Veerateswarar at Thiru-Kandiyur

 The temple features:

This temple is located in Thiru-Kandiyur about 2 kms from Thiruvaiyaru
The carpet area of the temple is approximately 1,25,000 sqft The temple has a tower which is in 5 stages . The temple has 2 corridors.(Pragarams)..The deity is called Veerat-eswarar. It is said the deity is self-incarnated.
The Lord's consort Devi Mangala nayaki has a separate Sanctum .There are four theerthams: - 

Padhala-Gangai, Kabala theertham Daksha theertham and Brahma theertham.
The temple tree is Bilvam.

The saints who sang hymns on the Lord:
Thiru-navu-k-arasar, & Thiru-gnana-sambandhar

There are many stone inscriptions giving the details about this kshetram.

Significance of this temple is that Lord Siva did 8 valourous deeds in 8 differant places (called Ashta-Veera-lakshnam) and this is one of those 'sthalams' where Lord Siva cut off one of Brahma's head. Every year in the middle of the second month the sunrays fall directly on the deity in this temple. Even today one can see this beauitifull scene

Legend: Once there was an argument between Vishnu and Brahma as to who was the greater between the two. Vishnu said that he was greater than Brahma because he was protecting the world.The creator said that he was the one who was creating this world. That was the first step and then only the process of protection would begin. So he was the gratest in the world." The argument became a quarel. So they went to Kailash to ask Lord siva to be the arbitrator to their problem. Sakthi also joined with Lord Siva.

Vishnu told Siva about his argument with Brahma. The creator also told about his problem with Vishnu. The authority for judgement was given to Sakthi. The Lord told Brahma and Vishnu " I shall stand on the earth and one of you should go up and find my head. The other should go down and see my feet".

Both of them accepted the Lord's words. Brahma told Vishnu " you go down and find his feet and I will go up to see his head".

Vishnu took the form of a white boar and drilled the earth. He went down for many years in search of Lord siva's feet but could not find them. He returned to Kailash and accepted his defeat.

Similarly Brahma sat on his mount swan and went up to find the Lord's head. The creater also flew up and up for many years but could not see Lord siva's head. But he did not want to accept failiure. So he brought a floral fiber and showed it to Siva telling a lie that he found it on Siva's head.. The Lord was very angry with the creator. He saw Sakthi and asked for her judgement. She told Siva "My lord cut off the head told the lie".(Before this Brahma had five heads)

Accordingly the Lord plucked one of Brahma's heads in this place.

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