Sri Veeratteswarar Temple, Thiruppariyalur (Parasallur), Mayiladuthurai - 275 Shiva Temples

41. Sri Veeratteswarar Temple, Thiruppariyalur (Parasallur), Mayiladuthurai (Chola Nadu - South of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Veeratteswarar, Sri Dakshapureeswarar
Name of Goddess : Sri Ilamkombanayal, Sri Balambikai
Holy water (Theertham) : Uthraveethi Theertham
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Vilvam, Pala
Thevaram : Thiru Gnana Sambandhar
District : Nagapattinam.
Location : Mayiladuthurai.
Timings : 06:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 04:00 p.m. to 08:00 p.m

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This is the 41th sthalam on the southern side of river Cauvery. Thiruganasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thiruppariyalur/Parasallur/Ashta Veerttanam/Dakshninapuram is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam is located in Tharangampadi, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu. In this temple Lord Shiva worshiped in the form of a self-manifested Linga. This Shivastalam is one of the 8 Veerattastalams of Shiva, also known as Dakshapuram located 8 km east of Mayiladuturai. The Yaga Samhara moorthy image is a specimen of the craftmanship of the ancient Tamils. Tiruppariyalur is considered to be the 15th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri.

Important Features:

• This temple classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
• This is one of the Ashta veeratta sthalam, there is a sculpture in the wall of moolasthanam near Koshta Ganapathy depicting Dakshan worshiping Lord Shiva.
• The temple is facing west and there is a small Kodimararam. The Rajagopuram was built recently.
• Sannadhi for Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddesses Sri Valli & Deivayanai, Lord Nandikeshwara, Chandeswarar, Lord Veerabhadra, Lord Nataraja & Sivakami, Vishwanathar & Visalakshi, Lord Bhairava, Lord Surya, Lord Somaskandha, Goshtamurtham – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Dakshinamurthi, Goddess Sri Durga, Lord Ganesha, Lord Lingodbhavar, Nalvar.
• Moolavar is suyambu on a square aavudayar.
• Artha jaama pooja is offered only for Lord Bairavar

This is a small temple with a single prakaram. Inscriptions from the priod of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya and Krishnadevaraya are found here. Four worship services are offered here each day. Sundays in the month of Kartikai (Scorpio) are considered sacred, and the festival images are taken around in procession then. Other festivals celebrated here include Arudra Darisanam, Aadi Pooram and Navaratri.

Gallery Of Veeratteswarar Temple:

Please click on above images to enlarge.

History / Legend:

The temple is praised in the hymns of saint Arunagirinathar. There is a special shrine for Sun God, hence no special Navagraha-nine planets shrine. This is the place where Lord destroyed Daksha and his yajna. Arthajama Puja-final night puja is dedicated to Lord Bhairava. Daksha is at the feet of Lord Dakshapureeswarar.

The legend has that Dakshaprajapathi conducted a grand Yagna without welcoming Lord Shiva and daughter Sati. All the deities and Sages were invited with due honor and respect except Lord Shiva. Dakshaprajapati approached Lord Vishnu and Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi at Sri Vaikundham and requested their presence for the Yagna. Lord Vishnu & Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi describes the significance of Trinities and discourages Dakshaprajapathi from his very intention to offend Lord Shiva. But, Dakshaprajapathi subtly persuade Lord and reminded the boon he had obtained from Lord Vishnu, subsequently his promise to protect the fire sacrifices of Dakshaprajapathi.

Goddess Sati was deeply hurt at the act of her father Dakshaprajapathi and requested Lord Shiva to accompany her to father’s Yagna. Lord Shiva reveals his unwillingness to take part in the Yagna with proper justifications and revealed his intention not to create any intolerable incidents by paying visit to his father. Lord Shiva narrates to Goddess Sati about the principal role of worshiper for the performance of Yagna. The performance of fire sacrifice requires utmost faith, devotion and tranquility of mind to serve its purpose. Subsequently Goddess Sati had a heated argument with Lord and left Mount Kailash with Nandikeshwara heavy heartedly. She arrived at the Yagna arena, she was not received with any honor or respect; instead she was totally ignored and humiliated by Dakshaprajapathi. Finally, Goddess Sati in a mounted rage sacrificed her life in the fire of Yagna.

As a Shiva devotee, Daksha gained boons from Lord Shiva, which only developed pride in him. He organized a great yajna without inviting Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva withdrew (Parithal in Tamil) the boons granted to him, thus the place came to be known as Tiru Parialur. It is also noteworthy that Daksha was the father of Dakshayani, consort of Lord Shiva. As he failed in the formalities to be followed in respecting the boon giver, Lord Shiva destroyed him and his yajna. Other invitees like the Devas were also punished for accepting Daksha’s invitation knowing that he had erred in ignoring the Lord. Sun God lost a tooth. He has a shrine in the temple worshiping the Lord daily for the wrong he has committed.

Location: This temple is one of the Atta Veerattaana Sthalam of Lord Shiva and is located 13 Kms from Mayliaduthurai. This temple is located at about 3 Kms from another Sivasthalam Tiruchemponpalli on the Mayiladuthurai - Taramgambodi road route.

Temple Address & Contact Details:

Sri Veeratteswar Temple,
Keel Parasalur-Tiru Parialur,
Mayiladuthurai Taluk,
Nagapattinam district,
Pin code: 609 309.
Phone: +91-4364-205 555,287 429.