Veerateswarar at Thiru-Vazhuvur

 The temple features:

This temple is located in Thiru-Vazhuvoor about 10 kms from Mayiladu-dhurai.
The carpet area of the temple is 1,27,680 sqft .The temple tower is in 5 stages with a height of 150 feet. The temple has 2 corridors.(Pragarams)

The deity is called Veerat-eswarar and is in the east facing pose. It is said the deity is self-incarnated.
The lord's consort Devi Elan Kilai Nayagi Amman has a separate Sanctum facing east.
There is a theertham called Padhala-Gangai which is located opposite to the Lord's sanctum.
The temple tree is Vanni and Devadharu.

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

There are 15 stone inscriptions giving the details about this kshetram.

Significance of this temple is that Lord Siva did 8 valourous deeds in 8 different places (called Ashta-Veera-lakshnam) and this is one of those 'sthalams' where Lord Siva killed demon Gajendhira. Once this world was sinking in a deluge. But only this place escaped from the danger and was floating on the water.So this place is called Vazhuvur (meaning: escaped in Tamil language)

Legend: It is said once upon a time this place was a jungle and there was a demon Gaja-asura living in this place. No animal-even insects were living in that place except the demon. There was a Siva temple in the middle of the jungle. Gajasura unknowingly used to go round the temple. He went to the neighbouring villages and the towns and gave trouble to the hermits, sages, devotees, and the people of the villages and the towns. He killed many hermits and he did not alow them to do their prayers peacefully. The hermits and the people were always mentally disturbed because of the demon.

One day all the hermits prayed to Lord Siva and the lord appeared before them. All the hermits cried and told the Lord about the cruelty of the demon. Lord promised to them that he would destroy the demon and save them. Accordingly the Lord opened his eyes and killed demon Gajasura.

All happily offered lot of flowers to the lord like a heavy rain fall. Later king of Tanjoor built the temple and endowed much wealth to it

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