Sri Nedungalanathar Temple / Nedungala Nathar Temple /திருநெடுங்களநாதர் நித்தியசுந்தரேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் / திருநெடுங்களம் / Thirunedunkalam, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

This temple is the 125^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and the 8^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called Nedungalam during the 6^th to 7^th Century and is now called Thirunedungulam. The Locals call this place Thirunattangulam.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruverumbur.

நெடுங்களத்து ஆதியை அன்பால் நின்பால் நெஞ்சம் செலாவகை நேர்விலக்கும்

இடும்பைகள் தீர்த்தது அருள் செய்வாய் என்னும் இன்இசை மாலைகொண்டு ஏத்திஏகி

அடும்பணிச் செஞ்சடையார் பதிகள் அணைந்து பணிந்து நியமம் போற்றிக்

கடுங்கைவரை உரித்தார் மகிழ்ந்த காட்டுப்பள்ளிப் பதிகை தொழுவார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Ayyadigal Kadavarkon, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. It is believed that Thirugnanasambandar’s hymns are the “Idar Kalayum Pathigam - இடர் களையாய்.” i.e., Lord Shiva will remove the obstacles.

நின்னடியே வழிபடுவான் நிமலா நினைக்கருத

என் அடியான் உயிரை வெளவேல் என்றுஅடற் கூற்றுதைத்த

பொன்னடியே பரவி நாளும் பூவொடு நீர் சுமக்கும்

நின் அடியார் இடர் களையாய் நெடுங்கள மேயவனே

……… திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

தொட்டுத் தடவிப் துடிப்பொன்றுங் காணாது

பெட்டப் பிணமென்று பேரிட்டுக் – கட்டி

எடுங்கள் அத்தா என்னாமுன் ஏழை மடநெஞ்சே

நெடுங்களத்தான் பாதம் நினை

………. ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன்

                                                                                --- துன்றுகயற்

கண்ணார் நெடுங்களத்தைக் கட்டழித்த மெய்தவர்சூழ்

தண்ணார் நெடுங்களமெய்த் தாரகமே

………. திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Nithya Sundareswarar, Sri Nedunkalanathar,

Consort    : Sri Mangala Nayagi, Sri Oppilanayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The second Rajagopuram is of 2 tiers. Murugan and Vinayagar sannathis are at the entrance of Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are between the two Rajagopuras. Moolavar is of Swayambhu. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma, and Durgai. Valampuri Vinayagar Sannathi is slightly tilted towards the north.

In the praharam Valampuri Vinayagar, Murugan is with his consorts, Varadharaja Perumal with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Jyeshta Devi, Appu Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Agasthiya Lingam (near Agathiyar Theertham), Ayyanar, Saptamatrikas (there are two sets, one is of individual idols and the other one is in the form of a panel), Naalvar, Sekkizhar, Bhairavar, Kala Bhairava, Suryan, and Chandran. In the inner prakaram, Urchavars Somaskandar, Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar.  In the Navagraha, Suryan is with his two wives, and the other Grahas/planets face Suryan.

Ambal is in a separate temple on the right side, between the two Rajagopuras.

The 15th-century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

எஞ்சியிடை யுஞ்சுழல அம்புவிழி யுஞ்சுழல

            இன்பரச கொங்கைகர                                           முங்கொளாமல்

எந்தவுடை சிந்தபெல மிஞ்சியமு தம்புரள

            இந்துநுத லும்புரள                                                     கங்குல்மேகம்

அஞ்சுமள கம்புரள மென்குழைக ளும்புரள

            அம்பொனுரு மங்கைமண                                     முண்டபாலா

அன்பர்குல வுந்திருநெ டுங்களவ ளம்பதியி

            லண்டரய நும்பரவு                                                     தம்பிரானே

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. Urchava Murtis are in ardha mandapa and look very beautiful. The stucco sculptures on the front and back sides of Rajagopuram depict the sthala purana, which are described in the Thevara hymns of this temple. A Horse made of bronze and Chozha period stone Ural is worth seeing. The Dakshinamurthy is of Yoga Dakshinamurthy. While the upper hands hold Man and Mazhu, the lower hands are in Chin mudra and hold a vibhuti packet/ pokkanam. Yoga Patti holds the left leg. 

 

Twin Vimanam - Main Temple Dravida Style and Ambal Sannidhi Nagara Style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the temple might have existed before the 6^th to 7^th Century by Pallavas. The temple might have been reconstructed during the Chozha period and maintained by the Pandyas and the Vijayanagaras.  

