Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 158th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 41st Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
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 intent 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 wre 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”.
There are three stone
inscriptions in this temple which date back to the period of King Sundara
Pandiyan.
Eight
special places:
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 4th 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.
People who worshipped here:
Lord Vishnu, Lakshmi,
Brahma, Saraswathi, Indran, Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varunan, Vayu, Kuberan,
Saptharishis and all other celestial gods have worshipped Lord Shiva in this
temple.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is one of the “Atta (eight)
Veeratta Sthalam” and this temple is the fourth one.
·
This west facing temple with main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
·
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
shine 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
sides 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.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Veerateswarar, Sri Dakshapureeswarar, Sri Yaga Samharamurthi |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Ilamkombanayal, Sri Balambikai |
|
Theertham |
Uthiravedhika,
Homa Kundam, Chandra Pushkarani |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Paarijadam
(Pavazha Malli) tree |
BELIEF:
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 60th and 80th birth anniversaries.
On the Tamil new year
(April-May) Rudrabishekam is performed thrice in a year in the Tamil months of
Aani (Aswathi star day), Iyppasi (Ashtami day) and Thai (new moon day).
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Chithirai |
Apr-May |
6-time
abhishekam and special poojas are performed to the procession idol, Yaga
Samharamurthi. |
|
Vaikasi |
May-June |
Vaikasi Thiruvonam |
|
Aani |
June-July |
|
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
|
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
|
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Purattasi Chaturthi |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Annabishekam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
|
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Makar Sankranthi |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
|
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
|
HOW
TO REACH:
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.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Veeratteswarar Temple,
Keezha Parasalur (Thiru Parialur),
Tharangambadi,
Nagapattinam,
Tamil Nadu - 609 309.
LOCATION:
No comments:
Post a Comment