Sivapuri Uchi Nathar Temple / Thirunelvayil Shiva Temple / Sri Uchinatheswarar Temple / சிவபுரி உச்சிநாதர் கோயில், Thirunelvayil / Sivapuri, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 57^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 3^{rd Sthalam} on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place Thirunelvayil, is between the rivers Uppanaru and Kollidam,  also known as Sivapuri is a part of Chidambaram also called Thillai. This place Thillai was named after a flora called Thillai Tree ( Excoecaria agallocha Linn ) that dominates in this area. Chidambaram was called different names line, Puliyur, and PerumpaRRappuliyur during the 7^th to 8^th Century. The place around the temple was full of paddy fields, hence this place was called Thirunelvayil.

Sekkizhar mentions in Periya Puranam that, Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukazhipalai. Further, he mentions that Sambandar visits this temple during his stay at Chidambaram. Sambandar also mentions Thirunelvayil as Thiruvuchchi- திருவுச்சி.

கைம்மான் மறியார் கழிப்பாலைஉள் அணைந்து

மெய்ம்மாலைச் சொல்பதிகம் பாடி விரைக் கொன்றைச்

செம்மாலைவேணித் திருஉச்சிமேவி உறை

அம்மானைக் கும்பிட்டு அரும்தமிழும் பாடினார்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

புடையினார்புள்ளி கால் பொருந்திய

மடையினார்மணி நீர்நெல்வாயிலார்

நடையினார் விரற் கோவணந் நயந்து

உடையினர் எமது உச்சியாரே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                “- வாழ்க்கைமனை

நல்வாயலெங்கு நவமணிக்குன்றோங்கு திரு

நெல்வாயில் நின்றொளிரும் நீளொளியே”

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Uchinatheswarar, Sri Uchi natha swamy

Consort    : Sri Kanakambigai.

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

The temple faces east with 5-tier Rajagopuram and the temple tank with Neerali mandapam is in front. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Moolavar is small on a square avudayar. Shiva and Parvati’s marriage / Kalyana kolam image is on the back side of the moolavar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In Prakaram Sri Vinayagar, Sri Subramaniar, Pancha Lingas, Sri Shani Bhagavan, Sri Suryan and Sri Chandran. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south. Nalvar’s bas reliefs are on the mandapa pillars.

The 15^th Century Arunagirinathar worshiped Lord Muruga of this temple and sang hymns in praise of him.

மறியு மாழ்கட லூடுபோய்க் கரந்து

    கவடு கோடியின் மேலுமாய்ப் பரந்து

        வளரு மாவிரு கூறதாய்த் தடிந்த               வடிவேலா

மருவு காளமு கீல்கள்கூட் டெழுந்து

    மதியு லாவிய மாடமேற் படிந்த

        வயல்கள் மேவுநெல் வாயில்வீற் றிருந்த   பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. An ekathala vesara Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century and may have been built by the Pallavas and reconstructed during Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. Three inscriptions are recorded from this temple.

The Vijayanagara period Muthu Venkatappa  Nayaks period, Saka 1564 ie 1642 CE inscription records that, for the wellbeing of Dubash Krishnappa Nayak, a land measuring 25 ma land at Abhishekapuram was donated by Muthu Venkattappa Nayak’s assistant.

As per the records available, the Kumbabishekam is conducted on 11^th Sep 2008, 1^st Sep 1982, 16^th June 1957, and 25^th May 1928.  

LEGENDS

It was around noon when Thirugnanasambandar reached the Temple and was feeling hungry. Lord Shiva offered food for him and his disciples, in the guise of priest. Noon time is also called Uchchi pozhuthu.. உச்சி பொழுது...in Tamil. Hence Lord Shiva is called Uchi Nathar. In Sanskrit, called “Sri Madhyaneswarar”. In another legend, Lord Shiva fed all the people who came for Thirugnanasambandar’s marriage at Thirunallurperumanam and stayed at this place from noon.    

This is one of the places where Lord Shiva and Parvati gave the Kalyanakola darshan to sage Agathiyar. Kanva Maharishi also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri. On Vaikasi Visakam day theerthavari will be conducted in the temple tank and the Pancha Moorthy procession will be held in the evening.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Gurukkal may be contacted for darshan through his mobile at 9842624580

HOW TO REACH :

By the side of Annamalai University, reach the main road via Kavarapattu Road, and go via Perampattu Road to reach the temple.

Town bus available from Chidambaram bus stand to Sivapuri.

The temple is about 3 KM from Bus Terminus, 4 KM from Chidambaram railway station, 19 KM from Sirkazhi, 39 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 54 KM from Virudhachalam, 56 KM from Cuddalore, 75 KM from Villupuram and 230 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Chidambaram

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE  

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---