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{{Short description|Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Veerateeswarar Temple, Tirukoilur
| image = Thirukovilur Veerateeswarar5.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11|58|17|N|79|12|38|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kallakurichi district|Kallakurichi]]
| location = [[Thirukoilur]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Veerateeswarar([[Shiva]])
Periyanayagi, Sivanandavalli([[Parvathi]])
Andakasura Murthy

| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Veerateeswarar Temple''' (also called '''Thirukoilur Veerattam''') in [[Tirukoilur]], a panchayat town in [[Kallakurichi district]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Shiva]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is believed to have been built during the [[Cholas]] period in the 10th century.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Shiva is worshipped as Veerateeswarar and his consort [[Parvathi]] as Periyanayagi.

The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[Nayanmars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has two three-tiered [[Rajagopuram]]s, the gateway tower, one each for the Veerateeswarar and Periyanagi shrines.

The temple is open from 6 am - 12 pm and 4-8:30 pm on all days except during new moon days when it is open the full day. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Masimaham festival celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Maasi'' (February - March), Karthigai Somavaram during the Tamil month of ''Karthigai'' (October - November) and Manickavasagar festival during the Tamil month of ''Margazhi'' (December - January) being the most prominent festivals. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=left
| total_width = 400
|image1=Thirukovilur Veerateeswarar7.JPG
|image2=Thirukovilur Veerateeswarar1.JPG
|width1=3264|height1=2448
|width2=3264|height2=2448
|footnotes=Stone and metal images of Andakasura in the temple}}

As per Hindu legend, Shiva appeared in the form of Andakasura samhara murthy to slay the demon king Andakasura.<ref name="dinamalar"/> Andakasura was a demon who attained powers close to immortality on account of his severe penance to [[Brahma]], the Hindu god of creation. The boon attained had just one condition that when he lusts his mother, he would be killed. He made undue use of his powers and was troubling humans and celestial deities. During one such encounters, he started lusting toward [[Parvathi]], the wife of Shiva and who was like his mother. Shiva appeared as Andakasura samhara murthy and slayed Andaka with his trident. Realising his mistake, he pleaded Shiva to make him a devotee of his in the next birth. It is believed that Shiva readily agreed and Andaka was born as Gana Bhringi.<ref>{{cite web|title=Slaying of Demon Andaka|url=http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/andakavad.htm|publisher=Templenet|access-date=28 March 2016|year=2011}}</ref>

The temple finds mention in [[Sangam literature]] in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] from 3rd BC to 3rd centuries CE like ''[[Agananuru]]'', ''[[Purananuru]]'', ''[[Natrinai]]'' and ''[[Kurunthokai]]''. Malayaman Tirumudikari, the ruler of Thirukovilur, was praised in the texts for his charitable disposition to the institutions. It is believed that [[Avvaiyar (Sangam poet)|Avvaiyar]], the celebrated Sangam period poet, arranged marriage for two chieftains at this place. Poet Kapilar is believed to have found suitable grooms for king Pari's daughters Angavai and Sangavai at this place and set himself on fire. The event is commemorated every year in a huge rock called Kapilar Kal, where a small shrine exists even in modern times. It is reenacted during the Maasi Magam festival.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy| publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=252–3}}</ref>

Rajanarayana Sambuvaraya was a chieftain of [[Medieval Chola]]s whose contributions are documented in his inscriptions across various temples in modern-day [[Villupuram district|Villupuram]], [[Cuddalore district|Cuddalore]], [[Tiruvannamalai district|Tiruvannamalai]] and [[Kanchipuram district|Kanchipuram]] districts and also in his [[Sanskrit]] work ''Madhuravijayam''. He repaired, revived the services and inaugurated festivals of the temple.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Sambuvarayas of Padaividu their roles in South|last=A.|first=Krishnaswami|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=20|year=1957|pages=190–1|jstor=44304461}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Thirukovilur Veerateeswarar8.JPG|250px|thumb|Image of the Amman shrine]]
Veerateeswarar temple is located in Thirukoilur, a town panchayat located on the banks of Then Pennai river, located {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Villupuram]]. The temple has two parallel structures, each of which has a three-tiered ''[[Rajagopuram]]'', the gateway tower. The temple has large granite rectangular walls that houses all the shrines. The sanctum sanctorum houses the image of Veerateeswarar in the form of [[Lingam]], an iconic form of Shiva. There is an Ardha [[Mandapa]] and a Mukha mandapa, pillared halls leading to the sanctum. The first precinct has the shrines of [[Vinayakar]], [[Murugan]], [[Durga]], [[Dakshinamurthy]] and [[Chandeshvara Nayanar|Chandikeswara]]. The first precinct also houses metal image of [[Nataraja]], [[Somaskanda]] and [[Andhakasura]]. The second structure houses the image of Periyanayagi. Like the Shiva temple, here also the sanctum is approached through an Ardha Mandapa and Mukha mandapa. There is a precinct around the sanctum.<ref name=R/><ref>{{cite web|title=Kovalur Veerattam|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=123|publisher=Thevaaram.org|year=2011|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref>

