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The lord of the temple is praised by Saint Tirugnanasambandar in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 74th Lord Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in hymns.

The temple has a five tier Rajagopuram. Chakkara Theertham is opposite the tower with safe and convenient steps and compound wall. It is a big tank with a Lord Vinayaka temple on the bank. Passing the Gopuram entrance, a beautiful Nagalinga sculpture greets the devotee. A Shiva temple worshipped by Lord Vishnu and the place from where Lord Shiva restored Brinda to life as Tulsi are in the outer prakara. There are also shrines for Mother Mahalakshmi, Lords Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai, Bhairava, Sani Bhagwan, Navagrahas the nine planets, Sun, Moon, Pidari and a well called Gnana Theertham in this prakara. There is also a separate temple for Lord Bhairava.

Presiding deity of the temple is Lord Veerattaneswarar. Mother is Parimala Nayaki. Brinda in Sanskrit means Tulsi in Tamil. Remembering this chaste woman, Tulsi plant is revered as the sacred tree of the temple. People pray here for solutions caused by Vasthu dosha-wrong designing of a building affecting peace and prosperity. Devotees also pray to Sri Anjaneya in the temple.

Indira the king of Devas went to Mount Kailash to have Shiva darshan with the pride of a king. In the guise of a watchman, Lord Shiva prevented him from proceeding further. Proud Indira struck Shiva with His vajrayutha when Lord opened His forehead eye. Realizing the watchman was Shiva, Indira fell at His feet and sought His pardon. Lord Shiva spilled a drop of His sweat in the milk ocean from where a demon child was born. The child pulled the beard of Lord Brahmma who cried in pain. His tears also fell on the child. The child wet with Shivas sweat, Brahmmas tears and the drop of the milk ocean was named Jalandarasura.When He grew, he demanded Brahmma a life without death and the rule of the three worlds. Brahmma denied it. He got the boon that he would be alive till such time his chaste wife Brindhai was found mentally tainted. His atrocities grew in leaps and bounds and finally decided to kill Lord Shiva Himself. Lord came before the demon in the guise of an aged person, drew a round line as a chakra. He asked the demon to take the Chakra, place it on his head and said that it would destroy him. Arrogant demon challenged that the Chakra could not kill him as his wife was a chaste woman.

Shiva called Lord Vishnu and asked Him to appear before Brinda as Jalandarasura. Not knowing that the visitor was not her husband, she called him in with the respect of a husband and thus got tainted mentally. Lord Shiva placed the Chakkara on demon?s head which chopped off his head. Knowing the design of Lord Vishnu, Brinda immolated herself cursing Lord Vishnu that He would have to suffer separation from His wife. To come over the curse, Lord Vishnu had to take the Ramavathara later, goes the story.

Due to curse of Brinda, Lord Vishnu became mentally retarded. To cure Him, Lord Shiva sowed a seed at the place where Brinda burnt herself. Tulsi plant grew. A garland was made of the Tulsi leaves and placed on Lord Vishnu. He was cured completely. Lord Vishnu asked Lord Shiva to gift Him the Chakra-discus. He worshipped Lord Shiva with thousand lotus flowers. When He found that the number was short by two, He unhesitatingly took His eyes for the puja. Pleased Shiva rewarded Lord Vishnu with the Chakra

Moolavar: Veerataneswarar

Amman / Thayar: Elavar Kuzhali, Parimala Nayaki

Thala Virutcham: Tulsi

Theertham: Chakkara and Changu Theerthams

Old year:1000-2000 years old

Historical Name: Tiruvirkudi

This sivasthalam temple is located near Nannilam (Thiruvarur - Mayilaaduthurai route). This sivasthalam is located at about 10 Kms. from tiruvarur.

Jalandran was a demon king who became very strong, and captured all the 3 worlds. He wished to destroy the gods too, and advanced towards Shiva. Shiva destroyed Jalandran with a chakra (Discus) which he later gave to Vishnu. It is believed that Thiruvirkudi is the holy place where this took place, and it is here that Shiva is worshipped as Jalandran Samhara Moorthy. The bronze statue depicting the lord has Him in a standing posture, holding a discus in his hand. The main deity in the temple does not have a separate name, and is simply called Veerattaneswarar. The main deity is a lingam, while the Utsava moorthy is the bronze statue described above. The goddess is called Parimala Nayaki.

There are also other legends connected to this temple. Jalandrans wife Brinda is believed to have been a great devotee of Vishnu, and also a righteous wife. It is believed that Shiva was able to kill Jalandran only after Vishnu took Jalandrans form and deceived his wife, so that he would be deprived of her fidelity, thus rendering him mortal. When Brinda learnt of this ruse, she immolated herself, and Vishnu gave her the boon that she would appear as the Tulsi plant and would remain forever dear to him. Supporting this story is the sthala vriksham of this temple, or the temple plant, which is the Tulsi.

It is also believed that this is the place where Arjuna concealed his weapons during the year of concealment. He was granted a boon that the weapons would appear as snakes to anyone who approached them, and thus would remain safe.

Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. All Shiva related festivals are celebrated in the temple.

If one has any difficulty while building a house, they are advised to come and pray here and take a stone for use in the construction to solve the problem.

If anyone in the family had expired with the curse of the ancestors, their heirs should pray here to relieve the dead of such effects.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Sri Veerattaneswarar Temple, Tiruvirkudi ? 609 405. Tiruvarur district. Contact Number - +91 94439 21146

Do:

Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
Do not smoke at Temple.
Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.