VEERATESHWARA SWAMY ASHTAA ASHTA BAIRAVESHWARAR MAHA MRITYUNJAYA PARAMESHWARAR SUKRAPUREESHWARAR
As per Hindu legend, Shiva appeared in the form of Andakasura samhara murthy to slay the demon king Andakasura. Andakasura was a demon who attained powers close to immortality on account of his severe penance to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation.
The boon attained had just one condition that when he lusts his mother, he would be killed. He made undue use of his powers and was troubling humans and celestial deities. During one such encounters, he started lusting toward Parvathi, the wife of Shiva and who was like his mother.
Shiva appeared as Andakasura samhara murthy and slayed Andaka with his trident. Realising his mistake, he pleaded Shiva to make him a devotee of his in the next birth. It is believed that Shiva readily agreed and Andaka was born as Gana Bhringi.
The temple finds mention in Sangam literature in Tamil from 3rd BC to 3rd centuries CE like Agananuru, Purananuru, Natrinai and Kurunthokai. Malayaman Tirumudikari, the ruler of Thirukovilur, was praised in the texts for his charitable disposition to the institutions.
It is believed that Avvaiyar, the celebrated Sangam period poet, arranged marriage for two chieftains at this place. Poet Kapilar is believed to have found suitable grooms for king Pari's daughters Angavai and Sangavai at this place and set himself on fire. The event is commemorated every year in a huge rock called Kapilar Kal, where a small shrine exists even in modern times. It is reenacted during the Maasi Magam festival.
Rajanarayana Sambuvaraya was a chieftain of Medieval Cholas whose contributions are documented in his inscriptions across various temples in modern-day Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts and also in his Sanskrit work Madhuravijayam. He repaired, revived the services and inaugurated festivals of the temple.
Tirugnana Sambandar, a 7th-century Tamil Saivite poet, venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the First Tirumurai. Appar, a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Fifth Tirumurai. Sundarar, a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Veerateeswarar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Seventh Tirumurai.
As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. Appar is believed to have visited the temple during the series of visits from Thiruvennainallur to Thiruvamathur and Pennadam.
As per legends, Shiva is believed to have destroyed eight different demons namely Andakasuran, Gajasuran, Jalandasuran, Thirupuradhi, Kaman, Arjunan, Dakshan and Taaragasuran. There are Ashta Veeratanam temples built signifying each of his victories in the war,and also as places where he is believed to have performed with fury.
The eight temples are: Tiruvadigai Veerattaaneswarar Temple at Thiruvadigai, Tirukkovilur Veerateshwarar Temple at Tirukoilur, Veerateswarar temple at Korukkai or Thirukkurukkai, Amirtagateswarar Temple at Thirukadaiyur, Vazhuvur Verateswarar Temple at Vazhuvoor, Keelaparasalur Veerateswarar Temple at Tirupariyalur, Kandeeswarar Temple at Thirukkandiyur and Tiruvirkudi Veerataneswarar Temple at Thiruvirkudi.
Shiva in all these temples are described to have used bow and arrow, trident and spear.