Veerateeswarar Temple, Thirupariyalur

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Coordinates: 11°05′27″N 79°43′33″E / 11.090815°N 79.725804°E / 11.090815; 79.725804
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Veerataneswarar temple
Gopura of the Veerataneswarar Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMayiladuthurai
DeityVeerataneswarar (Shiva)
Location
LocationThirupariyalur
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Veerateeswarar Temple, Thirupariyalur is located in Tamil Nadu
Veerateeswarar Temple, Thirupariyalur
Shown within Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates11°05′27″N 79°43′33″E / 11.090815°N 79.725804°E / 11.090815; 79.725804
Architecture
TypeDravidian

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 form of Veerateswarar and his consort is known as Ilam Kobanayal. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, the 276 temples that find mention in it.

As per Hindu legend, Shiva is believed to have destroyed eight different demons and the eight Ashta Veeratanam temples are built signifying each of his victories. The temple is counted one of the eight where Shiva is believed to have punished Daksha.

The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and few yearly festivals on its calendar. The present masonry structure was built during the

Thanjavur Nayaks
. The temple is maintained and administered by the Dharmapuram Aadhenam.

Legend

Temple legend in sculpture

As per

Shakti Peethas
. Dakshayani wanted to meet her sisters and father, though her father had not invited her husband. Shiva discouraged her from attending the event as an uninvited guest, but she persisted and attended the event. Daksha insulted her and her husband in front of the guests. She was insisting on depicting the havirbhaga, the prime offering of the yajna to her husband, which Daksha refused. She was unable to bear the insult, ran into the sacrificial fire and immolated herself.

Shiva, upon hearing the terrible incident became furious and invoked

Bhoota ganas marched south and destroyed all the premises of Daksha, who was decapitated. Daksha's wives were pleading with Shiva, upon whose request Shiva forgave and brought him to life by attaching a goat's head. The Yajna was allowed to be completed in the presence of all demi-gods and sages. The place came to be known as Dakshapuram (place of Dakhsan) and since Shiva destroyed the wrongdoings of all the celestial deities for attending the yagna in his absence, it came to be known as Pariyalur (pari in Tamil means taking away).[1]

Architecture

Lingobhava in the temple

The temple is located in Pariyalur, a village 2 km (1.2 mi) away from

Vinayagar and Pradoshanayagar. The shrine of Ambal in the form of Ilangodiamman faces west. The image is sported in standing posture with four hands. The temple has two precincts and all the shrines in the temple are enshrined in rectangular granite walls.[1] The five-tiered rajagopuram is a recent addition to the temple. The temple does not have the Navagrahas, the nine planetary deities, but just Surya, the Sun god. The temple is administered by Dharmapuram Adheenam.[2]

Religious significance

View of the gopuram of the temple

It is one of the shrines of the 275

River Kaveri.[6]

Tirugnanasambandar describes the feature of the deity as:[7]

விளங்கொண் மலர்மே லயனோத வண்ணன்

துளங்கும் மனத்தார் தொழத்தழ லாய்நின்றான்
இளங்கொம் பனாளோ டிணைந்தும் பிணைந்தும்

விளங்குந் திருப்பறியல் வீரட்டத் தானே.

Festival and religious practices

The temple priests perform the

pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. There is a temple procession during the Sundays of the Tamil month of Karthigai.[8]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-81-7950-707-0
    .
  2. ^ Dr. R., Selvaganapathy, ed. (2013). Saiva Encyclopaedia volume 4 - Thirumurai Thalangal. Chennai, India: Saint Sekkizhaar Human Resource Development Charitable Trust. pp. 313–14.
  3. ISBN 9789352065523
    .
  4. ISBN 978-81-908445-3-6
    .
  5. ^ R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 458–9.
  6. ISBN 9781684666041
    .
  7. ^ Tirugnanasambandar Tevaram, I: 134:9
  8. ^ "Sri Veerateeswarar temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

External links

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