Sri Neenerinathar Temple / Sthiraputheeswarar Temple / நீள்நெறி நாதர் கோயில், Thandalai Neeneri / தண்டலைச்சேரி / Thandalacheri, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 227^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 110^th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called Thandalai Neeneri and is now called Thandalacheri and Thandalaicheri.

 

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

மற்றுஅவ்வூர் தொழுதுஏத்தி மகிழ்ந்துபாடி

        மால் அயனுக்கு அரியபிரான் மருவும்தானம்

பற்பலவும் சென்று பணிந்து ஏத்திப்பாடி

        பரவுதிருத் தொண்டர்குழாம் பாங்கின் எய்தக்

கற்றவர் வாழ்தண்டலை நீள்நெறி உள்ளிட்ட

        களகமதில் திருக்களரும் கருதார் வேள்வி

செற்றவர் சேர்பதி பிறவும் சென்று போற்றித்

        திருமறைகாடு அதன்மருங்கு சேர்ந்தார் அன்றே

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

விரும்பும் திங்களும் கங்கையும் விம்மவே

சுரும்பும் தும்பியும் சூழ்சடை யார்க்குஇடம்

கரும்பும் செந்நெலும் காய்கமு கின்வளம்

நெருங்கும் தண்டலை நீணெறி காண்மினே

…….. திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                           -“கடிக்குளத்தின்

வண்டலைக்கத் தேனலரின் வார்ந்தோர் தடமாக்கும்

தண்டலைக்குள் நீணெறிச் சிந் தாமணியே”

….. திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Sthiraputheeswarar,  Sri Neelneri Nathar.

Consort    : Sri Gnanambigai.

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

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Sannadhi for Adhikara nandhi is at the entrance arch and the temple has no dwajasthambam. Balipeedam and Rishabam are on an elevated level. Moolavar is small in the sanctum sanctorum. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Durgai. Durgai sannadhi was built at a later stage with a Vimana.

In praharam Vinayagar, Shiva Lingam, Subramaniar, Navagrahas, Viyakrapadar &  Pathanjali worshiped Lingas, Suriyan, Chandran, and Arivattaya Nayanar. Sthala Purana, the basrelief of  Arivattaya Nayanar, tried to cut his head and Lord Shiva blessed Arivattaya Nayanar on the praharam wall. Nalvar and Kochengat Chozha idols are also in the artha mandapam. After Dwarapalakas and Vinayagar, Purana of Arivattaya Nayanar is in the form of bas relief/sculptures. Arivattaya nayanar’s wife pours Rice and Pickle and Lord Shiva’s hand comes out and stops and finally, Lord Shiva blesses them as Rishaba roodar. 

Urchavars Natarajar, Nalvar, Arivatta Nayanar with his wife, Pathanjali, and Viyakrapadar are in the mandapam.

Arivattaya Nayanar Sannathi

Vyaghrapada worships Lord Shiva

Vyagrapadar worships Lord Shiva

ARCHITECTURE

In Navagrahas, the positions are interchanged, and suryan faces west towards moolavar. The positions of Navagrahas are...

Kethu	Chandran	Chevvai
Sukran	Suriyan	Budhan
Rahu	Guru	Shani

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The temple was built like a mada temple and is believed to have been built by Ko Chengat Chozhan.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. Later the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended/maintained by, Nayakas, Marathas, and Nattukottai Nagarathars. The temple is called Neelneri and the place was called – Thandalai.

It is one of the Mada temples believed to have been built by Ko Chengat Chozha. When it was found in dilapidated condition the temple was reconstructed by Devakottai Rama. Aru aru. Ramanathan Chettiar.

The temple maintenance was carried out and maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted under Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipathi Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal’s, pon vizha scheme on 07^th November 1985.

LEGENDS

This is the Mukti Sthalam of Arivattaya Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars, who was born at Kanamangalam which is near this place. People used to call that place “Kanamangalathidal” and “Kannathangudi”.

As per the story of Thayanar as Arivattaya Nayanar, his wife used to offer (Red) Rice, spinach, and Mavadu ( mango pickle ) to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva wants to show his devotion to this world, so, Lord Shiva made him lose everything towards this service. He continued the service till he lost everything. Even after that, he went as a laborer/farm worker, and what he earns also offered to Lord Shiva. At one stage he continued his life by drinking only water offered by his wife. At last, He and his wife went with offers, but due to hunger and tiredness he fell down and the food meant for the offer was also spilled on the ground. Disappointed Thayanar, with his wife, went to the temple and tried to cut his head. Immediately the earth opened with the sound “Videl.. videl” ( Sekkizhar explains that sound similar to that one, which comes when a mavadu is bitten). Hence called Arivattaya nayanar. Lord Shiva immediately stopped cutting his head and blessed them. In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records the same.        

பரிவுறு சிந்தை அன்பர் பரம்பொருளாகி யுள்ள

பெரியவர் அமுது செய்யப் பெற்றிலேன் என்று மாவின்

வரிவிடு வெடேல் எனாமுன் வன்கழுத்தரிவாள் பூட்டி

அரிதலால் “அரிவாட்டாயர்” ஆயினார் தூய நாமம்

…….. பெரியபுராணம்

அல்லமரும் குழலாளை வரகுண பாண் டியராசர் அன்பால் ஈந்தார்

கல்லை தனில் மென்றுமிழ்ந்த ஊண் அமுதைத் கண்னப்பர் கனிவால் ஈந்தார்

சொல்லிய தண்டலையார்க்குக் கீரையும் மாவடுவும் ஒரு தொண்டர் ஈந்தார்

நல்லது கண்டாற் பெரியோர் நாயகனுக்(கு) என்(று) அதனை நல்குவாரே

….. படிக்காசுப் புலவர் – தண்டலையார் சதகம்

Arivattaya Nayanar Purana

Arivattaya Nayanar Purana

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

3 days of Brahmotsavam will be conducted in the month Thai, Natarajar Abhishekam, and monthly Kattalai / regular poojas, Arivattaya Nayanar Guru Pooja celebrated as “Aruppu Thiruvizha”. 

Apart from the above poojas, special poojas are also conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Mobile number +91 98658 44677 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

17 KM from Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi and 3 KM before Thiruthuraipoondi. The temple is on the main road.

The temple is 3 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi, 26.3 KM from Thiruvarur, 37 KM from Vedaranyam,   40 KM from Mannargudi, 65 KM from Kumbakonam, 69 KM from Thanjavur and 356 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruthuraipoondi (the Nearest Railway station is Manali, which is a small station ).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---