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/