It is believed that he came here to protect Lord Ayyappa who was born to Lord Vishnu in Mohini avatar and Lord Shiva.  The temple has a dhwaja stambha. 

There are idols of 63 Nayanmars, in a mandap. The shrines of Gajalaxmi, Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai. Idols of Surya, Chandra, Shani and Bhairava are found in the corridor. There is a separate Navagraha shrine. 

Kshetra Purana:

Once sages of Daruka vanam started feeling that they are greatest and their good deeds are sufficient for them to attain salvation. With this ego, they started feeling that there was no need for grace of the Lords for salvation. Their ego reached a point of no return and their wives also got the same feeling. In order to teach them a lesson, Lord Vishnu as Mohini (a beautiful enchanting woman) and Lord Shiva as Bikshadanar came to Daruka vanam. At the sight of Mohini, the sages were enchanted and captivated. In the same manner their wives lost their sanity at the sight of Bikshadanar. Lord Vishnu disappeared after the manifestation of Lord Ayyappa. This made sages more jealous and angry towards Lord Shiva. They performed a yagnya (homa or Welvi) and created magical (maya) agni, tiger, deer, Mazhu (battle axe), serpent and a demon known as Muyalagan and tried to kill Lord Shiva. But none of them could harm Lord Shiva. Finally they created a rogue elephant (Gajasur) and sent him to kill Bikshadanar. Bikshadanar entered into the belly of the rogue elephant and emerged from its stomach by tearing it. He came out performing a tandava known as Urdhwa tandava. The sages realized their mistake and asked for forgiveness. Lord Shiva is known as Gaja-samhar Moorthy as he vanquished the rogue elephant. 

According to another purana, Lord Shanishwar rages a war in Surya Mandal against king Vikram raja. The king lost the war and he fell into the teertha at this place. He took a bath in the teertha and worshipped Lord Shiva who graced him. When Shani came to know that king Vikram raja was a devotee of Lord Shiva, he asked for forgiveness to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva forgave him but made him lame in the 2nd leg. 

According to kshetra purana, 48000 sages did penance at this place and obtained gyan. 

Festivals and worship: 

Masi (Feb-Mar):10 days festival on Magha nakshatra known as Gaja-samhara utsav. Daily both in morning and evening, worship is held and the procession of the deities is taken off. On the 9th day procession of Gaja-samhar Moorthy is taken out. On the 10th day, the festival known as “Teerthavaari” where the deity are taken to the mandap in temple tank for worship.

Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Ardhra festival for 3 days is held. 

Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navratri festival

Karthigai (Oct-Nov): On Somwar, special worship is done at night and yantra pooja of yantra in sanctum sanctorum. 

Aadi (July-August): Pooram festival

Panguni (Mar-April): Uthiram festival, Mahashivaratri, New Moon Pradosha pooja

Special worship is held on the Pongal, Tamil New year and English New year. 

People pray here for child boon and marriage. It is believed by worshiping the yantra at this place the effect of black magic and evil spirits are removed. People worship Kruthivasar for mental peace. 

Courtesy: https://temple.dinamalar.com/

Thiruvirkudi Veeratteshwarar temple

This is the fifth Shiva temple of the Ashavirattam Sthala. This temple is situated in Thiruvirkudi in Thiruvarur district of Tamilnadu.

This is the place where Jalandhar samhar took place. This is one of the 276 Paadal Pethra Sthalams on the southern bank of river Kaveri.

Mulavar: Veeratteshwarar

Devi: Parimal Nayaki, Ezhawarkuzhali

Utsavar: Jalandharsamhar murti

Kshetra Vruksha : Tulasi Plant

Sacred Teertha: Chakra Teertha, Shankha Teertha

Puranik Name and Present name: Thiruvirkudi

District: Thiruvarur, Tamilnadu

The temple is about 1500 years old. 

The temple has a five tier rajagopuram with 2 prakarams. Chakra teertha which is in front of rajagopuram is very large. There is a Vinayaka temple near the tank. The shiva linga is a swayambhu on a square pedestal. This is a west facing temple and the Devi is facing north in her shrine. 

