Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 191th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 74th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
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 as Elavar Kuzhali.
Eight Ashta Veeratanam:
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 Jalandhara.
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. The eight temples are: Tiruvadigai Veerattaaneswarar Temple at
Thiruvadigai, Tirukkovilur Veerateshwarar Temple at Tirukoilur,
Veerateswarar temple at Thiruvirkudi or Thirukkurukkai, Amirtagateswarar Temple at Thirukadaiyur, Vazhuvur Verateswarar Temple at Vazhuvoor, Keelaparasalur Veerateswarar Temple at
Tirupariyalur, Kandeeswarar Temple at Thirukkandiyur and Tiruvirkudi Veerataneswarar Temple at
Thiruvirkudi. Shiva in all these temples are described to have used bow
and arrow, trident and spear.
Indra and Brihaspati:
when Indra and Brihaspati were
going towards Mount Kailash to meet Shiva, they met a mendicant on the way who was Shiva
himself. Indra did not recognize and was asking him about the whereabouts of
Shiva, for which the medicant did not reply. Getting infuriated, Indra used his
weapon, the Vajrayudam on Shiva. Shiva was angry at Indra and immediately
opened the third eye to destroy Indra. Brihaspati recognized Shiva and prayed to him, requesting him to
pardon Indra.
To avoid killing Indra, Shiva directed the fire from his eye towards the ocean.
The fire when it met with the ocean created an asura who Brahma named
Jalandhara as he was born out of ocean. He also told the celestial deities that
since he emanated from the third eye of Shiva, he can be killed only by Shiva.
Jalandhara
under the aegies of the Guru Sukracharya became
very powerful. He defeated all celestial deities and Indra. Indra along
with other deities prayed to Shiva to destroy the demon. Jalandhara in the
meanwhile, married Tulasi (also
called Vrinda), the daughter of the Asura Kalanemi. Her chastity and devotion
to the husband, made him even more powerful. Shiva appeared as Veerateewarar
(also called Jalandharavathamurthy) There was severe fight between the Shiva
and Jalandhara in Virkudi, with both showing equal prowess. Each time Shiva
appeared overpowering Jalandhara, Tulasi's chastity was sving him. Vishnu in
the meanwhile tricked Tulasi by appearing as a sage and bringing bad dreams to
her. She approached the sage for relief, who created a mirage showing
Jalandhara being killed by Shiva with the sage bringing him back to life.
Tulasi was happy with the replica of Jalandhar, who was Vishnu himself. She
lost her chastity on account of the incident. Shiva in the meanwhile,
challenged Jalandhara to break a chariot, which he could not. Shiva killed the
demon with the chariot. Tulasi, in the meanwhile cursed Vishnu that he would
turn into a stone. Pleased by the devotion of her, Vishnu gave her a boon that
she will be part of every Vishnu worship and she would acquire equal place in
his heart as Lakshmi. Jalandhar, being born out of Shiva, got merged
into Shiva.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
The temple faces
the East and has a five-tiered rajagopuram.
·
The temple tank,
the Chakra Theertham is located outside the main entrance and another water
body named Sangu Theertham is located behind the temple.
·
The sanctum has
ardhamandapa before it and a Mahamandapa, the worship hall.
·
The Mahamandapa
houses the metal image of Kamadahanamurthy sported with six hands holding six
different weapons.
·
The important
image is that of Jalandharavathamurthy, a panchaloha image
sported with chakra in right hand and various weapons in the other hands.
·
The shrine of
Ambal in the form of Elavar Kuzhali faces South. The image is sported in
standing posture with four hands.
·
The ceiling in
the hall before the Ambal shrine has the twelve zodiac signs.
·
The temple has
two precincts and all the shrines in the temple are enshrined in rectangular
granite walls.
·
The outer
precicnt has the image of Vishnu and Tulsi built shrine, which is also believed
to be the place where Vishnu worshipped Shiva.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Veeratteswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Elavaar Kuzhali |
|
Theertham |
Chakra Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Tulasi |
BELIEF:
If one has any
difficulty while building a house, they are advised to come and pray here and
take a stone for use in the construction to solve the problem.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri and Masimagam |
HOW
TO REACH:
This
sivasthalam is located at about 10 Kms from thiruvarur. One has to travel on
the Tiruvarur - Mayiladuthurai road upto Surakkudi and take a right turn there
to reach Tiruvirkudi.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri
veeratteswarar temple,
Virkudi,
Tiruvarur,
Mayiladuturai,
Tamil Nadu.
LOCATION:
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