Veerateswarar temple, Tirukkurukkai

Location

Tiru-Kurukkai

Deity

Veerateswarar

Female Deity

Gyanaambikai

Pathikam

Tirunavukarasar - 2

Gallery – Veerateswarar Temple, Tirukkurukkai

5-Tiered Gopuram

Soola Theertham

Nethi Mandap

How to Reach

This Shiva temple is located 12 Kms from Mayiladuthurai, on the Mayiladuthurai – Manalmedu bus route. Buses on this route stop at a village known as Kondal and the temple is 3 Kms from Kondal.

Temple Address

Arulmighu Veerateswarar Temple
Korukkai
Needur Post
Mayiladuthurai Taluk
Mayiladuthurai District
PIN – 609203

Temple Hours

Morning : 6:00 - 12:00

Evening : 4:00 - 8:00

Ashta Veeratta Sthalam

The temples where Shiva is believed to have performed his dance of valor are collectively known as the Ashta (Eight) Veeratta Temples. All eight of these temples are located in Tamil Nadu.

Tiruvadhigai

Tirukurukkai is one of the 8 temples collectively known as 'Ashta Veeratta Sthalangal' or 'Atta Veerattanam' that commemorate the eight heroic deeds of Lord Shiva.

Sthala Purana

Kamadeva Reduced to Ashes

Tirukurukkai is revered as the sacred place where Shiva reduced Kamadeva, the god of love, to ashes. According to legend, the Devas were facing a grave threat from the powerful demons Soora-Padhman and Tarakan and sought a mighty warrior capable of defeating them. It was foretold that only a son born to Shiva and Parvathy could possess such extraordinary power. However, Shiva was immersed in deep meditation, detached from worldly matters and unaware of the Devas’ concerns. In their desperation, the Devas approached Kamadeva and requested him to awaken Shiva from his meditation. Accepting their plea, Kamadeva arrived with his sugarcane bow and five flower-tipped arrows. He released one of his arrows towards Shiva, hoping to stir feelings of love and draw Shiva’s attention toward Parvathy. Disturbed from his meditation, Shiva opened his eyes and, in anger, unleashed a fiery blaze from his third eye that instantly reduced Kamadeva to ashes. Witnessing her husband’s fate, Rathi, Kamadeva’s devoted consort, was overcome with sorrow and prayed fervently to Shiva for mercy. Moved by her devotion, Shiva assured her that Kamadeva would regain his life during His divine marriage with Parvathy on earth. Kamadeva was subsequently restored during the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvathy at Tirumanancheri.

The Nomenclature – Kurukkai

According to legend, in ancient times a devout sage named TheerthaVagu travelled to Shiva temples and performed abhishekam to the deity using water specially invoked from the sacred river Ganga. When he arrived at Tirukurukkai, he failed to recognise the spiritual greatness of the temple’s own sacred tank, the Soola Theertham, situated directly opposite the temple. As was his usual practice, the Rishi raised his long arms towards the heavens to invoke Ganga water. At that very moment, his arms miraculously shrank and became shortened. Realising his mistake, he understood the immense sanctity of the temple's own theertham and the divine lesson bestowed upon him. It is believed that the place thereafter came to be known as "Kuru-Kkai", meaning "shortened hand". Even today, a stone idol of Kurunkai Rishi can be seen near the sannidhi of Kurunkai Vinayaka within the temple premises.

Temple Overview

Architecture & Kama-Dahana Sabhai

The west-facing Shiva temple features a majestic five-tiered rajagopuram adorned with beautifully sculpted depictions of Bhairava and Kama-Dahana-Murthy. Situated directly opposite the entrance is the temple’s sacred theertham, Soola Gangai, in the form of a serene pond that adds to the spiritual ambience of the shrine. Proceeding through the prakaram, devotees first come across the south-facing sannidhi of Goddess Gyaanambikai. Adjacent to this shrine is the sabha of Kama-Dahana-Murthy, one of the unique features of the temple. Here, Lord Shiva is depicted in a meditative yogic posture with one leg folded, accompanied by the revered Sanakadi Rishis. Temple tradition holds that devotees may encounter obstacles or delays in reaching the temple, and only those blessed by divine grace and destined to receive His darshan are able to visit and worship this yogic form of Shiva. It is believed that those who eventually receive darshan of this rare form are blessed with spiritual advancement and the attainment of a meditative state of mind. The deity is worshipped as Anugraha Murthy, the compassionate form of Shiva who forgives the unintentional mistakes of devotees. Worship of Kama-Dahana-Murthy is also believed to bestow good health, help alleviate ailments, and improve mental clarity, concentration, and inner strength.

Swayambhu Linga & Deities

The swayambhu linga of the presiding deity, Veeratteshwarar, is enshrined in the main sanctum upon a square-shaped Aavudayar (pedestal). On close observation, devotees can notice distinct impressions resembling the marks of Kamadeva’s flower-tipped arrow upon the linga, with the lotus flower imprint appearing particularly prominent. Sculptures of Rathi and Kamadeva are placed opposite the sanctum, serving as a symbolic reminder of the temple's associated legend. Devotees believe that worshipping Veeratteshwarar helps remove sorrow and grants peace of mind. The temple's Vinayaka is worshipped as Kurunkai Vinayaka. The vimana above the sanctum is richly adorned with intricate sculptures depicting Lord Shiva in a yogic posture, Kamadeva aiming his flower-arrow, and the dramatic scene of Kamadeva being reduced to ashes by Shiva's divine power.

Muruga & Thiruppugazh

The revered saint-poet Arunagirinathar has sung a hymn in praise of Muruga enshrined at Tirukurukkai. Here, Muruga is depicted with a single face and four divine arms, accompanied by his two consorts. A distinctive feature of this temple is the urchava (processional) idol of Muruga, which is uniquely shown holding a bow instead of the usual spear (vel), adding to the temple’s special iconographic tradition.

Tirunavukkarasar Pathikam – Highlights

This temple is associated with two pathikams composed by the revered Tamil saint-poet Tirunavukkarasar, and they are included in the 4th Tirumurai. However, only the first two verses of one of the pathikams have survived, while the remaining verses have been lost over time. The second pathikam is fully preserved and is rich with profound mythological and historical references that glorify Lord Shiva. It mentions the sage Markandeya, who was protected from death by the grace of Shiva; Chandesar, the steadfast devotee; and the spider that wove a web over the Shiva linga, later reborn as King Kochengatchozhan due to its devotion. It also refers to MahaVishnu offering one of his own eyes to complete a thousand-lotus worship when one flower was missing, as well as the revered Nayanars Saakiya Nayanar and Kannappa Nayanar.