Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · India

Veerateeswarar Temple, Thiruvirkudi

Thiruvirkudi (Virkudi), Tamil Nadu · 10.8313°, 79.6637°

Shiva as Veerateswarar (consort Elavar Kuzhali)CholaDravidianPaadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
800 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
9th c. (Chola)
Chola

History & significance

A Paadal Petra Sthalam sung by Sambandar and one of the eight Ashta Veeratta Sthalams marking Shiva's victories over demons; the present masonry structure dates to the 9th-century Cholas with Nayak-era expansions.

Sthala katha — the legend

Shiva is said to have manifested here as Veerateeswarar to destroy the demon Jalandhara, who had been born of the fire of Shiva's third eye cast into the ocean.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola