வழுவூர் வீரட்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில்Vazhuvur Veerateeswarar Temple

Sthala Mahātmyam

The Veerateeswarar Temple at Vazhuvur (Valuvur), in Mayiladuthurai district, is the Ashta Veerattanam shrine of Gaja Samhara. According to the sthala mahatmyam, hostile sages sent a rampaging elephant demon against Shiva's devotees; Shiva slew the elephant, flayed it, and danced wearing its bloody hide, appearing as Gajasamhara Murti. The mahamandapa enshrines a celebrated bronze image of Gajasamhara Murti with six arms, bearing weapons and emerging from the elephant's skin, with the Goddess and child Skanda looking on in awe — regarded as one of the finest depictions of this fierce dancing form. Shiva is worshipped as Veerateeswarar and his consort as Balakujambigai, also called Ilankilainayaki. The temple is especially famed for its festival bronzes. Chief festivals include the Margazhi Thiruvadhirai procession and the grand three-day Gajasamhara festival during Masi Magam, followed by a ten-day Brahmotsavam, with the enactment of the Gajasamharam on the second evening.