page_title: Veerateeswarar temple, Thirupariyalur
section_title: Legend
hierarchical_section_title: Veerateeswarar temple, Thirupariyalur / Legend
caption_attribution_description: ไทย: Daksha-yagna-sati-shiva
context_page_description: Veerateswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Keelaparasalur in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of the place is Tirupparialur. The presiding deity is Shiva in the form of Veerateswarar and his consort is known as Ilam Kobanayal. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, the 276 temples that find mention in it.
  As per Hindu legend, Shiva is believed to have destroyed eight different demons and the eight Ashta Veeratanam temples are built signifying each of his victories. The temple is counted one of the eight where Shiva is believed to have punished Daksha.
  The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and few yearly festivals on its calendar. The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple is maintained and administered by the Dharmapuram Aadhenam.
context_section_description: As per Hindu legend, Dakshayani (also called Sati), the daughter of Daksha, married Hindu god Shiva. Daksha organised a huge Yajna, invited all the demigods and sages, and intentionally avoided Shiva and Dakshayani. Daksha yajna was an important turning point in the creation and development of sects in Hinduism. It is the story behind the 'Stala Purana' (Origin story of Temples) of Shakti Peethas. Dakshayani wanted to meet her sisters and father, though her father had not invited her husband. Shiva discouraged her from attending the event as an uninvited guest, but she persisted and attended the event.  Daksha insulted her and her husband in front of the guests. She was insisting on dedicting the havirbhaga, the prime offering of the yajna to her husband, which Daksha refused. She was unable to bear the insult, ran into the sacrificial fire and immolated herself. 
  Shiva, upon hearing the terrible incident became furious and invoked Virabhadra and Bhadrakali by plucking a lock of hair and thrashing it on the ground. Virabhadra and the Bhoota ganas marched south and destroyed all the premises of Daksha, who was decapitated. Daksha's wives were pleading with Shiva, upon whose request Shiva forgave and brought him to life by attaching a goat's head. The Yajna was allowed to be completed in the presence of all demi-gods and sages. The place came to be known as Dakshapuram (place of Dakhsan) and since Shiva destroyed the wrongdoings of all the celestial deities for attending the yagna in his absence, it came to be known as Pariyalur (pari in Tamil means taking away).
caption: Legend of Daksha's Yagna and Sivaganas destroying it