Thiruvarur Virupaksheeswarar Siva Temple

Address

Thiruvarur vattam,

Thiruvarur District,

Tamil Nadu 610001

Moolavar

Virupaksheeswarar

Introduction

Thiruvarur Virupaksheeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Located in the Thiruvarur town, Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu. The name of the street on which this temple is located is Vipurakshi Nadappu Street, the temple towards the west, which seems to have been remodelled into the temple we see today. Adjacent to the temple there is a large pond known as Vippakshikulam. The main gate is topped with a tower. Vinayagar and Balamurugan are present in small pavilions on either side. Lord Virupaksheeswarar is facing west, Goddess – is facing south. At the gate of his sanctum sanctorum there are two Statues.

Puranic Significance

Virupaksha was the guardian deity of Andavijayanagar kings with Hampi in Karnataka as his capital. One of the forms of Rudra, Virupaksha means the third eye of the mind. Even their political charters are signed with the name Virupaksha. Virupakshaishwarar temples were built in the places where the Nayak kings ruled. However, only lingamurthas are found in the temples of Tamil Nadu. One such temple built by Nayaks is a few hundred meters north of Tiruvarur big temple. The Temple is believed to be 500 years old.

In the square arthamandapa in front of the Lord, there are four huge linga murthys in the four corners. Outside this hall there are two big gatekeepers. In front of the arthamandapam there is a mahamandapam, in which there are cemented statues of four Nayanmars on four pillars. Before the Lord is beautiful Nandi. Vinayagar is in the south-west and Murugan is in the north-west in this Mahamandapam. There are Ganesha Durga and Lingam’s around the sanctum sanctorum. Sandesar navagragam has a shrine. There are also some broken idols on the south side of the temple.