Why devotees come here
Vaseeswarar Temple stands on the southern bank of the Poondi reservoir, in Thirupasoor village. Shiva is worshipped here in lingam form as Vaseeswarar, and the temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalam revered in the Tevaram hymns.
Legend says the place was once a bamboo forest. A cow was seen pouring milk on a mound on higher ground, and a king dug it up. In another legend, Shiva appeared in a king's dream and told him that the snake charmer who had rescued him was Shiva himself.
The temple is also called Pasoornathar Temple. Shiva is worshipped here as Vaseeswarar, and his consort Parvati is shown as Pasupathinayagi. The Tevaram hymns revere the temple, so it is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalam shrines named in the Saiva canon.
The original complex is believed to have been built by the Cholas, and the present masonry structure dates from the 16th century. Inscriptions of Chola rulers Rajaraja I, Kulothunga I and Rajendra III are on the temple. The five-tiered gopuram faces south, and the shrines sit inside concentric granite walls. The main shrine faces east. Its roof, the vimana, is Gajabrusta in design, like a seated elephant.
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