Veerateswarar at Dhaksha-puram

The temple features:

This temple is located in Daksha-puram (present name is Pariyaloor) about 18 kms from Mayiladu-thurai.
The carpet area of the temple is 24,000 sqft and is built facing south. It has a tower in five stages. The temple has 2 corridors.(Pragarams)

The deity is called Veerateswarar in the west facing pose and it is said the deity is self incarnated.
The Lord's consort Devi Ezhang-kodi amman has separate Sanctum facing south.
There is a 'theertham' called Pushkarini-theertham.
The temple tree is Jack fruit 'viruksham'

The saints who sang hymns on the Lord:
Thiru-gnana-sambandhar,

There are 3 stone inscriptions proclaiming the details of this kshetram.

The significance of this temple is that Lord Siva did 8 valorous deeds in 8 different places (called Ashta- Veera lakshanam.) and this is also one of Them' where Lord Siva killed Dhakshan (Dhaksha Samharam).

Legend: King Dhaksha had many daughters and Sathi (another name is Dhakshayini) was one of themj. Dhakshayini was engaged to marry Jagatpathi Rudra and the king was very happy. One day Sage Naradha visited King Daksha and told him that Dakshayani his daughter was the incarnation of Goddess Parvathy -the Sakthi devi. Also he said that Sakthi and Sivam (Object and energy) were both essential for the existence of the world. Without Sakthi, Siva was powerless. On hearing this Daksha became very proud of his daughter Dhakshayini and ordered all 'Siva-lingas' to be removed and cast off.

Dhakshayini could not tolerate her father's action and told him not to insult Lord Siva. Also she said to her father that there was no need for her to go to Kailash for the Lord to get his powers. "If I touch the lingam he would have all the powers". Dhakshan did not accept her advice and he was going to throw out  the lingam that Dhakshayini was worshipping .But she embraced the lingam and submerged with the same.king Dhaksha was very angry with his daughter and he grew enmity with Lord Siva and Sakthi. After some time King Dhaksha organized to performance  'Brahaspathi savam' Yagna in a grand manner. He invited all the devas, gods and goddesses except Siva and sakthi.( who according to Vedic rites should be given the first offering made into the sacrificial fire.) However Dakshayani his daughter, though uninvited went to attend the 'yagna' to give advise to Daksha about the importance of inviting her consort. When she saw the first offering in the fire was not given to Siva, angrily Dhakshayini immolated herself into  'yagagni' in protest.

When Siva came to know about this he was highly enraged and Sent Veerabadra who emerged from his body to kill Daksha. Veerabadra killed the king Dhaksha in this place.

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