Thirukumaresar temple

As per Hindu legend, once Shiva was explaining the importance of Vedas and Agamas to Parvathi in Kailash. She was not paying attention and Shiva cursed her to born in earth in Bharathava community. Muruga, their son was angered that his father cursed Parvathi and argued with him. Shiva was further angered and he cursed Muruga also be born as a dumb boy in trader community. He was born as Rudrasarma in Madurai to an army lieutenant. The boy went to many Shiva temples for relief and when he finally came to the temple for worship, he got his speech. As per another legend, the celestial deities were enjoying the place and took the form of birds. Some hunters were trying to hunt them and by divine intervention, the hunters turned into Erukam trees whose wood is not useful. Thus the place came to be known as Erukathampuliyur. ==Architecture==

Thirukumaresar temple is located in Vridhachalam - Jayankondam highway, from Vridhachalam. The temple has a three-tiered gateway tower and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. The temple occupies an area of around . The central shrine houses the image of Shiva as Thirukumaresar in the form of Lingam. The shrine of Parvati - the consort of Shiva - as Veramulai Amman, facing West is located in the Mahamandapam leading to the sanctum. The central shrine is approached through the flagstaff and Mahamandapam, both which are located axial to the gateway. As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of Vinayaka (Ganesha), Murugan (Kartikeya), Navagraha, Chandikesa and Durga are located around the precinct of the main shrine. The temple tank is located opposite to the temple and is called Nilorpala Theertham. There is a shrine for Thiruneelakanta Nayanar and Sattanathar at an elevated plane. The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas, while the present masonry structure was built during the Nayak during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. ==Religious importance==

It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanars Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. Raja Raja Chola, the greatest Chola king is believed to have worshipped Shiva at this place and was blessed with Rajendra I. He named the place Rajendirapattinam after the incident. During five days from 16 to 20 March, Sun's rays fall directly on the image of the presiding deity. The temple is also known to be the birthplace of Tirunilakanta Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. ==Festivals==

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day; Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m, and Arthajamam at 8:00 p.m.. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for Thirukumaresar and Verumulai Amman. There are weekly rituals like ' (Monday) and ' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham, and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. Mahasivarathri during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) is the most important festivals of the temple. ==References==