Veeratteswarar Temple, Tirukkovilur

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Location of the temple	Tirukkovilur
Deity known as	Veeratteswarar
Female deity known as	Sivanandavalli
Pathigam	Thirunavukarasar - 1 Sambandar - 1
How to reach	This temple is located on the south bank of river Pennaru in Tirukkovilur town. The railway station at Tirukkovilur is on the Tiruvannamalai - Villupuran Jn. section of the Southern Railway. Tiruvannamalai, one of the Pancha Bootha Sthalams of Lord Shiva, is 35 Kms from Tirukkovilur. This sivasthalam is well connected by bus services from Chennai, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Tindivanam.
Temple address	Arulmighu Veeratteswarar Temple Tirukkovilur Tirukkovilur Post Tirukkovilur Taluk Villupuram District PIN 605757
Near by Divyadesam	Trivikrama Perumal Temple, one of the 108 Divyadesam is very near to this Shivasthalam

Route Map from Villupuram to Tirukovilur Veerateswarar temple
Map courtesy by: Google Maps

The Significance - Tirukovilur, or Tirukoyilur, is one of the Ashtaveeratta sthalams where God Shiva performed heroic deeds, became victorious, and destroyed the demon Andhakasura. Ashta Veeratta Sthalam (also called Ashtaveertanam or Atta Veeratanam) are the eight temples of Hindu god Shiva that commemorate his eight acts of valor.

Tirukovilur is also famous for the Trivikrama Perumal Temple, one of the 108 Vaishnava Divya Desams. It is here that the historical event in the lives of the first three Alwars occurred. Once, Poigai Alwar, Budatalwar, and Peyalwar chanced to meet at 'Tirukkoyilur' accidentally. Feeling sleepy at nightfall, Poigai Alwar found a small pial at the entrance of a house, just enough for a single person to lie down and sleep. After a while, there came Budat Alwar, who requested permission to stay with him. Poigai Alwar permitted him, saying that the pial was sufficient for two people to just sit down and spend the night. No sooner had they seated themselves than came there Pey Alwar, also seeking a place to rest. It had by then started to rain. The two earlier occupants accommodated the newcomer, saying that the threesome could stand for the space was just enough for that and spend the night together. As they started to share their experiences on their itineraries, they found that an invisible fourth person was trying to turn the company into a crowd by pressing them hard together in an obvious attempt to accommodate himself in the already cramped space. The three Alwars found out in their divine vision that the fourth person was none other than Lord Vishnu, who had brought them together.

It is also the birthplace of King RajaRaja Chozha, who is revered as 'Tirumurai Kanda Chozhan' and who built the Tanjore temple.

Tirukuovilur is divided into two divisions, Melur and Keezhayur. Veeratteswarar Temple, one of the Attaveeratta temples, is situated on the banks of the Thenpennai River in the Keelaiyur region, Trivikrama Perumal Vaishnava Temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams is situated in Melur. There are separate temples for Veerteshwarar and Ambal Shivanandavalli. Both temples are adjacent, surrounded by compound walls, facing west, and have three tiered towers. Ambal Shivanandavalli's temple is to the left of Veerattheshwarar temple. The open ground outside the two temples is spacious.

Temple Layout - As soon as one enters through the gopuram of Veeratteswarar temple, one can see the armored flag post and Nandhi in front of it. There is no shrine in the outer prahara. Panchamurtis are placed on top of the front gateway. On the left side of the front pillar, there is a sculpture of Meiporul Naayanar. On the right is the shrine of Ganapati. This Ganapathi, or Vinayakar, was worshipped by the renowned poet-saint Avvaiyar. When Sundarar mounted on a white elephant and his friend Cheraman Perumal Nayanar mounted on a horse to go to Kailasha, they asked Avvaiyar to accompany them. She wanted to join them and tried to hasten her worship. Lord Ganesha blessed her with his appearance and advised her that there was no need for her to hasten her worship and that he himself would take her to Kailash (Kailayam). Avvaiyar then continued her worship of Vinayaka and completed it by singing 'Vinayakar Agaval'. Once Avvaiyar completed her worship, Vinayaka lifted her with his trunk and placed her in Kailash ahead of Saint Sundarar and Cheraman perumal nayanar, who were on their route to Kailash. Beautiful reliefs depicting this story can be seen on the walls next to the Vinayakar shrine.

To the left is the shrine of Lord Arumuga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. Adjacent to it are the Gajalakshmi shrine and the Nataraja Sabha.

The 14th-century saint poet Arunagirinathar has one song, or pathigam, in praise of Lord Muruga here. Lord Muruga graces the devotees in this temple as Arumuga, with six faces and 12 holy hands, mounted on his peacock with his two consorts, Valli and Deivanai.

Andhakasura Samhara Murthy Veeratteswarar, the presiding deity, is exceptional, large, self manifested (swyambumurthy), and guarded by Dwaraplakas. Nearby are the Urchava idols of Narasinga Munaiyaraiyar and Meiporul Nayanar.The goshta images of Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhava, Brahma, and Goddess Durga can be seen as panels on the wall around the santum sanctorum. Goddess Durga’s idol here is very unique. Although the idol is sculpted in black granite stone, her eyes appear white in color, much like the human eyes.

The Ambal temple has a separate 3-tier gopuram. Vinayaka and Subramanya guard their mother, Shivanandavalli, as Dwarapalakas. There is a Nandi and an altar in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal Shivanandavalli appears in a standing form with four hands in Abhayavarada. (gesture of fearlessness)