Veerateeswarar Temple, Vazhuvur

Veerateeswarar Temple stands at Vazhuvur in Mayiladuthurai district, 2 km from Manganallur on the Mayiladuthurai–Thiruvarur road. Shiva is worshipped as Veerateswarar and his consort as Bala Gujambigai. It is one of the eight Ashta Veeratanam temples marking Shiva's victories over demons: here, legend says, sages created an elephant to fight him, and he slew it as Gajasamharamurti and wore its skin. Vazhuvur, 'the place not affected', is said to have escaped a great flood.

The present masonry dates from the Chola period, with later additions by the Thanjavur Nayaks, and most inscriptions date from 1160 to 1276. Facing east behind a five-tier rajagopuram, with the Panchamuga tank outside, the temple is known for its bronzes; the six-armed Gajasamharamurthy, sculpted in the 11th century and shown bursting from the elephant, stands in the mahamandapa with Murugan, Somaskanda and Vinayagar. A figure of Parvati holding Murugan is also noted. The Dharmapuram Aadhenam administers the temple.