Thiru Parialur Sri Veerateswarar Temple 41st of 129 on the south bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Mayiladuthurai

Visited on: November 3, 2017.

Location

Keezhap Parasalur is situated at a distance of about 11 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai to Sembanar Koil route. Take diversion road to Nalladai from Sembanar Koil and proceed further for about 3 kms to reach this temple.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are –

Mayiladuthurai, Vilanagar, Thiruppallavaneecharam (Poompuhar), Chayavanam, Thiruvenkadu, Kezhai Thirukkattuppalli, Sembanar Koil, Thirukkalikkamur (Annappan Pettai), Nani Palli, Valampuram (Mela Perumpallam), Thalaichangadu, Aakkur, Thirukkadaiyur and Thirukkadaiyur Mayanam.

General information

Moolavar

Sri Veerateswarar, Sri Dakshapureeswarar, Sri Yaga Samharamurthi

Ambal

Sri Ilamkombanayal, Sri Balambikai

Theertham (Holy water)

Uthiravedhika, Homa Kundam, Chandra Pushkarani

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Paarijadam (Pavazha Malli) tree

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 41^st Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This is one of the “Atta (eight) Veeratta Sthalam” and this temple is the fourth one.
• This west facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place in the year 2011.

History of the temple

There are three stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the period of King Sundara Pandiyan.

This ancient temple is under the administrative control of Dharumapuram Adheenam.

In Hindu mythology, there are eight special places where it is believed that Lord Shiva vanquished various demons and exhibited acts of bravery. These places are Veeratta Sthalams. In Tamil, this is referred to as “Ashta Veerattanam” (“Ashta” means eight and “Veeram” means bravery). Keezha Parasalur is the 4^th Veerattanam where Dakshan’s yagna was stopped and he was killed. The other seven Veeratta Sthalams are –

• Thirukkandiyur where one of Lord Brahma’s five heads was plucked;
• Thirukkovilur where the demon Andhakasuran was vanquished;
• Thiruvathigai where the lord is believed to have done the “Thiripura Samharam”.
• Keezha Parasalur where Dakshan’s yagna was stopped and he was killed;
• Thiruvirkudi where the demon Jalandharasuran was killed;
• Thiru Vazhuvur where the elephant Gajasuran was vanquished;
• Thiru Korukkai where Manmathan was burnt and later blessed.
• Thirukkadaiyur where Lord Yama was believed to have been kicked and punished to save Sage Markandeya.

Legend

The legend of this temple revolves around Dakshan, also known as “Dakshaprajapathi”, the son of Lord Brahma. His daughter Dhaakshayani was married to Lord Shiva. Dakshan was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva and gained lot of boons. He became over pride and arrogance and intentionally not invited Lord Shiva to his yagam, which he was organized in a grand manner. In spite of this, he intentionally failed to invite Lord Shiva for this grand Yagna that he performed in Thiru Pariyal Veerattam. But he invited other Devas.

Goddess Dhaakshayani decided to visit the Yagna against the wishes of her husband. Instead of participating in the yagna, she intended to go there and ask her father to correct his mistake. But clouded by arrogance and pride, Dakshan not only humiliated her, he also disrespected Lord Shiva. Furious Dhaakshayani cursed her father that his Yagna would not be successful. She came back to Lord Shiva and requested him to disrupt the Yagna.

It is believed that Lord Shiva created Veerabadrar and Badrakali and sent them to destroy Dakshan and the yagna. Veerabadrar beheaded Dakshan and put his head in the fire. Veerabadrar also punished the guests by making them handicapped for accepting Dakshan’s invitation knowing that he had erred in ignoring Lord Shiva. The guests who were punished included lords Vishnu, Brahma, Indiran, Suryan and Chandran. Dakshan pleaded to Lord Shiva for his life. Thereafter Lord Shiva appeared at the yagna, pardoned the guests and reverted all the punishment meted out by Veerabadrar. He also pardoned Dakshan and saved his life by placing a goat’s head in place of his original head.

