Veerateeswarar Temple, Thirupariyalur

Veerateeswarar Temple, also called the Dakshapureeswarar temple, stands at Keelaparasalur, the old Thirupariyalur, in Mayiladuthurai district's Sembanarkoil block. Shiva is worshipped as Veerateswarar and his consort as Ilam Kobanayal, and the temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam praised in the Tevaram.

It is one of the eight Ashta Veeratanam temples, each marking a victory of Shiva; this one recalls his punishment of Daksha. In the legend, Daksha held a great sacrifice and pointedly left out Shiva and his daughter Dakshayani, who went anyway, was insulted, and threw herself into the fire. Shiva, enraged, called up Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali, who destroyed the sacrifice and beheaded Daksha; later, at the pleading of Daksha's wives, Shiva restored him with a goat's head. The present masonry dates from the 9th-century Cholas, with later Thanjavur Nayak additions. Four rituals are held daily, and the Dharmapuram Aadhenam administers the temple.