Sri Neiyyadiappar Temple / அருள்மிகு நெய்யாடியப்பர் திருக்கோவில், தில்லைஸ்தானம் / Thiru Neithanam / Thillaisthanam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 106^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 52^nd Shiva Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri. The temple is on the banks of River Kaveri. In Thevaram the place name was mentioned as Thiruneithanam, and now called as Thillaisthanam. This is one of the Saptha sthana Temples around Thiruvaiyaru.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Perumpuliyur.

குடதிசைமேல் போவதற்குக் கும்பிட்டு அங்கு அருள்பெற்றுக் குறிப்பினோடும்

பிடரும்நெறிமேல் அணைவார் பரமர் திரு நெய்தானப் பதியில் நண்ணி

அடையும்மனம் உறவணங்கி அரும்தமிழ்மா லைகள்பாடி அங்கு நின்றும்

புடைவளர்மென் கரும்பினொடு பூகம்மிடை மழபாடி போற்றச் சென்றார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

மையாடிய கண்டன்மலை மகள்பாகமது உடையான்

கையாடிய கேடில்கரி உரிமூடிய ஒருவன்

செய்யாடிய குவளைம் மலர் நயனத்தவ ளோடும்

நெய்யாடிய பெருமான்இடம் நெய்தானம்எ னீரே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

காலனை வீழச் செற்ற கழலடி இரண்டும் வந்தென்

மேலவா இருக்கப் பெற்றேன் மேதகத் தோன்று கின்ற

கோலநெய்த் தானம் என்னும் குளிர்பொழிற் கோயில் மேய

நீலம்வைத் தனய கண்ட நினைக்குமா நினைக்கின் றேனே

.......... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                --மெய்யகற்றி

மெய்த்தான நின்றோர் வெளித்தானமேவு திரு

நெய்தானத் துள்ளமர்ந்த நித்தியமே

........... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Neiyyadiappar, Sri Kiruthapureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Balambigai.

Some of the important features of  this temple are :

The temple is facing east with 5 tier Rajagopuram. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Ashtabhuja Durga.  In Dakshinamurthy’s Koshtam, one murti is in standing Posture. As per the iconography this Shiva murti may belongs to Pallava period and the right hand is in abhaya hastham and other hand is in kadi hastham. In front of Standing Shiva Dakshinamurthy is installed in the same niche.

In the inner prakaram Kanni Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Saneeswarar, Naga kannikas, Saraswati, Mahalakshmi, Chandikeswarar and Durgai. Navagrahas are in the mandapam. In the Corridor Shiva Lingas of other Saptha Sthana temples ie, Thirupazhanam Thiru Neithanam, Thiru Kandiyur, Thiruchotruthurai, Thiruvedhikudi, Thirupoonthuruthi and Thiruvaiyaru,

There is no sannadhi in the outer prakaram.  Ambal sannadhi is facing south with sanku  ( Conch )  and chakkaram.  

The adhisthana is a simple padabandha adhisthana. The prastharam is of kapotha style with bhuta ganas are in valabi. The ekathala vimana is of stone up to girivan and the sigaram is of stucco.

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung Hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

செகசெச் சேசெச் செகவென முரசொலி

            திகழச் சூழத் திருநட மிடுபவர்

            செறிகட் காளப் பணியணி யிறையவர்        தருசேயே

    சிகரப் பாரக் கிரியுறை குறமகள்’

            கலசத் தாமத் தனகிரி தழுவிய

            திருநெய்த் தானத் துறைபவ சுரபதி               பெருமாளே

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple ( May be in bricks )  was existed before 7^th century. Latter the temple was reconstructed stone by Chozhas, Pandyas, Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions this place was in Rajarajavalanattu Painganattu Thiru Neithanam and Lord Shiva was called as Neithanamudayar. 

About 51 inscriptions are recorded from this temple. As per the inscriptions, this place was in Rajarajavalanattu Painganattur Thiru Neithanam during Rajathirajan Period.

Nandhivarman-III’s 856 CE year ( 11^th year ) reign inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 90 kalanju Chempon ( pure Gold ) was gifted by the king. To fetch an annual interest of 60 Kalam paddy. The Perumpuliyur Sabhai, has agreed to supply daily one uri of ghee to the temple priest to burn the perpetual lamp. 

Vikrama Chozha period inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Chembiyan Eekkattu Velan Parisai Kizhaan Maravan nakkan and he donated 13 Kalanju Gold.

Nangai Varaguna Peruman bought a land for 25 Kalanju gold from Koothan Arulmozhi alias Vanavan Perayan and handed over to this temple for burning perpetual lamp.

Chozha Perumanadigal’s Kamakizhaththi Nangai Kooththapperumanaar gifted 30 Klanju gold to light a perpetual lamp. But the Neithana sabhai utilised that amount for constructing a  Snabana mandapa. In lieu of that the sabhai had arranged through Temple land.

Valavarkon Perarayan, Chembiyan Thamizhavelan Vikkanan’s wife  Kadambama Devi, Thennavan Pirathimarajan alias Katti Otriyuraan Prantakan and Ilangovenman’s wife  Varagunaperumanar gifted gold and land towards burning of perpetual lamp.

Parantaka – I  period inscription records the endowment of naivedyam  by  Mundangatti Udayan alias Kannangudi Narayanan, for which Paddy was gifted.

In addition to this Thavil / Melam players, Devadasis and Merchants also gave donations to this temple in terms of Gold, Money, Land, Sheep / Goat,  mainly for Lighting of perpetual lamps. 

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 19^th April 2001.

Inscriptions on the jala too

LEGEND:

Kamadhenu and Saraswathi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

As per the legend, the divine cow, Kamadhenu was pouring milk at a particular place and the milk turned to ghee due to hot sun. The shepherd informed this miracle to the local people. The Locals dug that particular place and found a Shiva Linga. When the Kings was informed about this, the King constructed a temple and ordered to do abhishekam with ghee. Kamadhenu worships Lord Shiva and pouring milk on the Shiva Linga is in the form of a bas relief is in the temple. Hence Lord Shiva is called as "Neiyyadiyappar" and the place was called as Neithanam.     

It is believed that a Sri Lankan King Kayavahu with his family worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple considering as their Kula Deivam. He also arranged many festivals to be celebrated in this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on ezhur Thiruvizha ( Urchavar participates in Thirumazhapadi Nadhikeswarar’s marriage festival ), Masi maham Brahmotsavam in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) with Theerthavari in river kaveri, Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug- Sep ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sep- Oct ), Skanda Sashti and annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and every monthly pradosham.

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple timings are 09.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and  and 17.00 Hrs to 19.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The Gurukkal Sankar can be contacted on the Land Line 04362 – 260553

HOW TO REACH :

Town buses are available from Kandiyur. The route number are 23, 13  and 5.

The Temple is 2.1 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 14.0 KM from Thanjavur, 36 KM from Kumbakonam, 50 KM from Tiruchirappalli and 331 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway Station is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE

Mani ( Bell ) and Mani(cka)vasagar

Kaveri River 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---