Stuee.Singh at 11:37, 9 November 2025

2025-11-09T11:37:00Z

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{{Short description|Group of eight Hindu temples of Shiva}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}

'''Ashta Veeratta Stalam''' (also called '''Ashtaveertanam''' or '''Atta Veeratanam''') are the eight temples of [[Hindu god]] [[Shiva]], that commemorate his eight acts of valour and fury where he became victorious over demons or divinities.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu|last=P.|first=Karthigayan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q4HDDAAAQBAJ&q=veerattam&pg=PT388|page=388|publisher=Notion Press|year=2016|isbn=9789352065523}}</ref> Seven out of these temples are also classified as [[Paadal Petra Sthalam]], the temples of Shiva that are revered in ''[[Tevaram]]'' (7th century canonical work by the [[Shaivism|Shaiva]] [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] saints).<ref>{{Cite web
|url= http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0192.pdf
|title=Appar Tevaram -2
|work=Projectmadurai.org
|access-date=16 July 2011|pages=14–6
}}</ref> The presiding deity in all the temples is called Veerateeswarar.

==List of temples==
{{Location map+|Tamil Nadu|alt=Locations of the Ashta Veeratta Stalam
|places=
{{location map~ |Tamil Nadu|lat=11.9713|long=79.2105|label= Thirukovilur|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Tamil Nadu|lat=11.46|long=79.33|label= Thiruvathigai|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Tamil Nadu|lat=11.1553|long=79.6119|label= Korukkai|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Tamil Nadu|lat=10.86|long=79.1083|label= Thirukandiyur|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Tamil Nadu|lat=11.0775|long=79.8183|label= Thirukkadaiyur|position=right}}
{{location map~ |Tamil Nadu|lat=11.0908|long=79.7258|label= Thirupariyalur|position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |Tamil Nadu|lat=11.04501|long=79.6378|label= Vazhuvur|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Tamil Nadu|lat=10.8313|long=79.6637|label= Tiruvirkudi|position=bottom}}
|caption=Temple locations|float=center|width=360}}

