Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple / Sri Manokkiyanathaswamy Temple / நீலகண்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில். Thiruneelakudi, Mayiladuthurai District ( Thanjavur District ), Tamil Nadu.

This is the 149^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 32^nd Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place maintained as Neelakudi / Thiruneelakudi since the 7^th Century but locals call 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 other temples on the way.  

வீழி மிழலை தனைப்பணிந்து வேத முதல்வர் தாம் இருப்ப

ஆழி வலம் ஏந்திய அரியால் ஆகாசத்தின் நின்று இழிந்த

வாழி மலர்ந்த கோயில் தனில் மன்னும் பொருளைப் போற்றி இசைத்துத்

தாமும் நாளிற் பிறபதியும் பணியும் காதல் தலைநிற்பார்

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

கல்லி னோடுஎனைப் பூட்டி அமண்கையர்

ஒல்லை நீர்புக நீக்கஎன் வாக்கினால்

நெல்லு நீர்வயல் நீலக்குடியரன்

நல்ல நாமம் நவிற்றி உய்ந்தேனன்றே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                    -“புன் குரம்பை

ஏலக்குடி புகுந்த எம்மன்னோர்க்கு உண்மைதரு

நீலக்குடி விலங்கு நிஷ்களமே

........ திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Manokkiyanathaswamy, Sri Vilvaranyeswarar,

                  Sri Bharmanayagar, Sri Neelakandeswarar,

                  Sri Thailabpriyangeswarar,

                  Sri Kamathenupureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Aribhamasthini & Sri Bhakthabeestathaayini

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

The temple faces east with a single-tier Rajagopuram/ entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Entrance arch. Another entrance arch is in front of the 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 in the prakara.

There are two Ambal sannadhis one is for Sri Anoopamasthani and Sri Bhakthabeeshtathaayan. Paintings of Shiva,  Parvati, worshiping Lord Shiva, and Shiva Leelas are hung on the praharam wall.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. A Vesara Vimana is on the sanctum.  A moat was formed around the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple existed before the 7^th Century, Later the same was reconstructed with stone during the Chozha period and further extended by Pandyas and Vijayanagara.

One of the inscriptions 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 17^th March 2006. The temple is under the administrative control of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam.

LEGENDS

Vashistar, Kaamadhenu, Devas & Devamathas, and Markandeyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

As per sthala purana Lord Shiva is called Neelakandar, since he drank the poison/alakala visham that came out first while churning the Thiruparkadal. Before it reaches the stomach Ma Parvati holds the poison at the neck ( throat ) itself, which changes its color to Blue. Hence Lord Shiva is called “Neelakandeswarar” and the place is called 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 the Chithirai, Masi, and Karthigai months.

In another legend, Markandeya Maharishi was born to sage Mrikandu. The sage Mrikandu was informed by the astrologer that his son would live till he attained the age of 16 years. Markandeya worshiped many temples. This is one of the temples 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 “Chiranjeevi”.

In another legend, when Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal was thrown into the sea with a stone tied to his back. He prayed to 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 anybody takes outside without offering to Lord Shiva, the fruit will be spoiled and will be eaten by the beetles.

 

Sthala Vruksham with Jack fruit

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

An 18-day Chithirai festival is celebrated in a grand manner. On the 12^th  day of this festival, Urchavar will be taken to 7 Villages around this place in the 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 pradosam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline and mobile phone numbers are +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 the 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 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---