Other shrines and idols:

On entering the temple there is a Nagalinga. In the shiva temple there is an idol of Lord Vishnu in outer parikrama. The place where Lord Shiva restored Vrinda (Jalandhar asura’s wife) to life as Tulasi is nearby. Shrines of Ganesha, Mahalakshmi, Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai, Lord Bhairav, Nalvar, Somaskanadar and Navagrahas are in the outer prakara. There is a well in the temple known as Dnyana Teertha. We have Lord Brahma, Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Vishnu, Nardana Ganapati, Goddess Durga, as koshta murtis.

Special features:

This place is considered as vastu dosha nivrutti sthala. People believe that taking a small stone for the construction of the house removes the vastu dosha. This is a parihar sthala for pitru dosha. This place is famous for Maruti worship. 

Kshetra purana:

Once Lord Indra came to Kailash, with the ego to have darshan of Lord Shiva. When Shiva came to know about it, he stood at the entrance as a servant (guard). He obstructed Lord Indra from entering kailash. Indra got angry and struck the guard with his vajrayudha. Lord opened his third eye by his anger and Indra came to know that guard is none other than Lord Shiva. And asked for forgiveness. 

Lord Shiva who was in penance, shed a drop of his sweat in the ocean of milk. This drop manifested into a male child. The child tried to snatch the beard of Lord Brahma. A drop of tear from the eyes of Lord Brahma fell on the child. The child was named Jalandhar, as he was born in the ocean of milk from a drop of Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. On growing up Jalandhar wanted a boon from Lord Brahma so that he can rule all the three worlds without fear of death. Finally he got a boon so that as long as his wife Vrinda maintains her chastity in her mind he will not die. After this he started tormenting and torturing and finally he tried to destroy Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared as a brahmin in front of Jalandhar. And with his right leg he drew a circle (chakra) on the ground. He told Jalandhar that he will die when he (shiva) places the chakra on his head. Jalandhar challenged that it will not happen due to the chastity of his wife Vrinda. Vrinda was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva sent Lord Vishnu personified as Jalandhar to Vrinda. On seeing him and feeling him to be her husband Vrinda took him inside. At that instant she lost her chastity as she thought another person to be her husband. At that very instant Jalandhar placed chakra on his head and he was destroyed. When Vrinda came to know about this fact, she cursed Lord Vishnu to suffer in the same way by losing his wife. She jumped into the funeral fire and destroyed herself. Lord Vishnu lost his mental peace because of his action. Lord Shiva drop a seed in the ashes of Vrinda and the plant that came out is known as Tulasi. When a garland made of Tulasi leaves was put in the neck of Lord Vishnu he regained his mental peace and normalcy. Lord Vishnu wanted the chakra from Lord Shiva. He worshiped Lord Shiva with 100 lotus flowers and obtained the chakra. This virata of Lord Shiva is known as Jalandhar samhar.

Appar is said to have spent his last years at this place for upkeep of the temple. 

Festivals:

Saint Appar festival 

Avani (August-Sept) - Ganesh chaturthi 

Purattasi (Sept-oct) - Navaratri 

Aippasi (Oct-Nov) - Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival 

Kathigai (Nov-Dec) - Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam 

Thai (Jan-Feb) - Makar Sankranti 

Masi (Feb-Mar) - Shivaratri. 

Besides this the daily rituals, weekly pujas and fortnightly pradosha pujas are conducted. Arudra darshan is also celebrated.

Courtesy: https://temple.dinamalar.com/

Thirupariyalur Veeratteshwarar temple

This is the fourth temple in Ashta Veerattanam Sthalangal. It is situated at Keezha Parasalur located on the route from Mayiladuthurai to Sembanar Kovil. This is one of the 276 Paadal Pethra Sthalams on the southern bank of Kaveri and revered by Sambandhar. This place is connected with Daksha Samhar. 

Mulavar: Veeratteshwar, Dakshapureeshwarar, Yagasamharmurti

Utsav murti: Dakshasamhar murti

Devi: Balambika, Ilamkombanyal

Kshetra Vruksha: Jackfruit, Bilva, Parijjat (Pavazhamalli in Tamil)

Sacred Teertha: Uttarvedika, Homakunda, Chandrapushkarini

Puranik Name: Thirupariyalur

Present Name: Keezha Parasalur

District: Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu

At the entrance to the temple there is an iron tent (mandap).

