Sri Veeratteswarar Temple / Sri Veerateswarar Temple / வீரட்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thirupariyalur / திருப்பறியலூர் (கீழ்) பரசலூர், Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 158^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 41^st Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called Thirupariyalur and is now called (கீழ் -Keezh ) Parasalur. This is the 4^th of Atta (8) Veerattanam / Veeratta Temples, where Lord Shiva as Veerabhadra destroyed Daksha’s yagna and Killed him. 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvilanagar.

பரமர்தம் திருப்பறியலூர் வீரட்டம் பரவி

விரவு காதலின் வேலையின் கரையினை மேவி

அரவு அணிந்தவர் பதிபல அணைந்து முன்வணங்கிச்

சிரபுரத்தவர் திருத்தொண்டர் எதிர்கொளச் செல்வார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

கருத்தன் கடவுள் கனலேந் தியாடும்

நிருத்தன் சடைமேல் நிரம்பா மதியன்

திருத்தம் உடையார் திருப்பறி யலூரில்

விருத்தன் எனத்தகும் வீரட்டத் தானே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                              -“இளமைச்

செறியலூர் கடந்தற் றிருவனையாராடும்

பறியலூர் வாழ் மெய்ப்பரமே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Veeratteswarar, Sri Dakshapureeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Ilamkombanayal.

Some of the features of this temple are as follows.

The temple faces west with Rajagopuram, built in recent years, and an entrance arch on the roadside. A Vinayagar temple is on the opposite side of the road. Kodimara Vinayagar, Balipeedam, Small Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in a newly built mandapa. Moolavar is of swayambhu on a square avudayar. In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar Brahma and Vishnu on both sides ), Brahma and  Durgai.

In prakaram Sannathi for Vinayagar, Senthil Andavar, Mahalakshmi, Kasi Viswanathar, Kala Bhairava, Narthana Ganapathy, Chandikeswarar, Kshetrapalaka, Sivasuriyan, Karpaga Vinayagar and Nalvar. Natarajar Sabha is in the mandapa.

This is one of the Atta Veeratta sthalam, there is a bas-relief on the Sanctum wall near Koshta Ganapathy, where Dakshan worships Lord Shiva. Urchavar Veerabhadra as Daksha Samhara Moorthy is with 6 hands, holding Soolam, Dhanda, Sword, Bell, Kapala, and Sword. Dakshan is under the feet of Lord Shiva doing Yagna ( The image is on the brass plate Covered at the bottom. In front of Veerabhadra Dakshan is with goat’s head and his wife. Urchavars / Metal images for Murugan keeping a leg on Peacock, Somaskandar, Vinayagar, and Pradosha Nayagar. Artha jama pooja is conducted only for Bhairavar.

Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south in a standing posture. Ambal is with 4 hands in abhaya, Varadha hastham.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION: 

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century and later the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during The Chozha period.

As per the Sundara Pandyan Period inscription found on the sanctum wall, this place was called Jayankonda Chozhavalanattu Veezhainattu Rajanaraya Chathurvedimangalam Pariyalur and Lord Shiva was called Thiruveerattanamudayar and Dakshesamudayar.   

During the Krishna Devaraya period, inscriptions of Soolavari ( Taxes ) were collected from some of the Villages, which includes Pariyalur and given to Shiva and Vishnu temples for feeding to devotees and travelers. 30 Veli Land was gifted to this temple and also land was allotted for establishing an agraharam at Ezhumuzhuthumudaya Chathurvedi mandalam.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after renovations in the year 2011.

Inscription

LEGENDS

This is the 4^th of Atta (8) Veerattanam / Veeratta Temples, where Lord Shiva as Veerabhadra destroyed Dakshan and Killed him. The atta Veerata sthalas are...

1.  Thiru Kandiyur where Lord Shiva plucked Brahma’s 5^th head.
2.  Thirukkovilur where Andhaksuran was vanquished.
3. Thiruvadhigai, where Lord Shiva burnt the Thirupuram ad Thiripura Samharar.
4. Pariyalur where Lord Shiva as Veerabhadra destroyed Daksha’s yagna and killed him.
5. Thiruvirkudi where the demon Jalandaran, who was formed from the eye drop of Lord Shiva was killed.
6.  Thiru Vazhuvur where Lord Shiva teared Gajamugasuran
7. Thiru Korukkai where Lord Shiva burnt Kaman alias Manmathan and later made him live.
8. Thirukadaiyur where Lord Shiva kicked Yama to save Markandeya and was blessed with 16 years.

As per the Legend, Dakshan also known as Daksha Prajapati, is the son of Brahma, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, and has got many boons from Lord Shiva. His daughter Ma Parvati Dakshayani was married to Lord Shiva. He conducted a Yagna to which Celestial deities, Sages, and Maharishis were invited. But Lord Shiva was not invited intentionally and the share due to him was also not given.

In the meantime, Dakshayani wants to participate in the yagna and asks Lord Shiva’s permission, to make Dakshan realize his mistake. Even after Lord Shiva denied permission Dakshayani went to the Yagna. He asked her father why her husband Lord Shiva was not invited and the share / avirpagam due to him was also not given. Dakshan didn’t give respect, in fact, he humiliated Dakshayani. Angered Dakshayani cursed Dakshan and the Yagna wouldn't be successful.    

Dakshayani returned back and asked Lord Shiva to punish Dakshan. Lord Shiva created Veerabhadra to destroy the Yagna. Veerabhadra destroyed the Yagna and severed the head of Dakshan. Later replaced with a goat's head. He also punished the celestial deities which include Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, Chandra, Suryan, etc,. Dakshan realized his mistakes and prayed to Lord Shiva to pardon him. Lord Shiva came from the Yagna and pardoned Dakshan and Celestial deities. Also, Lord Shiva withdrew all the boons granted to him ( in Tamil – pariththal – பறித்தல்), this place was called Pariyalur.  

It is believed that Maha Vishnu, Maha Lakshmi, Brahma, Indra, Agni, Niruthi, Yama, Varunan, Vayu, Kuberan, Saptarishis, and those participating in the Daksha’s yagna worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

 Dakshan is doing pooja to Lord Shiva

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Tamil New Year’s Day Urchavar Yaga Samharamurti, and Rudrabhishekam will be performed on Aswathi star Day in the month Aani, Ashtami day in Aippasi, New moon day in the month Thai. Puratasi Chathurthi  (Sep-Oct), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makar Sankranti in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Thiruvonam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ) and every month pradosam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Gurukkals S. Shanmuga Sundaram and S Sreenath may be contacted on their mobile numbers  +91 9943348035, +91 9443785616, +91 9626552835 for further details. 

HOW TO REACH :

This place is close to Mayiladuthurai and buses are available from Mayiladuthurai. On the bus route from Mayiladuthurai to Sembanarkoil, get down at Sembanarkoil, from there this place Pariyalur can be reached by Minibus, alternatively can be reached by walk also, it will take 45 minutes on a normal walk.

The temple is 3 KM from Sembanarkoil, 13 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 23 KM from Sirkazhi, 28 KM from Karaikal, 47 KM from Kumbakonam, and 260 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Mayiladuthurai. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---