Shri Veeratteshwarar Temple Thiruvirkudi

The temple is about 1500 years old. This is the fifth Shiva temple of the Ashtavirattam Sthala. This temple is situated in Thiruvirkudi in Thiruvarur district of Tamilnadu. This place is at a distance of 11 kms from Thiruvarur, 10 kms from Thirupanaiyur, 43 kms from Kumbhakonam, 30 kms from Nagapattinam and 37 kms from Mayiladuthurai

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.

This place was revered by Shaiva Saints Sambandhar and Appar. Hence the place must have existed before the 7th century. It was reconstructed as a stone structure during the Chola period. It was further extended by Pandya kings, Vijayanagar kings and Nattu Kottai Nagarathars. There are stone inscriptions in the temple which give an account of the work done, donations and contributions made by various Chola kings.

Moolavar: Shri Veeratteshwarar
Devi: Shri Parimal Nayaki, Shri Ezhawarkuzhali
Utsavar: Shri Jalandharsamhar Moorti
Kshetra Vruksha: Tulasi Plant
Sacred Theertha: Chakra Theertha, Shankha Theertha
Puranik Name and Present Name: Thiruvirkudi
District: Thiruvarur, Tamilnadu

Kshetra Purana:

1. 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. 

2. 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 dropped 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 Veeratta form of Lord Shiva is known as Jalandhar Samhar.

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

Those who worshiped at this place:
Shaiva Saint Appar, Lord Indra, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu

Special Features:

1. This place is considered as Vastu Dosha Nivrutti sthala. 

2. People believe that taking a small stone for the construction of the house removes the Vastu Dosha. 

3. This is a parihar sthala for Pitru Dosha. 

4. This place is famous for Maruti worship.

5. At the entrance there is a sculpture of Naga linga which is very beautiful.

6. Shiva linga is a Swayambhu Linga.

7. A Nandi made of copper plate is in the front of Shiva Linga.

8. The utsav moorti, Jalandhar Samhar moorti is bronze idol

9. In Ambika’s shrine on the sealing there is a baas relief of 12 zodiac signs 

About the temple:

This is a west facing temple. The temple has a five tier Rajagopuram with 2 prakarams. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Ardha Mandap and Mukha Mandap. The Chakra Theertha is in front of Rajagopuram and is very large. Dhwajastambha, Dwar Ganapati are in front of the sanctum. There is a Vinayaka temple near the tank. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga on a square pedestal (avudayar). Devi is facing north in her shrine. A Nandi made of copper is in front of the Shiva Linga. 

Koshta Moortis: Lord Brahma, Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Dakshinamoorti, Goddess Durga and Nardana Vinayaka.  

Other shrines and idols:

On entering the temple there is a Naga Linga. 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 Lord Ganesha, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai, Lord Bhairav, Nalvar, Lord Somaskandar and Navagrahas are in the outer parikrama. There is a well in the temple known as Gnyan Theertha. Shiva linga worshiped by Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Bhairav and Goddess Bhairavi. Idols of Lord Shani, Navagraha shrine, Surya, Goddess Pidari Amman, Goddess Mari Amman, and Lord Chandikeshwar.

In the Ardha Mandap we come across Nataraja Sabha and utsav moortis. The utsav moorti is a bronze idol of Jalandhar Samhar moorti. He holds a Chakra in right hand and holds a deer (Maan in Tamil), Mazhu (a weapon) and has Abhaya Mudra in one of his hands. Goddess Ambika is in a separate north facing shrine. On the ceiling of the Mandap in her shrine there is a baas relief of 12 zodiac signs. It is believed that if one prays under it, his wishes will be fulfilled.

Prayers:

1. Devotees believe that the difficulties faced by them while building a house are overcome by taking a stone for building the house from this place.

2. Devotees believe that Pitru Dosha is relieved by worshiping at this place. 

3. Devotees believe that this is one of the best places for the worship of Lord Anjaneya.

4. It is believed that by worshiping at this place one can overcome the curse of ancestors.

Poojas:

Daily rituals, weekly poojas and fortnightly pradosha poojas are conducted. Arudra darshan is also celebrated.

Festivals:

Saint Appar festival 

Avani (August-Sept): Ganesh chaturthi 

Purattasi (Sept-oct): Navaratri 

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

Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Festival of light known as Karthigai Deepam 

Thai (Jan-Feb): Makar Sankranti 

Maasi (Feb-Mar): Shivaratri. 

Timings: 6 am to 12 noon, 4.30 pm to 8 pm

Address: 

Shri Veeratteshwarar Temple
Thiruvirkudi,
District Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu 609405

Phone: +91-9443921146, +91-8870887717

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