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 41^st Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri  in Chozha Nadu. This place was called as Thirupariyalur and now called as  (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 has 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 is facing west with Rajagopuram, built during recent years and an entrance arch on the road side. 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 Sanctum wall near Koshta Ganapathy, where Dakshan is worshiping 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 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 7^th Century and latter the same was reconstructed as stone temple during Chozha period.

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

As per Krishana Devaraya period inscriptions Soolavari ( Taxes ) were collected from some of the Villages, which includes Pariyalur and given to Shiva and Vishnu temples for feeding to devotees and travellers. 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 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 latter made him to alive.
8. Thirukadaiyur where Lord Shiva kicked Yama to save Markandeya and blessed with 16 years.

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

In the mean time Dakshayani wants to participate in the yagna  and asked Lord Shiva’s permission, to make Dakshan to 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 gave 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. Latter replaced with a goats head. He also punished the celestial deities which includes Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, Chandra, Suryan etc,. Dakshan realised his mistakes prayed Lord Shiva to pardon him. Lord Shiva came from the Yagna and pardoned Dakshan and Celestial deities. Also Lord Shiva withdraw all the boons granted to him ( in Tamil – pariththal – பறித்தல் ), this place was called as Pariyalur.  

It is believed that Maha Vishnu, Maha Lakshmi, Brahma, Indra, Agni, Niruthi, Yama,Varunan, Vayu, Kuberan, Saptarishis and those participated 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 on Tamil New Year’s day to Urchavar Yaga Samharamurti, 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 pradosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened 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 through Mini bus, alternatively can be reached by walk also, it will take 45 minutes on 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 ---