Sri Nellivana Nathar Temple / நெல்லிவனநாதர் திருகோயில் / நெல்லிவனேசுவரர் / திருநெல்லிக்காவல்/ Nellikka / Thirunellikaval, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 234^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the  117^th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place has maintained the same name as Nellika since the Thevaram period.  This place obtained the name Nellika Since this place was once with Nelli ( Amla ) tree.

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

நம்பர்மகிழ் திருஆரூர் வணங்கிப் போந்து

        நலம்கொள் திருக்காறாயில் நண்ணி ஏத்திப்

பைம்புனல்மென் பணைத்தேவூர் அணைந்து போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருநெல்லிக்காப் பணிந்து பாடி

உம்பர்பிரான் கைச்சினமும் பரவித் தெங்கூர்

        ஓங்கு புகழ்த் திருக்கொள்ளிக் காடும் போற்றிச்

செம்பொன்மதில் கோட்டூரும் வணங்கி ஏத்தித்

        திருமலி வெண்துறை தொழுவான் சென்று சேர்ந்தார்

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

அறத்தாலுயிர் காவல் அமர்ந்தருளி

மறத்தான் மதில் மூன்றுடன் மாண்பழித்த

திறத்தால்தெரி வெய்திய தீவெண்திங்கள்

நிறத்தானெல்லிக் காவுள் நிலாயவனே

.... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

நெல்லிவனம் மேவும் நித்தன் திருவடியைப்

புல்லும் மனத்துடனே போற்றினால் – தொல்லை

வினைத் தொகுதியாவும் விரைந்திடும் கண்டீர்

எனைத்தும் துயரமினி ஏன்

தனிப்பாடல்

                                                                  -“ஓங்குமலை

வல்லிக்கா தாரமணிப்புய என்று அன்பர்தொழ

நெல்லிக்கா வாழ் மெய்ந்நியமமே

....திரு அருட்பா

                                                -“தருத்தாங்கு

நெல்லிக்கா மேவு நிகழ் மங்கள மாது

புல்லுகின்ற நெல்லிவனப் புண்ணியா

.....சிவநாயக்கலிவெண்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Aamlavaneswarar, Aamlakeswarar,

                  Sri Nellivana Nathar, Sri Nelli Natheswarar

Consort    : Sri Aamlakeswari, Sri Mangala Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are ….

The temple faces west with 5-tier Rajagopuram in the midst of fields. Balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam are in front of Rajagopuram. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam Nalvar, Gajalakshmi, Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Saneeswarar, Nellivana Nathar under the Nelli tree, Bhairavar, Navagrahas and Chandikeswarar. On mandapam ceiling bas reliefs of Navagrahas, 12 Rasis, and Ambal’s Avathara paintings. Somaskandar is on the left side of the mandapam and Nataraja sabha is on the right side.  Urchavars are in the mandapa. 

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum Sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. The Bhitti starts with Vedhika. The Pilasters are Vishnu Kantha pilasters with square bases, Kalasam, Kudam plain mandi palakai, Veera kandam, and poo mottu pothyals. A Two-tier brick Vesara Vimanam without many stucco images. No Koshta images in the greevam. 

 

Mukha mandapam is with Mangalore tiled roof

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. The same was reconstructed as a stone temple extended by Vijayanagaras and maintained by the Nattukottai nagarathars.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Rajaraja Chozha. As per the inscriptions this place was called Rajendra Chozha Valanattu, Aruvala Kootrathu Nellika, and Lord Shiva was called Nellika Udayar, Amlakeswarar.

The Chozha King Rajaraja ( II or III ) period inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, for the same donations in terms of lands were gifted to this temple. 

Rajaraja-III’s 21^st reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp, at Kulachirai madam/mutt,  and the land was gifted in lieu of land measuring 25 Kuli as irayil given to “Thirugnanasambandar Gugai” (Maybe a monastery ).

Rajaraja-III’s 20^th reign year inscription records the gift of 68 Kuli land for establishing a nandavanam / Garden, by Maraignanasamban and Ivazhithervithakar, who are at “Thirugnanasambandar Gugai”.

Another damaged Rajaraja-III’s 20^th reign year inscription records the gift of land for Naivedyam to Lord Ilaya Pillaiyar ( Murugan ), by Maraignanasambandan.

Rajaraja-III’s 9^th (8 +1 ), reign year inscription records the gift of 400 kasus for burning a Sandhi ( Iravanavira sandi ), by Andavan Selakalvan of Arur. The money was received by Sivanan Thirunellikavudayan alias Virasola Bhattan.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 7^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 160 kasu was gifted by Tirunattamadi Atkondanayakan alias Ethirilisola Idaiyalanattukon, the head man of Kundralur.

The other Chozha period fragment and damaged inscription records the gift of land and money as Kasus to the temple for burning lamps.  

LEGENDS

It is believed that Suriyan, Brahma, Maha Vishnu, Chandran, Saneeswaran ( facing Moolavar ), Gantharvar, and Durvasa worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Durvasa was known for anger. He used to curse all if he felt that he was insulted.  He came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva and his anger was removed by Lord Shiva.

Surya worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin caused due to attending the yagna performed by Dakshan. Brahma created Theertha and worshiped Lord Shiva. Hence the theertha is called Brahma Theertha.

It is believed that a Gandharas was relieved from the disease of Kushta ( leprosy )., hence called “Kushtaroharam”. Since all the wishes are fulfilled easily, this place is called Sarva Uthamapuram. The Panchatantra mantra 5 ( Namasivaya  நமசிவாய  )  worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, hence called Panchatchara puram. Since there are 5 Theerthams in this temple, called Pancha Theerthapuram, and Amrita was obtained from the Lord Shiva of this temple, this place was called “Amrita Vidyapuram”.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on 10 days Brahmotsavam in the month Chithirai ( April – May ), Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ),  Ambal Kalyana Utsavam, on 1^st Friday, Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai and Karthigai Somavaram sangu abhishekam in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvilakku pooja on last Friday 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 12.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal Dhandapani may be contacted on his mobile number +91 97861 93292 for further details.  

HOW TO REACH

On the train route Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi, Nellikka is one of the stations.

On the bus route Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi after ( 14 KM) Pudur,  from there ThiruNellikaval, can be reached.

The town bus from Thiruvarur to Thirukollikadu passes through this village.

1.5 KM from Thiruthangur and 3 KM from Thiruvarur to  Thiruthuraipoondi main road and the junction is called Naal Road. ( Share Autos are available at Naal Road)

The temple is 21 KM from Thiruvarur 24 KM from Mannargudi, 60 KM from Kumbakonam, 63 KM from Thanjavur, and 351 KM from Chennai.

The nearest railway station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Sthala Vruksham - Nelli maram - Amla Tree

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---