Thiru Kurukkai Sri Veeratteswarar Temple 26th of 63 on the north bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Mayiladuthurai

Visited on: 24^th July 2016, 10^th February, 2017 and 24^th March, 2018.

Location

Thiru Kurukkai is located at a distance of about 12 kms from Mayiladuthurai. From Mayiladuthurai, travel to Villiyanallur (8 kms) on the Mayiladuthurai to Manalmedu route and then take diversion road to Uchidamangalam (1 km). From Uchidamangalam, proceed further for about 3 kms to reach Kurukkai.

Other Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are –

Vaitheeswaran Koil, Kurumanakkudi, Thiruppunkur, Thiru Karuppariyalur, Thiru Kurakkukka, Thiru Vazhkoliputhur, Needur, Anniyur (Ponnur), Mayiladuthurai, Thiru Nintriyur, Thiru Nani Palli and Thiru Kadaimudi.

General Information

Moolavar

Sri Veeratteswarar

Ambal

Sri Gnanambikai

Theertham (Holy water)

Soola Theertham, Pasupathi Theertham

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Katukkai tree

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)-2

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 26^th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This is one of the Atta Veeratta Sthalams.
• This west facing temple has two corridors and it has a 5-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram).
• The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place on 29.04.1959.

History of the Temple

The historical names of this place are Yogeesapuram, Kaamathakanapuram and Kampakaapuram.

The stone inscriptions in this temple date back to the periods of Chola and Vijayanagara kingdoms.

This temple is under the administrative control of Dharumapuram Adheenam.

Atta Veeratta Sthalams

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 “Atta Veerattanam” (“Atta” means eight and “Veeram” means bravery). Thiru Kurukkai is the seventh Veeratta Sthalam where Lord Shiva was believed to have been burnt Manmathan and later blessed.

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;
• Thirukkadaiyur where Lord Yama was believed to have been kicked and punished to save Markandeya.

Legend

It is believed that Brahma, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Murugan and Rathi have worshiped the lord here. Manmathan, the deity of love and lust, was burnt here but was then brought back to life by Lord Shiva.

Thiru Kurukkai is associated with the legend of the death and rebirth of Manmathan (Kaaman). It is believed that two demons, Surapanman and Dharakan, were terrorising the celestial gods. The celestial gods tried to seek the help of Lord Shiva but the lord was in deep meditation. The celestial gods decided to send Manmathan to create a ruckus and awaken the lord. From this place (Kurukkai), Manmatha attempted to disturb Lord Shiva’s penance.

Manmathan sent five arrows towards Lord Shiva. Each arrow had a flower attached to it. Lord Shiva was disturbed when the flowers fell on him and he opened his eyes in anger. Such was the lord’s fury that fire came out of his third eye and burnt Manmathan.

Rathi, Manmathan’s wife pleaded to Lord Shiva to pardon her husband and restore him back to life. It is believed that in order to pacify Rathi, Lord Shiva brought Manmathan back to life and blessed both of them. The marks left by the five flowers, especially the lotus, can still be seen on this Shivalingam. Hence the lord here is praised as “Sri Kama Anga Naasan” and “Sri Kaamathakana Murthy”.

Manmathan is the creation of Lord Mahavishnu. Lord Mahavishnu was overcome by grief when Manmathan was killed by Lord Shiva. Hence, Lord Mahavishnu is named here as Sri Soha Hareswarar (“Soham” meaning sorrow in Tamil). There is a separate shrine for Lord Mahavishnu here.

There is a separate shrine for Sri Kaamathakana Murthy along with Goddess Parvathy (procession idols). Here Lord Shiva is sitting as “Yoga Murthy” (in a meditative posture) surrounded by Sanakathi Rishis. Since the lord here is in the form of Yoga Murthy, not everyone can get his darshan easily. It is believed that one has to have good fortune along with the lord’s blessings to get his darshan. Once you get this darshan of Lord Shiva, it is believed that your good time will start.

Various places around this village bear names of incidents connected with Manmathan’s tryst with Lord Shiva. Some of them are –

“Kanganam Puthur” - this is the place where he decided to disturb Lord Shiva’s penance. He tied a thread (“Kanganam” in Tamil) to his hand to mark the pledge that he made to the celestial gods.

He drank milk at Palakudi (“Pal” means milk). Took his bow at Villinur (“Vil” means bow). He first decided to shoot his arrow from a place called “Kavalamedu”. However, Kavalamedu was not suitable for this purpose. Hence, he came to Mettu Korkai and finally shot the arrow at Lord Shiva.

It is believed that after destroying Dakshan’s (his father-in-law) yagna, Lord Shiva decided to meditate under the Kadukkai tree here. Hence the lord here is also praised as Sri Yogeeswarar. The river Pazhavaaru, to the north of this village, is known as Gnana Theertham. It is believed that the tears of joy that flowed out of Lord Shiva’s eyes while he was in meditation merged with this river.

Another legend is that a sage called Theerthavahu used to visit various Shiva temples and perform rituals by invoking river Ganges through his Yogic powers. However, in this place while he was trying to get water from Ganges his arms got shrunk and he could not offer the water to the lord. It is believed that this happened because the Soola Theertham in front of this temple is considered to be more auspicious than the Ganges. He prayed to Lord Vinayakar and Lord Shiva here who then restored his arms back to their original form. Hence this place gets the name “Kuru Kai” (“kuruki” means to shrink and “kai” means arm in Tamil). Also, the idol of Lord Vinayakar here is depicted with shorter arms and is praised as Sri Kurunkai Vinayakar. The idol of Sage Theerthavahu can also be seen beside this Vinayakar’s idol.

Deities in the temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Mahalakshmi, Suryan, Chandran, Bairavar,

Kurungai Vinayakar, Navagraham and Soha Hareswarar (Mahavishnu) can be seen in the hall and corridor.

There is a separate shrine for Sri Kaamathakana Murthy who is in a seated posture. His left leg is folded and his right leg hangs down. His right hand is in the “Abhaya Mudra” and his left hand is placed on his left leg.

Procession idols of Rathi and Manmathan are also placed in the main hall.

In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Maha Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai and Chandikeswarar can be seen.

Salient Features

Behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either side of Lord Annamalaiyar, 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.

Near this temple (about ½ km away), there is a place called “Vibhoothi Kuttai” where Manmadan (Kaaman) is believed to have been burnt.

Lord Natarajar’s Sabha here is known as “Kaamanaasini Sabha” and “Sambu Vinotha Sabha”. The cosmic dance (“Thandavam”) of this Nataraja is known as “Veera Natanam”.

Saint Arunagirinadhar has sang songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.

The front hall (Mandapam) of this temple is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (“Vovval Nethi Mandapam”). This looks very beautiful.

The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of semi-circular tank (akazhi in Tamil).

Greatness of this temple

Devotees believe that worshiping the lord here will cleanse them of the sins that they may have unintentionally accrued.

Devotees also believe that by worshiping the lord here, they will be blessed with mental strength and fortitude.

“Puthrakameshti Yaga” can be performed in this temple by those seeking child boon (“Santhana Prapthi”).

This temple is also a Parihara Sthalam for “Varga dosham”.

Important Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in the temple are –

10-day “Kamathakana” festival in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar),

Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct),

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

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

Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), and

Masi Maham and Maha Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar).

Pradosham is also observed regularly

Temple Timings

From 06.30 AM to 12.00 Noon and from 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Veeratteswarar Temple,
Kurukkai,
Needur Post,
Mayiladuthurai Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,
Tamil Nadu – 609203.
Tele: +91 4365 22389.