{| class="wikitable" sortable
|- style="background:#FFC569"
! scope="col" | S.No.
! scope="col" | '''Name of the temple'''
! scope="col" | '''Location'''
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | '''Photo'''
! scope="col" | '''Presiding deity and goddess'''
! scope="col" | Commemorates
|- align="center"
|- style="background:#ffe;"
|-
|1
| [[Veerateeswarar temple, Thirukovilur]]
| [[Thirukovilur]], [[Kallakurichi district]] [[Tamil Nadu]] {{coord|11|58|17|N|79|12|38|E}}
|[[File:Thirukovilur Veerateeswarar5.JPG|130px|center]]
| Veerateeswarar and Periyanayagi
|Shiva's slaying of the demon [[Andhakasura]] in the form of Andakasuramurthy.<ref>{{cite web|year=2011|title=Slaying of Demon Andaka|url=http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/andakavad.htm|access-date=28 March 2016|publisher=Templenet}}</ref>
|-
|2
| [[Veerateeswarar temple, Thiruvathigai]]
| Thiruvathigai, [[Cuddalore District|Cuddalore]] [[Tamil Nadu]] {{coord|11.46|79.33}}
|[[File:Thiruvathigai (15).jpg|130px|center]]
| Veerateeswarar and Mookambigai
|Shiva's victory as [[Tripurantaka]], destroyer of the three cities of the demon king[[Tripurasura]] or three demon brothers - collectively called as Tripurasura.<ref>{{cite book|last=Krishna|first=Nanditha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VwhtAwAAQBAJ&q=thiruvathigai&pg=PT252|title=The Book of Demons|publisher=Penguin UK|year=2007|isbn=9789351181446|page=252}}</ref><ref name="C93">[[Ashta Veeratta Stalam#Madhavan|Madhavan 2014]], p. 93</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kapoor|first=Subodh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4LqRXZPJTUoC&q=acharapakkam+temple&pg=PA4467|title=The Indian Encyclopaedia: La Behmen-Maheya|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|year=2002|isbn=9788177552713|page=4467}}</ref>
|-
|3
| [[Veerateeswarar temple, Korukkai]]
| Korukkai, [[Mayiladuthurai district]] [[Tamil Nadu]] {{coord|11.155340|79.611976}}
|[[File:Korukkai Veeratteswarar Temple1.jpg|130px|center]]
| Veerateeswarar and Gnanambigai
|Shiva's victory over the love god [[Kamadeva]]. Kamadeva tries to break Shiva's [[Tapas (Indian religions)|penance]] so that he can wake up and marry the goddess [[Parvati]]. The son of Shiva and Parvati is prophesied to slay the demon [[Tarakasura]]. Shiva awakens but in fury, burns Kamadeva by his [[third eye]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Daniel Ingalls|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AjEdCVZ5uoQC|title=Sanskrit poetry, from Vidyākara's "Treasury"|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|year=1968|isbn=978-0-674-78865-7|page=58}}</ref><ref>[[Klaus Klostermaier]], (2000) Hinduism: A Short History. Oxford: One World Publications.</ref><ref>[[Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty]], (1975) Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit. London: Penguin Books, p.157-159 [https://books.google.com/books?id=JAwA8sHtGbgC]</ref><ref>[[Ashta Veeratta Stalam#Giri|R. 2019]], p. 129-33</ref>
|-
|4
| [[Kandeeswarar Temple, Kandiyur]]
| Thirukandiyur, [[Thanjavur district]] [[Tamil Nadu]] {{coord|10|51|36|N|79|6|30|E}}
|[[File:Brahma Kandeeswarar temple (11).jpg|130px|center]]
| Kandeeswarar and Mangalanayagi
|Shiva's form of [[Bhairava]], who cut the fifth head of the god [[Brahma]]
|-
|5
| [[Amritaghateswarar-Abirami Temple,Thirukkadaiyur]]
| [[Thirukkadaiyur]], [[Mayiladuthurai district]] [[Tamil Nadu]] {{coord|11|4|39|N|79|49|6|E}}
|[[File:Thirukadayur (7).jpg|130px|center]]
| Amritaghateswarar Abirami
|Shiva's victory as [[Kalantaka]] (Conqueror over Time and Death) over the god of death [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]], to proper his devotee [[Markandeya|Markendeya]] from death.<ref name="Meena">{{cite book|last=V.|first=Meena|title=Temples in South India|publisher=Harikumar Arts|year=1974|edition=1st|location=Kanniyakumari|page=37}}</ref>
|-
|6
| [[Veerateeswarar temple, Thirupariyalur]]
| Thirupariyalur, [[Mayiladuthurai district]] [[Tamil Nadu]] {{coord|11.090815| 79.725804}}
|[[File:Keelaparasalur veeratesvarar temple1.jpg|130px|center]]
| Veerateeswarar and Ilam Kobanayal
|Shiva's victory in the form of [[Virabhadra]] over the god [[Daksha]] and Destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice ([[Daksha yajna]]).<ref>[[Ashta Veeratta Stalam#Giri|R. 2019]], p. 115-9</ref>
|-
|7
| [[Veerateeswarar temple, Vazhuvur]]
| Vazhuvur, [[Mayiladuthurai district]] [[Tamil Nadu]] {{coord|11.04501|79.6378}}
|[[File:Viratteswara Temple, Vazhuvur.jpg|130px|center]]
| Veerateeswarar and Bala Gujambigai
|Shiva's victory as [[Gajasurasamhara|Gajasamharamurti]] or "slayer of the elephant", where he killed the elephant demon.<ref name="Ayyar">{{cite book|author=P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar|title=South Indian shrines: illustrated|publisher=Madras Times Printing and Pub. Co.|year=1920|pages=281}}</ref><ref name="surap64">{{cite book|title=Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu|publisher=Sura Books|year=2010|isbn=978-81-7478-177-2|page=64}}</ref>
|-
|8
| [[Veerateeswarar temple, Thiruvirkudi]]
| Tiruvirkudi, [[Mayiladuthurai district]] [[Tamil Nadu]] {{coord|10.831304| 79.663743}}
|[[File:Thiruvirkudi (11).jpg|130px|center]]
| Veerateeswarar and Elavar Kuzhali
|Shiva's victory over the demon [[Jalandhara]].<ref>[[Ashta Veeratta Stalam#Giri|R. 2019]], p. 120-5</ref>
|}

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|title=Vishnu temples of South India volume 4|last=Madhavan|first=Chithra|year=2007 |isbn=978-81-908445-3-6|publisher=Alpha Land Books Pvt. Ltd.|location=Chennai|ref=Madhavan}}
* {{cite book|title=108 Thennaga Shivasthalangal|language=Tamil|publisher=Giri Trading Agency Private Limited|isbn=978-81-7950-707-0|last=R.|first=Ponnammal|year=2019|ref=Giri}}

==External links==
{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Ashta Veeratta Stalam]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Cuddalore district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Mayiladuthurai district]]

Ashta Veeratta Stalam - Revision history

Stuee.Singh at 11:37, 9 November 2025