திருவதிகை வீரட்டானேஸ்வரர் கோயில்Thiruvathigai Veerateeswarar (Veerattaneswarar) Temple

Sthala Mahātmyam

Thiruvathigai Veerateeswarar (Veerattaneswarar) Temple, about two kilometres east of Panruti, is counted among the Ashta Veerattanam shrines, commemorating Shiva's destruction of Tripura — the three flying fortresses of the asuras Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali and Kamalaksha. According to the sthala mahatmyam, the celestials appealed to Shiva when Tripuran terrorised them; Shiva mounted a chariot with the earth as his car, Mount Meru as his bow, Vishnu as the arrow and the Vedas as his horses, and reduced the three cities to ash, earning the name Tripurantaka. The presiding lingam is worshipped as Veerattaneswarar and his consort as Tripurasundari. A Paadal Petra Sthalam praised in the Tevaram, the temple is closely linked with the Nayanar saint Tirunavukkarasar (Appar), who was here cured of an affliction and attained grace. Chief festivals include the ten-day Vasantha Utsavam in Chittirai, the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, and the Sadhaya star festival marking Appar's liberation.