About 30 inscriptions are recorded from this temple. The inscriptions belong to Chozha Kings Parakesari Varman, Rajarajan-I, Rajarajan-III, Kulothunga Chozha–III, and Aditya Karikalan-II, Pandyas, Hoysalas, and Vijayanagaras.

As per inscriptions, this place was called Pandya Kulapathy Vadakarainattu Thirunedunkalam (Sundara Pandyan), Pandya Kulanasini Valanattu Vadaveera Nattu Thirunedunkalam (Chozha Period). Lord Shiva was called as Nedunkalathu Mahadevar, Nedungalanatha Swamy, Nedungalathu Nayanar, Kalanthai Nayakar, Kayilayathu Mahadevar, Ulakandeswaramaudayar, Nedunkalamudaya Thambiranar, Nizhalar Cholai Valamudaya Nayanar, and Sundramurthy.

Ko Rajakesaribarmar’s 6th reign year inscription records the endowment of naivedyam after reclamation of land, which was left in charge of the sthānikas of the temple, by a midāyan Varadan alias Arumunaikanda-Perunāyan for offerings of rice twice a day to the image of Lōkasundara set up in the temple of the god at Tirunedungalam in Kavira-nādu by Mōśi Orriyūran Kuttan-Piran of Tiruvānaikkāval, who was probably a relation (father?) of the donor.

Ko Rajakesaribarmar (Rajaraja-I)’s 8^th  reign year inscription on the south wall of Ganesha temple registers a sale of land as kudinīkkā-dēvadāna by the sabha, the ur and the devakarmis of the temple at Tirunedungalam, a dēvadāna in Kavira-nādu, for 30 kāśu received by them as karpūra-vilai for the temple, to Kamban Maniyan, the headman of Süralür, with the stipulation that after clearing the forest and reclaiming the land, he was to pay 150 kalam of paddy annually as kāņikkadan to the temple. The land was to be irrigated by the same stream called Kumiliyāru, which also irrigated the temple lands. Mention is made of a certain standard grain-measure (ürkkāl) called Kõdukulavan. The characters belong to about the 10th century CE., and from the reference made in it to the officer Rājarāja-Brahmamārāya, the record may be assigned to Rājarāja I. Tiruvēļpūr (Tirugōkarņam) of No. 174 above Wasate also in Kavira-nādu.

The inscription on the wall of the mandapa, one of the fragments, seems to belong to Aditya I and refers to a previous gift of 60 palańkāśu made by Pandya Varaguna-Mahārāja for burning a lamp in the temple. This had been entrusted to the sabhā, who, it is stated, now endowed a land tax-free for that amount.

The donor Varaguna is evidently the Pandya king who came to the throne in CE. 862 and who fought a battle at Sripurambiyam with Pallava Aparajita and was defeated by him (S.I.I. III. p. 449). It is known that Aparajita was himself overthrown later on by Aditya I (ibid. p. 386).

The third fragment mentions [Madi]raikonda Parakēsari, i.e., Parāntaka 1.

Uttama Chozha’s inscription on the North wall of Ganesha shrine records an endowment of six vēli of land, including 1 vēli of tank-bed and house-site areas, after purchasing it tax-free from the sabha of Tirunārāyaņa. chaturvēdimangalam in [Miy]śingili-nādu by Sendan Kāri alias Vadapuraiyūrnāttu Mūvēndavēļān. This land is stated to have been distributed in specified extents in perpetuity as vādākkadan among twelve persons who were to measure out between them, to the temple of Kayilāvattu-Mahādēva 157 kalam and odd of paddy at one kalam and odd on every ma of land every year, half of this paddy being intended for the daily requirements of midday worship and offering to the god as tiruchchennadai, and the other half for the maintenance of four wvachchar (musi-oians) doing service in the temple. The inscription may probably be one of Uttama-Chôla, though the writing appears to be later.
The Uttama chozha’s inscription of the south wall of the Ganesha shrine records an allotment of 12 kalam of paddy every year of the produce from a field at Ka..arikurichchi made by Govinda Bhattan, the śrīkāryam of the temple, on behalf of Sembiyan Vadapuraiyūrnātțu-Mūvēndavēļār, a servant of Uttamaśōla-Brahmādhirāja, for the daily performance of agnikārya (fire oblation) during the three services in the temple of Mahādēva at Tirunedungalam with ghee, sacred twig, etc. This has been surmised to be a record of Uttama-Chola.

