Veerateeswarar Temple (also called Thirukoilur Veerattam) in
Tirukoilur
Tirukoilur also spelt as ''Tirukkoyilur'' or ''Tirukovilur'' is a city and the headquarters of Tirukoilur taluk in Kallakurichi District, Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located on the southern bank of Thenpennai River and famous for Ulagala ...
, a panchayat town in
Villupuram district in the South Indian state of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...
, is dedicated to the Hindu god
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
. Constructed in the
Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the
Cholas
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil thalassocratic empire of southern India and one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of the world. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated to the 3rd century BCE d ...
period in the 10th century. Shiva is worshipped as Veerateeswarar and his consort
Parvathi
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi in ...
as Periyanayagi.
The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''
Tevaram
The ''Thevaram'' ( ta, தேவாரம், ), also spelled ''Tevaram'', denotes the first seven volumes of the twelve-volume collection ''Tirumurai'', a Śaiva narrative of epic and puranic heroes, as well as a hagiographic account of early ...
'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the
Nayanmars
The Nayanars (or Nayanmars; ta, நாயன்மார், translit=Nāyaṉmār, translit-std=ISO, lit=hounds of Siva, and later 'teachers of Shiva ) were a group of 63 Tamil Hindu saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries CE who were de ...
and classified as ''
Paadal Petra Sthalam
The Paadal Petra Sthalam, also known as Thevara Sthalam, are 276 temples that are revered in the verses of Saiva Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE and are amongst the greatest Shiva temples of the continent. The Divya Desams by comparison ar ...
''. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has two three-tiered
Rajagopuram
A ''gopuram'' or ''gopura'' ( Tamil: கோபுரம், Malayalam: ഗോപുരം, Kannada: ಗೋಪುರ, Telugu: గోపురం) is a monumental entrance tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in the South I ...
s, the gateway tower, one each for the Veerateeswarar and Periyanagi shrines.
The temple is open from 6 am - 12 pm and 4-8:30 pm on all days except during new moon days when it is open the full day. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Masimaham festival celebrated during the
Tamil month of ''Maasi'' (February - March), Karthigai Somavaram during the Tamil month of ''Karthigai'' (October - November) and Manickavasagar festival during the Tamil month of ''Margazhi'' (December - January) being the most prominent festivals. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the
Government of Tamil Nadu
Government of Tamil Nadu is the subnational government for the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is seated at Fort St George, Chennai. The legislature of Tamil Nadu was bicameral until 1986, when it was replaced by a unicameral legislature, lik ...
.
Legend
VEERATESHWARA SWAMY
ASHTAA ASHTA BAIRAVESHWARAR
MAHA MRITYUNJAYA PARAMESHWARAR
SUKRAPUREESHWARAR
As per Hindu legend, Shiva appeared in the form of Andakasura samhara murthy to slay the demon king Andakasura.
Andakasura was a demon who attained powers close to immortality on account of his severe penance to
Brahma
Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 21 ...
, the Hindu god of creation. The boon attained had just one condition that when he lusts his mother, he would be killed. He made undue use of his powers and was troubling humans and celestial deities. During one such encounters, he started lusting toward
Parvathi
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi in ...
, the wife of Shiva and who was like his mother. Shiva appeared as Andakasura samhara murthy and slayed Andaka with his trident. Realising his mistake, he pleaded Shiva to make him a devotee of his in the next birth. It is believed that Shiva readily agreed and Andaka was born as Gana Bhringi.
The temple finds mention in
Sangam literature
The Sangam literature (Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam'';) historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' (Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ'') connotes ...
in
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nati ...
from 3rd BC to 3rd centuries CE like ''
Agananuru'', ''
Purananuru
The ''Purananuru'' (, literally "four hundred oemsin the genre puram"), sometimes called ''Puram'' or ''Purappattu'', is a classical Tamil poetic work and traditionally the last of the Eight Anthologies (''Ettuthokai'') in the Sangam literatu ...
'', ''
Natrinai'' and ''
Kurunthokai''. Malayaman Tirumudikari, the ruler of Thirukovilur, was praised in the texts for his charitable disposition to the institutions. It is believed that
Avvaiyar
Avvaiyar (Tamil: ஔவையார்) was the title of more than one female poet who were active during different periods of Tamil literature. They were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon.
Abidhana Chinta ...
