Veerattanaeswarar Temple

1. The temple predates the 7th century and was initially built by the Pallavas.
2. It was reconstructed and expanded during the Chola period.
3. Pallava inscriptions reveal that Lord Shiva was referred to as "Veerattanamudaiyar," and the place was called Thiruvathigai, Athiraiya Mangalam, Athirajamangalam, and Athirajamangalyapuram.

1. The Vinayagar (Moothanayinar) shrine was renovated in Saka 1399 (1477 CE).
2. A temple chariot was donated by Chalukya lineage captain Aramvartha Nayanar in Saka 1400 (1478 CE).
3. The temple was fortified and repurposed by the French, Arcot Nawabs, Marathas, and British during later periods as a fort and armory.

Lord Shiva inflicted a severe stomach pain upon Appar (Thirunavukkarasar), which none in the Jain camp could cure. Seeking relief, Appar turned to his sister Thilagavathy. Moved by her brother's suffering, Thilagavathy brought him to the Veeratteswarar Temple. There, she chanted the sacred Panchakshara mantra, "Na Ma Shi Vaa Ya," and applied holy ash to his forehead. Appar also consumed the ash, and miraculously, his intense pain vanished instantly.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Appar composed his first hymn, the "Kodhil Neediya Tirupathigam," beginning with the line “Kootru Aayinavaru Vilakka Hileer.” Recognizing his poetic brilliance and devotion, Lord Shiva bestowed upon him the title Tirunavukkarasar—“King of Tongues.”

Three wicked demons Tharukakshan, Kamalakshan, and Vidyunmali—performed intense penance to please Lord Brahma and received powerful boons granting them immortality. Empowered by these boons, they began to terrorize the Devas and other beings. Distressed, the Devas sought refuge in Lord Shiva.

To confront the demons, Lord Shiva created a divine chariot with Earth as the Rath, the Sun and Moon as its wheels, and Lord Brahma as the charioteer, with the Devas as his army. He fashioned a bow from Mount Meru, used Vasuki the serpent as the chord, and Vishnu became the bow with Agni as its arrowhead. Shiva mounted the chariot and prepared for battle.

However, the chariot's axle suddenly broke. Prayers were immediately offered to Lord Vinayaka, who resolved the issue. As the march resumed, the Devas accompanying Lord Shiva became prideful, believing that victory would come through their support alone. Realizing their arrogance, Lord Shiva chose to teach them a lesson. He refrained from using weapons and merely laughed at the demons. From his laughter emerged a fireball that reduced the three demons to ashes.

This act humbled both the Devas and the demons. Acknowledging their folly, the Devas bowed their heads in shame. Lord Shiva, in his infinite compassion, pardoned two of the demons. He appointed them as his Dwarapalakas (gatekeepers), while the third became the player of the Kudamuzha instrument.

This legendary event, known as Tripura Samharam, symbolizes the simultaneous destruction of arrogance and evil.