Sri Veeratteswarar Temple at Thirukkovilur - Vilupuram District

 

History of the Temple

Veerateeswarar Temple (also called Thirukoilur Veerattam) in Tirukoilur, a panchayat town in Villupuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the Cholas period in the 10th century. 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 Rajagopurams, the gateway tower, one each for the Veerateeswarar and Periyanagi shrines.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 11^th Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu.
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This is one of the eight “Veerattana Sthalams” of Lord Shiva.
• In this temple Lord Shiva himself is a Bairavar.
• Both Moolavar and Ambal Shrines are facing west and are built as separate temples.
• Both temples’ main towers (Rajagopuram) have 3-tiers and 2 corridors each.
• Two of the 63 Nayanmars - Saint Meiporul Nayanar and Saint Narasinga Munaiarayar lived in this place.
• This is the birth place of the great Chola King Arunmozhith Devan, popularly known as Raja Raja Cholan; his mother Vaanavan Madevi and Adithya Karikalan.

Year of Old : 1000-2000 Years of old temple.

Location 

The temple is located in a place called Kizhur or Kizhaiyur in Thirukkoilure. Thirukkoilure is at a distance of about 40 kms from Thiruvannamalai and from Villupuram it is about 37 kms. 

1kms from thirukkoilure bus stand.

Important Festivals

Important festivals celebrated in this temple are –

10 day Brahmotsavam (Masi Magam) in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar),

Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthigai (Nov-Dec),

Aadi Fridays in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug),

Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct),

Annabishekam, Skanda Sashti and Soora Samharam in the Tamil month of Aipasi (Oct-Nov),

Thiruvadirai and Manickavasagar festival in the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan)

Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July.

Pradosham is also regularly observed. 

Temple Timings

From 06.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.00 PM to 09.00 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Veeratteswarar Temple
Keezhayur,
Thirukovilur Post & Taluk
Villupuram District
Tamil Nadu 605 757.
Contact: +91 4153-252220, 253532, 93456 60711, 9486280030.