, the celebrated Sangam period poet, arranged marriage for two chieftains at this place. Poet Kapilar is believed to have found suitable grooms for king Pari's daughters Angavai and Sangavai at this place and set himself on fire. The event is commemorated every year in a huge rock called Kapilar Kal, where a small shrine exists even in modern times. It is reenacted during the Maasi Magam festival.
Rajanarayana Sambuvaraya was a chieftain of
Medieval Cholas whose contributions are documented in his inscriptions across various temples in modern-day
Villupuram,
Cuddalore
Cuddalore, also spelt as Kadalur (), is the city and headquarters of the Cuddalore District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Situated south of Chennai, Cuddalore was an important port during the British Raj.
While the early history of Cudda ...
,
Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai (Tamil: ''Tiruvaṇṇāmalai'' IPA: , otherwise spelt ''Thiruvannamalai''; ''Trinomali'' or ''Trinomalee'' on British records) is a city, a spiritual, cultural, economic hub and also the administrative headquarters of Tiruvanna ...
and
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple ...
districts and also in his
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
work ''Madhuravijayam''. He repaired, revived the services and inaugurated festivals of the temple.
Architecture
![Thirukovilur Veerateeswarar8](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Thirukovilur_Veerateeswarar8.JPG)
Veerateeswarar temple is located in Thirukoilur, a town panchayat located on the banks of Then Pennai river, located from
Villupuram. The temple has two parallel structures, each of which has a three-tiered ''
Rajagopuram
A ''gopuram'' or ''gopura'' ( Tamil: கோபுரம், Malayalam: ഗോപുരം, Kannada: ಗೋಪುರ, Telugu: గోపురం) is a monumental entrance tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in the South I ...
'', the gateway tower. The temple has large granite rectangular walls that houses all the shrines. The sanctum sanctorum houses the image of Veerateeswarar in the form of
Lingam
A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotional im ...
, an iconic form of Shiva. There is an Ardha
Mandapa
A mandapa or mantapa () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture.
Mandapas are described as "open" or "closed" depending on whether they have walls. In temples, ...
and a Mukha mandapa, pillared halls leading to the sanctum. The first precinct has the shrines of
Vinayakar,
Murugan
Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesha ...
,
Durga
Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars.
Durga's legend centres around co ...
,
Dakshinamurthy
Dakshinamurthy () is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as a guru (teacher) of all types of knowledge. This aspect of Shiva, as the original guru, is his personification as the supreme or the ultimate awareness, understanding and knowledge. Thi ...
and
Chandikeswara. The first precinct also houses metal image of
Nataraja
Nataraja () also known as Adalvallaan () is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the divine cosmic dancer. His dance is called Tandava.''Encyclopædia Britannica'' (2015) The pose and artwork are described in many Hindu texts such as the ''T ...
,
Somaskanda
Somaskanda is a particular form of representation of Shiva with his consort Parvati, and Skanda as a child. This family group depiction of Shiva originated during the 6th-8th centuries during the period of the Pallava in South India. The represe ...
and
Andakasura. The second structure houses the image of Periyanayagi. Like the Shiva temple, here also the sanctum is approached through an Ardha Mandapa and Mukha mandapa. There is a precinct around the sanctum.
[
]
Festival
The temple follows Saivite tradition. The temple priests perform the '' pooja'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaivaite
Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangin ...
community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Kalasanthi'' at 6:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 11:30 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandam kalam'' at 7:30 p.m., and ''Ardha jamam'' between 8:00 - 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Veerateeswarar and Amirthambigai.There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 6am - 12 pm and 4-8:30 pm.
The Maasimagam festival celebrated during the Tamil month of ''Maasi'' (February - March), Karthigai Somavaram during the Tamil month of ''Karthigai'' (October - November) and Manickavasagar festival during the Tamil month of ''Margazhi'' (December - January) are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple. There are other common festivals like Shivaratri, Vinayaga Chaturthi, Vijayadasami and Karthigai Deepam celebrated in the temple. There is a wish tree in the compound having Naga
Naga or NAGA may refer to:
Mythology
* Nāga, a serpentine deity or race in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions
* Naga Kingdom, in the epic ''Mahabharata''
* Phaya Naga, mythical creatures believed to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong Riv ...
, a snake representation. Childless couple pray for the attaining child by placing or installing the stone symbols praying Vakrakali.[
]
Religious significance
Tirugnana Sambandar, a 7th-century Tamil ''Saivite'' poet, venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in ''Tevaram
The ''Thevaram'' ( ta, தேவாரம், ), also spelled ''Tevaram'', denotes the first seven volumes of the twelve-volume collection ''Tirumurai'', a Śaiva narrative of epic and puranic heroes, as well as a hagiographic account of early ...
