Swarnakadeswarar Temple / Sri Swarnakateshwarar Temple / சொர்ணகடேஸ்வரர் கோவில், Neivanai, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

The place Thiru Nelvennai referred to in Thevara hymns is now called Neivanai, 14 KM from Ulundurpet. This is the 42nd  Thevaram Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 10th Shiva Sthalam of Nadu Naadu.

  

As per Sekkizhar Periyapuranam Thirugnanasambandar after worshiping Thirunelvayil Arathurai Lord Shiva, went to Thiru Nelvennai and returned back to Thiruanelvayi Arathurai. Then he went to ThiruPazhuvur.

    தேவர்தம்பிரான் திருஅரத்துறையினில் இறைஞ்சி

    மேவு நாட்களில் விமலனார் நல்வெண்ணை முதலாத்

    தாவுஇல் அன்பர்கள் தம்முடன் தொழுதுபின் சண்பைக்

    காவலார் அருள்பெற்று உடன்கலந்து மீண்டு அணைந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

    நல்வெணெய் விழுதுபெய்து ஆடுதிர் நாள்தொறும்

    நெல்வெணைய் மேவிய நீரே

    நெல்வெணெய் மேவிய நீர்மை நாள்தொறும்

    சொல்வணம் இடுவது சொல்லே

....திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                                    “அன்றகத்தின்

    நல்வெண்ணெய் உண்டொளித்த நாரணன் வந்தேத்துகின்ற

    நெல்வெண்ணெய் மேவுசிவ நிட்டையே.

... திரு அருட்பா.

Moolavar  : Sri Swarnakadeswarar, Sri Vennaiappar and 

                 Sri Nel vennai Nathar.

Consort    : Sri Neelamalar Kanni and Sri Purukanthanayaki.

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Balipedam, the base of Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in front of the Temple. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Lord Shiva in the form of Rishabaroodar, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, and Sundarar are on the top of the arch. Moolavar is under a rudraksha mandapa.  In koshtam Dakshinamurthy,  Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In praharam Chandikeswarar, Selva Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Natarajar, Spadika Linga, Maha Vishnu with Mahalakshmi on his lap, Navagrahas, Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Suryan, Chandran, Moovar Mudalikal (Thirugnanasambandar dancing without thalam and  Sundarar in worshiping posture),  Bhairavar, and Nalvar in which Thirugnanasambandar is in dancing posture and Chandikeswari.  

Ambal is in a separate temple like sannadhi on the left side of the moolavar sannadhi. Ambal is facing east, in the same direction as moolavar. It was said that Sun rays fall on moolavar on Mahashivaratri day. At that time  Shiva Linga appears in different colors like blue, green white, and red.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple existed even before the 7th Century and  was reconstructed during the Chozha period. The available inscriptions belong to Kulothunga Chozha, Vikrama Chozha, Koperunchingan, and Vijayanagara King Veeraprathaba Krishnadeva Rayar. Also, This place belongs to the Miladu alias (aakiya) Jananathavala Nattu Kurukkai Kootram. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called “Por kudam Koduththa Nayanar”.

The Kulothunga Chozha’s 48th-year reign inscription records the installation of Kuttadum Thevar (Natarajar) by Gangaikonga Chozhavalanattu Thirumunaipadi Nattu Keezhaiyur Rajendra Chozha Sethi Rayar

LEGENDS

Sages Sanaka, Sananthanar, and Sanath Kumarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Lord Shiva as Ardhanareeswarar in soolam/ Soolathevar as a symbolic representation of Shiva and Sakthi.

In one of the local legends, this place was very fertile and people grew paddy. Due to this they become happy & wealthy and forget to to worship Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva wants to teach them a lesson and asks Varuna to rain heavily. Due to heavy downpour,  all the tanks and paddy fields were submerged in  flood water. People lost all their wealth and prayed to Lord Shiva for his grace. Lord Shiva came in the form of a young man  and asked them to bring the paddy bags ( mootai / sacks). Lord Shiva Constructed a dam out of paddy bags and stopped the flood. People praised the young man’s service. Since they lost everything, Lord Shiva gave them a pot of gold and disappeared. People realized that the young man was, nothing but Lord Shiva only. Hence Lord Shiva is called Swarnakadeeswarar. Lord Shiva built a dam with paddy ( Nel in Tamil ), hence the place was called Nel Anai which has been corrupted to the present name of Neivanai.

In another legend When Thirugnanasambandar reached this place a little late in the evening. Since Thirugnanasambandar couldn’t trace the temple Lord Shiva sent Ambal to guide him. The place where Ambal called Sambandar as Child .. ethalavadi.  Thirugnanasambandar got excited and danced. This form is in the temple as urchavar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Shani peyarchi, Karthikai Deepam, Margazhi Thiruvathirai  utsavam in which Utsavar will be taken out in procession and Arudra darshan.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The landline and mobile numbers are +91 4149 - 291 786 and +91 78260 90451

HOW TO REACH :

Share auto is available from Ulundurpet and minibus also passes through this Village.  

There is a Town bus Eraiyur – Neivenai.

On Ulundurpet to Tirukoilur / Thirukovilur ( via )  Elavanasur route, there is a place called Eraiyur, from there Via Vada Kurumbur, Nevanai is about 4 KM.

From the Ulundurpet to Salem route after Kumaramangalam, turn right to Anganur, Neivanai can be reached.

The temple is 15 KM from Ulundurpet (Via Kumaramangalam, Anganur),  14 KM from Ulundurpet vis Pandur R F & Adhanur,  28 KM from Thirukovilur, 45 KM from Villupuram and 213 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Ulundurpet.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---