This
is the 149th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 32nd Sthalam
on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place maintains as
Neelakudi / Thiruneelakudi since 7th Century and but locals calls as
Thennilaikudi.
In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that
Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruveezhimizhalai, on
the way to Thiruvaduthurai, came to this temple. He didn’t mention this temple
in particular, but mentioned as other temples on the way.
வீழி மிழலை தனைப்பணிந்து வேத முதல்வர் தாம் இருப்பஆழி வலம் ஏந்திய அரியால் ஆகாசத்தின் நின்று இழிந்தவாழி மலர்ந்த கோயில் தனில் மன்னும் பொருளைப் போற்றி இசைத்துத்தாமும் நாளிற் பிறபதியும் பணியும் காதல் தலைநிற்பார்
Thirunavukkarasu
Swamigal and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
கல்லி னோடுஎனைப் பூட்டி அமண்கையர்ஒல்லை நீர்புக நீக்கஎன் வாக்கினால்நெல்லு நீர்வயல் நீலக்குடியரன்நல்ல நாமம் நவிற்றி உய்ந்தேனன்றே...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் -“புன் குரம்பைஏலக்குடி புகுந்த எம்மன்னோர்க்கு உண்மைதருநீலக்குடி விலங்கு நிஷ்களமே........ திரு அருட்பா
Moolavar : Sri Manokkiyanathaswamy,
Sri Vilvaranyeswarar,
Sri Bharmanayagar, Sri Neelakandeswarar,
Sri Thailabpriyangeswarar,
Sri KamathenupureeswararConsort : Sri Aribhamasthini & Sri
Bhakthabeestathaayini
Some
of the important features of this temple are....The
temple is facing east with a single tier Rajagopuram/ entrance arch. Balipeedam
and Rishabam are after the Entrance arch. Another entrance arch is in front of
sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is of swayambhu. No abhishekam is done to Moolavar.
All the thailam applied is absorbed in the baanam itself. Jack fruit is
offered as naivedyam. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and
Durgai.
In
prakaram Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Shanmugar, Kasi Viswanathar
with Visalakshi, Mahalakshmi, Sthala Vruksham Jack fruit tree. Bhairavar,
Saneeswarar, Chandikeswarar, Saraswati and
Navagrahas. Brahma and Markandeya worshiped Shiva Lingas are in the prakara.
There
are two Ambal sannadhis one is for Sri Anoopamasthani and Sri Bhakthabeeshtathaayan. Paintings
of Shiva, Parvati, worshiping Lord
Shiva, Shiva Leelas are hung on prakaram wall.
ARCHITECTUREThe
sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. A Vesara
Vimana is on the sanctum. A moat was formed around sanctum sanctorum.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONSSince
Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the
original temple was existed before 7th Century, Latter the same was
reconstructed with stone during chozha period and further extended by Pandyas
and Vijayanagaras.
One
of the inscription records that Nerkodu / straight line ( ..?) should not be built inside the
temple. Another inscription records the Tank called Madyarjunam existed in the
Village.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 17th March 2006. The temple is
under the administrative control of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam.
LEGENDSVashistar,
Kaamadhenu, Devas & Devamathas, Markandeyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
As
per sthala purana Lord Shiva is called as Neelakandar, since he who drank the
poison / alakala visham that came out first, while churning the Thiruparkadal. Before
it reaches the stomach ma Parvati hold the poison at the neck ( throat ) itself, which
changed the colour in to Blue. Hence Lord Shiva is called as “Neelakandeswarar”
and the place is called as Neelakudi.
Before
Abhishekam to moolavar the thailam / oil will be kept in front of Ambal and then taken to
moolavar sannadhi for abhishekam. The same is done in a grand manner during
Chithirai, Masi and Karthigai months.
In
another legend, Markandeya Maharishi was born to sage Mrikandu. Since the sage
Mrikandu was informed by the astrologer that his son will live till he attained
the age of 16 years. Markandeya
worshiped many temples. This is one of the temple in which Markandeya worshiped
Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed him with the age / status
of 16 years always ie. “endrum pathinaru – என்றும் பதினாறு”. Also called as “Chiranjeevi”.
In
another legend, when Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal was thrown in to the sea with a
stone tied on his back. He prayed Lord Shiva of this Temple. Lord Shiva made
the stone to float. The same is mentioned in his Thevara hymns.
The
offering of Jack fruit from the Sthala Viruksha is a special one. The fruit yield will be offered as naivedyam and will be distributed as Prasad. If any
body takes out side without offering to Lord Shiva, the fruit will be spoiled
and will be eaten by the beetles. 
Sthala Vruksham with Jack fruit
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONSAn
18 day Chithirai festival is celebrated in a grand manner. On 12th day of this festival Urchavar will be taken to
7 Villages around this place in procession. The seven places / temples are
Ilanthurai, Enathimangalam,
Thirunageswaram, Thirubhuvanam, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Maruthuvakudi and
Thiruneelakudi.
Apart
from the above and regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Aadi Pooram in the month Aadi ( July – August ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct –
Nov ), Thiru karthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in
the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb –
March ) and every month pradosham.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe
temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS :The
land line and mobile phone numbers +91 435
2460660 & +91 9442861634 and Gurukkal V Arunachalam, on his mobile +91
91594 55050 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO
REACH : Town
buses are available from Kumbakonam Bus stand.15
KM from Kumbakonam on Kumbakonam to Karaikal bus route. The
Temple is 15 KM from Kumbakonam, 44 KM from Karaikal, 26 KM from
Mayiladuthurai, 57 KM from Thanjavur and 300 KM from Chennai.Nearest
Railway Junction is Kumbakonam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Sri Thailabpriyangeswarar,
In
another legend, when Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal was thrown in to the sea with a
stone tied on his back. He prayed Lord Shiva of this Temple. Lord Shiva made
the stone to float. The same is mentioned in his Thevara hymns.
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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