'', compiled as the '' First Tirumurai''. Appar
Appar, also referred to as ( ta, திருநாவுக்கரசர்) or Navukkarasar, was a seventh-century Tamil Śaiva poet-saint. Born in a peasant Śaiva family, raised as an orphan by his sister, he lived about 80 years and is ...
, a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in ''Tevaram'', compiled as the ''Fifth Tirumurai''. Sundarar
Sundarar (Tamil: சுந்தரர்), also referred to as Chuntarar, Chuntaramurtti, Nampi Aruran or Tampiran Tolan, was an eighth-century poet-saint of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta tradition of Hinduism. He is among the Tevaram trio, and one o ...
, a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in ''Tevaram'', compiled as the ''Seventh Tirumurai''. As the temple is revered in ''Tevaram'', it is classified as ''Paadal Petra Sthalam
The Paadal Petra Sthalam, also known as Thevara Sthalam, are 276 temples that are revered in the verses of Saiva Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE and are amongst the greatest Shiva temples of the continent. The Divya Desams by comparison ar ...
'', one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon.[ ]Appar
Appar, also referred to as ( ta, திருநாவுக்கரசர்) or Navukkarasar, was a seventh-century Tamil Śaiva poet-saint. Born in a peasant Śaiva family, raised as an orphan by his sister, he lived about 80 years and is ...
is believed to have visited the temple during the series of visits from Thiruvennainallur to Thiruvamathur and Pennadam
Pennadam (Pen Aavu Kadam) is a panchayat town in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Geography
Pennadam has an average elevation of 54 metres (177 feet). Sudarkozhundeeswarar Temple was built in the early Chola peri ...
.
As per legends, Shiva is believed to have destroyed eight different demons namely Andakasuran, Gajasuran, Jalandasuran, Thirupuradhi, Kaman, Arjunan, Dakshan and Taaragasuran. There are Ashta Veeratanam temples built signifying each of his victories in the war, and also as places where he is believed to have performed with fury.[ Madhavan 2014, p. 145] The eight temples are: Tiruvadigai Veerattaaneswarar Temple at Thiruvadigai, Tirukkovilur Veerateshwarar Temple at Tirukoilur
Tirukoilur also spelt as ''Tirukkoyilur'' or ''Tirukovilur'' is a city and the headquarters of Tirukoilur taluk in Kallakurichi District, Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located on the southern bank of Thenpennai River and famous for Ulagala ...
, Veerateswarar temple at Korukkai or Thirukkurukkai, Amirtagateswarar Temple at Thirukadaiyur
Thirukkadaiyur (Thirukadavur) is a village on the east coast of Tamil Nadu, about 300 km south of Chennai and 15 km north of Karaikal. The history of the village is associated with the legends of Markandeya and Abirami Pattar. The vil ...
, Vazhuvur Verateswarar Temple at Vazhuvoor
Vazhuvoor (or Vizhuvur) is one of the original styles of Bharatanatyam, a major form of Indian classical dance.
The main distinctive features include:
*rich ''sringar'' elements
*wide range of dancing pace
*softer facial ''abhinaya''
*extremely ...
, Keelaparasalur Veerateswarar Temple
Veerateswarar Temple (also called Dakshapureeswarat temple) is a Hindu temple located at Keelaparasalur in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of the place is Tirupparialur. The presiding deity is Shiva in the for ...
at Tirupariyalur, Kandeeswarar Temple at Thirukkandiyur
Kandeeswarar Temple (also called Brahmakandeeswarar temple, Brahmasirakandeeswarar temple and Veerataneeswarar temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located in Kandiyur also known as Thirukkandiyur or Tirukkandiyur, near Tiruvai ...
and Tiruvirkudi Veerataneswarar Temple
Veerateeswarar Temple (also called Thiruvirkudi Veerateeswarar temple) is a Hindu temple located at Thiruvirkudi in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva in the form of Veerateswarar and his consort is known ...
at Thiruvirkudi.[ Shiva in all these temples are described to have used bow and arrow, trident and spear.
]
References
External links
{{Famous Shiva temples, state=collapsed
Padal Petra Stalam
Shiva temples in Viluppuram district
category:Ashta Veeratta Stalam