Tuesday 7 November 2023

Sri Nelleeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ நெல்லீஸ்வரர் கோயில், நெல்லிகுப்பம் / Nellikuppam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Nelleeswarar Temple at Nellikuppam was a part of “Shiva & Vishnu Temples, Hero Stones and Heritage Sites Visit”, from Ponmar to Karunilam, near Guduvanchery, in Chengalpattu District on 24th October 2023. This Shiva Temple was on a main road turning point. Due to expansion of road, the old temple was moved to this place in a spacious area.


Moolavar  : Sri Nelleeswarar
Consort    : Sri Mangalambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with balipeedam and rishabam. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam an old Rishabam in front of Bilva tree ( may be original one of Chozha period ), Chandikeswarar, Ambal, Navagrahas and Bairavar.

Ambal Sri Mangalambigai is in a separate sannidhi in the mukha mandapam  facing south. Ambal is standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.



ARCHITECTURE
The total temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam and pattika. The bhitti starts with vedika and pilasters are of brahma kantha pilaster. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The Vimanam is of two tiers with adhi talam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtas. The Sigaram is of vesara style.





HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION
This place was named after the Nelli tree ( amla tree ) and Nellikuppam similar to the place in Cuddalore District. The moolavar and the Rishabam are in a small sannidhi under a peepal tree. During our search we found a damaged broken inscription, which belongs to the original temple.

The damaged and incomplete ( without starting ) inscription may belongs to 13th to 14th Century. This inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp and the Chekku oil to be supplied. The inscription ends with  ombadaikilavi, which is only clear. The grantha -ம் appears, makes this inscription as Unique and special, which was followed since Pallava period ie 7th to 8th Century. Hence it is presumed that the original temple might have existed on this place since Chozha period or even before.

This temple Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2022.


POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Navaratri, arudra darshan, Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH
The temple at Nellikuppam is 13 KM from Maraimalai Nagar, 14 KM from Thiruporur, 19.9 KM from Kelambakkam and 66 KM from Chennai Central Station.
Nearest Railway Station is Maraimalai Nagar.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE








--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

2 comments:

  1. good article,,thanks,,k,sridaran..

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    1. நன்றிங்க ஐயா.. ஆனால் அந்த ஏரி கல்வெட்டை மட்டும் காண இயலவில்லை..

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