This is a very small temple about 2000 years old facing the west. It has two corridors. There is no dwajasthambam. The Nandi and Balipeeth are in front of Shiva Linga. 

Idols and other shrines:

The Shrine of Ambal is south facing. In front mandap we have Veerabhadra Swamy who has six hands. Ardhajam puja is done only for Veerabhadra Swamy. There is a yantra behind the idol. Dakshasamhar murti is next to devi between Shiva and Ambal shrines. There is a shrine of Vinayaka, Vishwanath, Bhairav, Surya in the Prakaram. The koshta murtis are Goddess Durga, Lord Brahma, Lingodbhava, Lord Dakshinamurti, Chandikeshwar. Lord Subramanya (is known as Senthil Andavar) is standing with one leg on his mount peacock.

In place of dhwajasthambha we have an idol of Siddhivinayaka. A separate shrine is there for the Surya, but there are no Navagraha shrines. Daksha lies down at the feet of Lord Dakshapureeshwarar. We come across idols of Mahaganapati, Karpaga Vinayaka, Mahalakshmi, Kshetrapalakas, Shivasurya and four shaiva saints known as Nalvar. In the main hall we have the utsav murtis of Vinayaka, Veerabhara, Nataraja, and Somaskandha. In front of Veerabhadra’s idol we find the idol of Daksha (with the goat’s head) and his wife. In front of Kashi Vishwanath shrine we have the idol of Kalabhairav and Nardana Vinayaka. 

Special features: Rudra abhishek is a special feature for Lord Shiva as it started from this place. It is believed to be the first temple of Lord Veerabhadra. Lord Surya is believed to have lost a tooth as a punishment from Veerabhadra. Behind sanctum sanctorum on either side we have idols Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma in worshiping posture. Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns at this place. 

Kshetra Puran: 

Goddess Parvati who is known as Dakshayani was daughter of King Daksha Prajapati. She married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her father who hated Lord Shiva as he was with matted hair wearing only tiger skin and completely covered with ashes. He wanted to perform a yadnya at this place. He invited all gods, sages, rishis, but not Lord Shiva as he wanted to insult him. Goddess Parvati wished to attend the yadnya. She went to the yadnya against the advice of her husband. She was insulted and her husband was defamed in front of everyone by her father. She could not bear this insult and hence jumped into the homakunda. When Lord Shiva came to know about this event, he sent Lord Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali to destroy the yadnya. Veerabhadra reached this place and destroyed the yadnya. He punished everyone including Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Indra, Surya and Chandra. Daksha’s head was severed by Veerabhadra. Later, on the request of Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva pardoned Daksha and fitted him with a goat’s head. Daksha realizing his mistakes as an atonement prayed to Lord Shiva. His prayers sounded like the bleating of a goat. Hence these prayers are known as chamakams and each of them ends with the sound like a bleating of a goat known as cha me. Lord Shiva added this prayer to Rudram and stated that it should be chanted along with the rudra. 

The yadnya kunda later on became the temple tank. As Daksha conducted yadnya here, the place is known as Daksha puri. 

Since Lord Shiva withdrew all the boons given to Lord Daksha (this is known as Parithal) the place is known as Pariyalur. 

Those who worshiped at this place: Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati, Agni, Yama, Vayu, Varun, Kuber and Sapta rishis.

Festivals and worships at this place:

Fortnightly pradosh puja and daily worship is performed

Chitrai (Apr-May) On tamil New year day, six times abhishek is done.

Tamil month of Adi (July-August) On the first day of this tamil month abhishek is done to Dakshasamhar murti

Purattasi (Sept-Oct) Vinayaka Chaturthi festival

Thai (Jan-Feb) Makara Sankranti festival 

Vaikasi (May-June) special abhishek and worship on Shravana nakshatra.

Karthigai (Nov-Dec) Lord Shiva is taken in procession on the last Friday of Karthigai. Utsav murti’s procession is taken on Sunday

Margazhi (Dec-Jan) Arudra darshan 

Adi (July-Aug)  Purva Phalguni festival

Purattasi (Sept-Oct) Navratri festival

Aani (June-July) on Ashwin nakshatra special worship

Aipassi (Oct-Nov) Ashtami worship, Annabhishek

Thai (Jan-Feb) New Moon abhishek and rudra abhishek

Courtesy: https://www.dharisanam.com/