Dakshan realised his mistake and started praying to Lord Shiva. He also composed a long poem. Since Dakshan’s head had been replaced with that of a goat, his prayer sounded like the bleating of a goat. These prayers are called “Chamakam” and each line ends with syllable “may”. Pleased with his prayers, Lord Shiva told him that his prayer poem will be added to the “Rudram” and will be recited together in future.

Dakshan then performed a pooja here with the new Rudram. This was called “Sri Rudra Homam” / “Rudra Abhishekam” for the first time. It is believed that the Rudra Homam/ Rudra Abhishekam started from this temple.

As Dakshan selected this place to conduct his yagna, this place gets the name “Daksha Puri”. Since Lord Shiva withdrew (“Parithal” in Tamil) the boons granted to Dakshan, this place also gets the name “Thiru Pariyalur”.

It is believed that Vishnu, Lakshmi, Brahma, Saraswathi, Indran, Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varunan, Vayu, Kuberan, Saptharishis and all other celestial gods have worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple.

Deities in the temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of lords, Maha Ganapathy, Karpaga Vinayakar, Mahalakshmi, Kshethra Balakar, Sivasuryan, Karpaga Vinayagar and Naalvar can be seen in the corridors.

The procession idols of lords Vinayakar, Veerabadhrar, Natarajar and Somaskandar are placed in the main hall. The procession idol (Urchavar) of Veerabathrar has 6 hands. Dakshan is seen under the feet of Lord Shiva. Dakshan (with a goat’s head) along with his wife can also be seen in front of Veerabathrar’s idol.

Senthilandavar can be seen in standing posture with one of his legs placed on his peacock mount.

In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar (Brahma and Vishnu on both sides), Brahma, Durgai and Chandikeswarar can be seen.

There is a separate shrine for Kashi Viswanathar in the corridor. At the entrance of this shrine, on either side, idols of Kaala Bairavar and Narthana Ganapathy can be seen.

There is a separate shrine for Lord Sidhi Vinayakar in front of this temple.

Sri Yaaga Samhaaramurthy

Salient features

This temple is famous for performing “Rudra Abhishekam” to Lord Shiva.

It is believed that this is the first temple for Lord Veerabadrar. Veerabadrar is also praised as “Akasa Bairavar”, “Aghora Veerabadrar”, “Periyandavar” and “Pethandavar”.

It is believed that due to the punishment by Veerabadrar, Suryan, the Sun God lost a tooth. He has a separate shrine in this temple and he is thought to be worshipping Lord Shiva every day for the wrong that he has committed.

There is no Navagraham in this temple.

Behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either side of Lord Lingothbavar, there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma in a worshipping posture. Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three lords (Trimurthys) – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is considered to be very auspicious.

There is a sculpture in the outside wall of the sanctum depicting demon Dakshan worshiping Lord Shiva.

The idols of both the Dwarabalkas in the sanctum are very beautiful.

Saint Arunagirinadhar has also sung in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.

Greatness of this temple

Since “Rudra Abhishekam” started from this temple, performing this pooja to Lord Shiva here is considered to be very auspicious. By performing this pooja, devotees will be relieved from all kinds of “doshas”.

This temple is also famous for celebrating one’s 60^th and 80^th birth anniversaries.

Important festivals

On the Tamil new year (April-May) 6-time abhishekam and special poojas are performed to the procession idol, Yaga Samharamurthi.

Rudrabishekam is performed thrice in a year in the Tamil months of Aani (Aswathi star day), Iyppasi (Ashtami day) and Thai (new moon day).

Some of the other festivals celebrated here are -

Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov),

Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan),

Purattasi Chaturthi (Sept-Oct),

Makar Sankranthi (14th January) and

Vaikasi Thiruvonam (May-June).

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple timings

From 07:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 05:00 PM to 07:00 PM.

Temple address

Sri Veeratteswarar Temple,
Keezha Parasalur (Thiru Parialur) Post,
Tharangambadi Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,
Tamil Nadu - 609 309.
Tele: +91-4364- 205555, 287 429.

Temple priest Sri S.Shanmugasundara Gurukkal and S.Sreenath Gurukkal can be contacted at: 9943348035, 9626552835 and 9443785616.