Veeratteswarar Kazhiyur

Saivite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Veeratteswarar, facing east

Goddess

Kamakshi Amman, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Arumukha, Bhairava, Navagraha, Naagar, Shiva Lingam. Sanctum niches – Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Veeratteswarar Kazhiyur is a small temple with a single Prakaram which houses all the shrines and the Sanctum Sanctorum. The temple has been painted up recently and is well maintained. A small pond is adjacent and outside at the south of the temple. The idols are all ancient and some of them are beautiful. This ancient temple had been in ruins till recently, but has now been renovated due to the efforts of media, locals and well wishers.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple pond

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Veeratteswarar Kazhiyur is an ancient temple going back to the Chola era. As per inscriptions available at Thiruvothur temple at Cheyyar this temple and area used to be called Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu Kazhiyur kottathu Kazhiyur Naattu Aaludayar Thiruvothur Udayar, thus mentioning that Thiruvothur itself used to come under Kazhiyur in the ancient days.

Legend

There are eight major Veeratta Temples where Lord Shiva is believed to have fought evil, killed or subdued different individuals including Brahma, Yama and Manmadha amongst others. Apart from these there are many minor temples which also follow similar legends. Veeratteswarar Kazhiyur is one such temple where Lord Shiva is believed to have stood against evil.

Directions

Veeratteswarar Kazhiyur is about 5 kilometers east of Cheyyar via Puliyarambakkam.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food would be Cheyyar.

Saivite Temples

Veeratteswarar, Kazhiyur