Veerateswarar Temple

About the Temple

Veerateswarar Temple is an ancient Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at Keelaparasalur in Tamil Nadu's Mayiladuthurai district. It is revered in the 7th-century Tevaram canon as one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams. The site is celebrated as one of the eight Ashta Veeratanam temples where Shiva is believed to have punished Daksha.

• Paadal Petra Sthalam
• Ashta Veeratanam Temple
• Chola Dynasty Construction
• Dharmapuram Aadhenam

Sacred History

"According to Hindu legend, the sacred history of the temple is tied to the myth of Daksha Yajna. Daksha organized a grand sacrifice, inviting all demigods and sages while intentionally excluding Shiva and Dakshayani. Despite Shiva's warnings, Dakshayani attended the event, where she was subjected to intense insults by her father. Unable to bear the humiliation, she immolated herself in the sacrificial fire.\n\nLearning of the tragedy, an enraged Shiva invoked Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali to destroy Daksha's premise and decapitate him. Later, yielding to the prayers of Daksha's wives, Shiva forgave Daksha and restored his life by attaching a goat's head. The site came to be known as Dakshapuram and Pariyalur, commemorating the removal of the wrongdoings of the celestial deities.\n\nThe current masonry structure of the temple was constructed in the 9th century during the Chola dynasty, while later expansions are attributed to the Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple is historically glorified in the Tevaram hymns composed by the Tamil Saivite saint Tirugnanasambandar and is managed by the Dharmapuram Aadhenam."