The visit to this Sri Chozheeswarar Temple /
Chozheeswaramudaiyar Temple at Thiruneelakudi was a Part of the “Kumbakonam
Temples Visit” - on 09th March 2024. This
Sri Chozheeswaramudaiyar Temple at Thiruneelakudi is about 600 meters from Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple, one of the Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalam of Chozha Nadu.
Moolavar :
Sri Chozheeswarar
Consort :
Sri Vedantha Nayagi
Some of the salient features of this temple
are….
The temple faces east with an entrance arch
on the east side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum,
under open Mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Balamurugan are at the entrance of antarala.
Moolavar is old on a newly made avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,
Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durga. Stucco images of Shiva, and Parvati are on the top
of the mandapam.
In praharam Suriyan, Saniswaran, Navagrahas
and Chandikeswarar.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south.
Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum,
antarala, ardha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is
on an adhistanam with Padma jagathy, vrudha kumudam, Pattika, and Kapotam. The
pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base and naga bandham,
malai thongal, thamarai kattu, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, poo
mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals, kapotam with
nasi kudus, and viyyalavari. The one tala brick vimanam with greevam and vesara
sigaram is above the Bhumi Desam. Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtas.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple may belong to the 12th
to 13th Century Chozha period. The temple was in a dilapidated condition
before 2013, the ardha mandapam had fallen down, the avudayar was found broken,
Rishabam was moved to a house nearby, the temple surroundings have encroached and patta was also issued to them by the local authorities.
With the great effort of Mr Mullaivendhan,
Thiruneelakudi Panchayat Union President, new houses were built for the
encroachers, and patta was transferred to the temple’s name, and renovation works
were started. The banam was moved to Ardha mandapam and oru kala pooja was
started. In 2013, renovation works started in full swing. Much care was
taken not to alter or damage the structures and sculptures of the temple and it
took almost a year. In 2014, the Ambal sannidhi renovation was started and in June
2014, Maha Mandapam works were also started. The circumambulatory path was re-laid
and the compound wall was also constructed. The koshta images are made new. With the tireless
effort of Mr Mullaiventhan the Rishabam was moved back to the temple.
After the completion of renovations, the Jeernodharana Ashta
bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26th January 2015,
between 7.05 to 7.25 hrs.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, a Chozha king killed Eranda Munivar
accidentally. Due to this, he was affected by the Brahma hathy dosha. He was
relieved from the dosha, he took a bath in Nattaru near Vittalur and worshipped
Thiruvidaimarudur Sri Mahalinga Swamy temple Gopuram. As a part of thanksgiving, the Chozha King constructed this temple.
This place Thiruneelakudi was mentioned in
Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal’s hymns as….
கல்லி னோடுஎனைப் பூட்டி அமண்கையர்
ஒல்லை நீர்புக நீக்கஎன் வாக்கினால்
நெல்லு நீர்வயல் நீலக்குடியரன்
நல்ல நாமம் நவிற்றி உய்ந்தேனன்றே
In another legend, Markandeya Maharishi stayed here worshipped
Shiva, and attained the Siranjeevi. As a part of thanksgiving, he carried Shiva
in a palanquin to Ilanthulai, Enathimangalam, Thirunageswaram, Thirubhuvanam,
Thiruvidaimarudur, Maruthuvakudi, etc,. To remember this event, the Chithirai Thiruvizha is conducted every year
in this temple.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular
poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri,
Kiruthigai, Theipirai ashtami, Adi Fridays, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Annabhishekam
on Aippasi Pournami, Gokulashtami, Navaratri, Maha Karthigai Deepam, etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs
to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Mr Mullaivendhan, Thiruneelakudi Panchayat Union
President may be contacted on his mobile number +918056220511 &
+919443091965 for further details.
Web site http://www.chozheeswaram.in
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
PHOTOGRAPHS BEFORE RESTORATION
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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