275 Thevara Shivasthalam !! Thirukkurukkai Thiru Veeratteswarar Temple !!

 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
 
 
 
 
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thirukkurukkai/Astaveerattanam/Attaveerattanam/Korukkai is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva located in Myladuthurai, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.  Ashtaveerttanam are the 8 famous shrines of Lord Shiva where Lord performed superhuman deeds.  Lord Shiva performed Veera Natanam, one of the prominent cosmic dance forms here.   In this temple Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of a self-manifested Linga.
 
The Ashtaveerattanam shrines are: (1)Thirukkandiyur (2) Thirukkovilur (3)Thiruvadhikai (4) Thiruppariyalur (5) Thiruvirkkudi (6) Thiruvazhuvur (7) Thirukkurukkai (8) Thirukkadavur
 
Presiding deity – Veeratteswarar/Kamadhahanamurthi with his consort Goddess Sri Gnanambikai
 
Mangalasasanam – Thirunavukkarasar
 
 
Saint Arunagirinathar sung praising the glories of Lord Subramanya in this temple.
 
 
 
Thirunavukkarasar in one of  his compositionspassionately describes the various heroic deeds of Lord includes blessings to Sage Markandeya with immortality, Lord’s compassion towards Chandesa Nayanar, Chakkiya Nayanar, Kannappa Nayanar, re-birth of a spider into King Ko-Chengan Chozha, Lord Vishnu’s worship of Lord Shiva with 1000 lotuses, re-birth of a small rodent into Emperor Mahabali (This incident was happened at Thirumaraikkadu, where a mouse appeared before the earthen lamp while it lost its brilliance.  It tucked its nose inside the lamp and raised the cotton material sunken in the oil, thus protected the lamp to burn with all its intensity) etc.. .
 
Theertham – Soolatheertham/Shoolagangai,
 
Sthalavruksham - Kadukkai
 
Significance – There is a Vibhuthikuttai (well of sacred ash) located just 1km away from this sacred land.   It is believed that the place where Lord Shiva burnt Lord Manmadha into ashes.  Later, Manmadha was regained his life at the request of his chaste wife, Rathidevi.
 
 
Worshipped by –Sage Dheerghabahu
Sage Dheerghabahu was a passionate devotee of Lord Shiva, he visited many sacred shrines of Lord and performed sacred bath to the Linga with the holy water of Ganaga brought at his willpower and severe austerities.  He arrived on this sacred land and desired to perform the sacred bath to the Linga with the holy water of Ganga, he stretched his hands for the holy water with sacred chants but unfortunately his hands were reduced in size.  He was devastated and realized his folly, decided to take away his life and banged his head on the rock.  The compassionate Lord appeared before him and removed his deformities.  After this incident Sage Dheerghabahu was known as Sage Kurungkai.
 
 
Festivals – Maha Shivaratri, Thiru Karthikai, Masi Makam, Panguni Uthiram, Arudra Darisanam, Aippasi Annabhishekam, Markazhi Utsavam, Vinayaka Chathurthi, Navaratri,
 
 
Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddess Sri Valli & Deivayanai, Goddess Sri Durga, Navagraha, Lord Nataraja & Goddess Sivakami, Yogeeswara,
 
 
The legend has that Lord Shiva underwent Yoganidra for several years after the demise of Goddess Sri Sati.  Thus, the atrocities of demon Shoorapadman/Tharakasura has become intolerable, all the deities appealed to Lord Vishnu.  It was long established that the son of Lord Shiva would be capable to vanquish the demon, but Lord Shiva was in Yoganidra.  Lord Manmadha was assigned to create impediments to the penance of Lord, in order to draw together the two inseparable forms of Prakrithi/Goddess Sri Parvati and Purusha/Lord Shiva into unity.  Lord Shiva was infuriated at the deed of Manmadha and burnt him into ashes.  Goddess Rathidevi, chaste wife of Lord Manmadha underwent severe austerities and worshipped Lord Shiva, eventually  she regained the life of her husband. 
 
 
This temple remains open from 6.30 AM to 12.00 PM in the morning and 4.30 PM to 8.30 PM in the evenings.
 
 
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
 
 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!

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