01Daksha’s sacrifice
The Shiva Purana and Bhagavata Purana tell that Daksha Prajapati held a great yajna and invited every deva but his son-in-law Shiva. Sati went uninvited, was insulted, and gave up her body in the yogic fire. Shiva tore a lock from his matted hair and from it rose Veerabhadra, who broke the yajna and struck off Daksha’s head; afterwards, at the devas’ prayer, Shiva restored Daksha with the head of a goat. Tirupariyalur is counted the Veerattanam of this act, and the Lord is also called Dakshapureeswarar. Appar and Sambandar sang the shrine.
02Among the eight
The eight Veerattanams are Tirukkandiyur (Brahma’s head), Tirukkovilur (Andhaka), Tiruvadigai (Tripura), Tirupariyalur (Daksha), Tiruvirkudi (Jalandhara), Vazhuvur (the elephant asura), Tirukkurukkai (Kama) and Tirukkadavur (Yama). Pilgrims who walk the eight count this one as the place of Shiva’s anger against pride. The temple’s sanctum is Chola work of the ninth century, with Nayaka-period additions, and it is cared for by the Dharmapuram Adheenam.
At Keezhaparasalur near Sembanarkoil, about 15 km east of Mayiladuthurai.