The Uttama Chozha’s 15^th reign year inscription on the north wall of Ganesha Shrine records a gift of twelve sheep by two shepherds, Nattan Kāri and Maran Valiyan, for the supply of 12 nāli of ghee to burn a lamp during the festival days in Chittirai month in the temple of Mahādēva at Tirunedungalam in Kavira-nadu. This is probably a record of Uttama-Chōla's reign.

The Chozha King Parakesarivarman’s 14^th reign year inscription on the south wall of Ganesha Shrine records the gift of the produce of a certain field in Kalarikurichchi, for expenses in connection with the fire oblations (agnikârya) in the temple at Tirunedungalam in Kavira-nâdu. The king is probably identical with Uttama-Chôla, after whom Uttamaśôla-Brahmadhiraja, mentioned in the inscription, was so called.

An inscription starts with Koparakesari Banmar alias Sri Vijayalaya Chozha Thevar, who gave a donation to this temple. Pandyakulasanivalanattu vadakavinattu Thirunedungalathu Mahadevar Temple. His donation was confirmed and inscribed in the form of an inscription. Who is that Konerimai Kondan Vijayala Chozhar, whether Kulothunga Chozha-III, have this name/title..?, which is not known. (Thanks to Anbu Vanthiyahevan).

"ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ கோப்பரகேசரி பந்மரான ஸ்ரீ விசயாலய சோழதேவர் தேவதான இறையிலி இட்டருளின திருமுகத்தின்படி ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ கோனேரிமை கொண்டான் பாண்டிகுலாசனிவளநாட்டு வடகவிநாட்டு திருநெடுங்களத்து மஹாதேவர் கோயில்"

விசயாலய சோழர் நேரடியாக இக்கோவிலுக்கு நிலம் தானமாகக் கொடுத்தைப் பின்னால் வந்த அரசர் ஒருவர் அத்தானத்தை உறுதிப்பிடுத்திக் கல்வெட்டாக வெட்டியுள்ளார். கோனேரிமை கொண்டான் யார் என்று அறியமுடியவில்லை. மூன்றாம் குலோத்துங்க சோழரின் வேறு பெயராக விசயாலய சோழராக இருக்கலாம். தகவல் : S.I.I. Vol - 26 : No - 726 

Ref

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume - 3 Part- III, 13, 19, and 26.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 30^th June 1999 and 12^th March 2014.

LEGENDS

The temple is also called South Kailash. It is believed that Agasthiyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

When Ma Parvati was in penance, Lord Shiva “kallathanamaka  Iraiviyai kaipatriayathal - came in the form of thief/dacoit and pulled Ma Parvati’s hand. Ma Parvati got frightened and “hide in this “Thazhai” garden (இறைவன் கள்ளத்தனமாக இறைவியை கை பிடித்ததால் இறைவி ஒளிந்து கொண்ட இடம்). Hence, this place was called Olimathi Cholai.

The Moolavar in the sanctum is not in the center of the sanctum. It is believed that Ambal is standing by the side of Lord Shiva in the Aroopa form. Also believed that Lord Shiva is in Arthanareeswarar form. Since Lord Shiva and Parvati are in one sanctum, there are two vimanas over the sanctum Sanctorum.

It is believed that Lord Shiva gave the kalyana darshan to Chozha King Vankiya Chozha. Hence, Lord Shiva is called “Sri Nithya Sundareswarar”.

It is believed that diseases will be cured after worshiping Karuppannasamy on the banks of Sundarar Theertham,  with Panakam as Naivedyam.

 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Navaratri in the month Aippasi (Oct- Sep), Thai Poosam in the month Thai (Jan – Feb), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni (Feb – March), Brahmotsavam in the month Vaikasi (May – June), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March), and monthly Pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline number is +91 431 252 0126. Ramesh Gurukkal may be contacted on +91 9578894382 and +91 98420 28774 for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

The Tiruchirapalli to Mangavanam town bus from the Tiruchirapalli bus stand passes through this temple. Frequency is very limited.

From the Chatram bus stand, buses are available up to Valavanthankottai, from there it will be about 2 km (After Thuvakudi). Frequency is very limited.  And this option may not be suitable.

The temple is 5 km from Thuvakudi (Tiruchirappalli to Thanjavur Road), 12 km from Thiruverumbur, 26 km from Tiruchirappalli, 44 km from Thanjavur, and 343 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruverumbur, and the junction is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Rajagopuram back side 

Rajagopuram front side 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---