==Festival==
[[File:Thirukovilur Veerateeswarar4.JPG|250px|thumb|left|Temple tree where worshippers tie knots in belief]]
The temple follows Saivite tradition. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Saivism|Shaivaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Kalasanthi'' at 6:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 11:30 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandam kalam'' at 7:30 p.m., and ''Ardha jamam'' between 8:00  - 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Veerateeswarar and Amirthambigai.There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 6am - 12 pm and 4-8:30 pm.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

The Maasimagam festival celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Maasi'' (February - March), Karthigai Somavaram during the Tamil month of ''Karthigai'' (October - November) and Manickavasagar festival during the Tamil month of ''Margazhi'' (December - January) are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple. There are other common festivals like Shivaratri, Vinayaga Chaturthi, Vijayadasami and Karthigai Deepam celebrated in the temple.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Veeratteswarar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=161|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref> There is a wish tree in the compound having [[Naga (Hinduism)|Naga]], a snake representation. Childless couple pray for the attaining child by placing or installing the stone symbols praying Vakrakali.<ref name=dinamalar/>

==Religious significance==
[[File:Thirukovilur Veerateeswarar3.JPG|thumb|250px|The legend of Bhikshatana is built in a stucco image in the temple]]
[[Campantar|Tirugnana Sambandar]], a 7th-century Tamil ''Saivite'' poet, venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in ''[[Tevaram]]'', compiled as the ''[[Tirumurai|First Tirumurai]]''. [[Appar]], a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in ''Tevaram'', compiled as the ''Fifth Tirumurai''. [[Sundarar]], a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in ''Tevaram'', compiled as the ''Seventh Tirumurai''. As the temple is revered in ''Tevaram'', it is classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]'', one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon.<ref name=R/> [[Appar]] is believed to have visited the temple during the series of visits from [[Kripapureeswarar temple|Thiruvennainallur]] to [[Abirameswarar temple|Thiruvamathur]] and [[Sudarkozhundeeswarar Temple, Pennadam|Pennadam]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Philosophy of Šaivism: Saiva works and tantras of Kashmir; Saivism; Kashmir Shaivism I; Kashmir Shaivaism II; History of Kashmir Saivism. The universal experience : five principles of the universal subject-object; The limited individual experience; Famous Saiva saints; The Saiva Acharyas; Kashmir Shaivism in Siddha Yoga; Moksa and the means of its attainment in Kashmir Shaivism; Literature of Śaivism; Vīra Śaivism; Śaivism|section=Saiva Acharyas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xuRfquoAGrcC&q=tiruvamathur&pg=PA501|page=501|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|editor-first=Subodh |editor-last=Kapoor|isbn=9788177558852|year=2004}}</ref>

Thirukovilur is one of the eight [[Ashta Veeratta Stalam|Veeratta Stalam]] temples signifying Shiva's victories over demons or deities<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu|last=P.|first=Karthigayan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q4HDDAAAQBAJ&q=veerattam&pg=PT388|page=388|publisher=Notion Press|year=2016|isbn=9789352065523}}</ref> and also as places where he is believed to have performed with fury.<ref name=C137>[[#Madhavan|Madhavan 2014]], p. 145</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Veerateeswarar Temple, Thirukovilur}}
{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Kallakurichi district]]
[[category:Ashta Veeratta Stalam]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kallakurichi district]]

Veerateeswarar Temple, Thirukovilur - Revision history

AarohamResort: Created Location - done