Arulmigu Veerataneswarar Temple
அருள்மிகு வீரட்டானேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில்
Lord Shiva · cuddalore, Tamil Nadu
Ancient
About the temple
The primary and foremost among the sacred Eight Heroic Abodes (Ashta Veerattanam) of Lord Shiva, where Shiva destroyed the three flying metallic demon cities (Tripura Samharam) with a single divine smile; where Saint Appar was cured of his deadly colic stomach ailment (Soolai Noi) through sacred vibhuti and converted from Jainism back to Shaivism; prototype architecture that inspired Raja Raja Chola to construct the Thanjavur Big Temple. Traditional belief: Complete and miraculous cure of incurable chronic stomach and bodily diseases (Soolai Noi), destruction of demonic ego (Tripura), and spiritual liberation.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 06:00 – 20:30
- Established
- 6
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Lord Shiva · ଶିବ (Shiva)Ganesha Family
- Deity form
- Ancient Swayambhu 16-faceted Shodasa Lingam mounted on a circular granite pitha in the inner stone sanctum
- Religious tradition
- Vedic Agamic Shaiva Siddhanta & Tripurantaka Heroic Legend
- Sanskrit name
- श्री वीरट्टानेश्वरस्वामी मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Thiruvathigai Veerattanam, Ashta Veerattana Kshetra Thiruvathigai, Appar Mukti Kshetra
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:00 PM - 08:30 PM
- Break timings
- 12:30 PM - 04:00 PM
- Special days
- Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, Maha Shivaratri: 04:30 AM - 11:30 PM
- Festival timings
- Open continuously till 11:30 PM on Maha Shivaratri and festival days
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 07:00 AM
- Midday aarti
- 12:00 PM
- Evening aarti
- 06:00 PM
- Night aarti
- 8:15 PM
- Special aarti days
- Every Monday, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vaikasi Brahmotsavam
- Ritual schedule
- Nitya Chatukkala Puja, Rudrabhishekam to 16-faced Lingam, Saint Appar Soolai Noi Nivarana Puja, Sandhya Deeparadhana
- Pooja timings
- 06:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
- Abhishek timings
- 07:00 AM - 08:30 AM
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Pallava King Mahendravarman I; reconstructed in granite by Chola Emperor Parantaka I and Rajaraja Chola I
- Architect / builder
- Master traditional royal sthapathis of the Pallava and Chola courts
- Construction materials
- Solid dressed dark granite stone blocks, brick-lime towering Vimana, brass flagstaff
- Historical events
- Saint Appar was cured of his deadly stomach ailment here by his sister Thilakavathiyar through sacred vibhuti and sang his first hymn "Koottrayinavaru Vilakkagaleer"; King Rajaraja Chola studied this temple’s vimana before building Thanjavur Big Temple
- Renovations
- Protected and renovated under Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department with restoration of ancient granite carvings and temple tank
- Archaeological importance
- Crucial architectural and epigraphical monument providing direct structural lineage to the Thanjavur Brihadisvara Temple
- Legends
- Lord Shiva smiled and reduced the three demon flying fortresses (Tripura) to ashes, without needing to release the arrow mounted on Mount Meru bow
- Inscriptions
- More than 40 Tamil stone inscriptions on the sanctum plinth detailing grants by Pallava, Chola (Rajaraja I, Rajendra I), and Pandya monarchs
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- Circa 950 - 1010 CE
- Structure
- Massive walled temple complex featuring towering 100-foot stone Vimana over the sanctum, seven-tiered entrance Rajagopuram, broad courtyards, and Kedilam river ghats
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Seven-tiered entrance Rajagopuram and a towering multi-tiered stone Vimana shikhara that directly influenced the design of Thanjavur Big Temple
- Mandapa
- Pillared Mukhamandapa and Mahamandapa supported by massive square granite columns depicting Tripurantaka legends
- Sculptural features
- Ancient 16-faceted Shodasa Lingam; exquisite high-relief panels of Tripurantaka Shiva with bow and arrow; stone image of Saint Appar receiving grace; seated stone Nandi
- Artistic elements
- Intricate makara toranas, deep-cut devakoshta niches, and embossed silver sanctum frames
- Construction technique
- Dry-stone interlocking granite block masonry of monumental architectural engineering
- Unique features
- The 16-faceted (Shodasa) Shiva Lingam, the direct prototype architecture of Thanjavur Big Temple, and the hallowed spot of Saint Appar’s divine healing
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Vaikasi month (May/June Brahmotsavam), Chithirai Sadayam (Appar festival)
- Special celebration days
- Every Monday, Pradosham, New Moon days
- Cultural events
- Thevaram hymns chanting competitions, classical Carnatic music concerts, and Harikatha during festivals
- Annual events
- Thiruvathigai Veeratteswarar Maha Rathotsavam and Appar Theerthavari drawing over 100,000 devotees
- Peak crowd season
- October to February and during Vaikasi Brahmotsavam
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
- Parking capacity
- 50+ vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.