Veerateeswarar Temple, Korukkai

Veerateeswarar Temple stands in Korukkai, a village about 3 km from Needur on the Mayiladuthurai–Manalmedu road. Shiva is worshipped as Veerateswarar and the goddess as Gnanambigai. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam praised in the Tevaram, and one of the eight Ashta Veeratanam temples that mark Shiva's victories; here he is believed to have punished Kama, the god of love, burning him to ash with his third eye when Kama disturbed his penance. The village name is explained by another legend, of a sage whose hands shrank during worship and were healed by Shiva, making him Kurungai Munivar. The present masonry temple dates from 9th-century Chola times, with later work under the Thanjavur Nayaks.

The temple faces west behind a five-tiered rajagopuram, with the Soola Theertham tank outside. In the mahamandapa is a metal Kamadahanamurthy with six arms bearing weapons, alongside metal images of Kama and Rati, Murugan, Somaskanda and Vinayagar. The goddess stands with four arms in a south-facing shrine. Four pujas are held daily, from Kalasanthi at 7 am to Ardha Jamam at 8.30 pm, and the temple is run by the Dharmapuram Adheenam.