The visit to this Sri
Neelakandeswarar Temple at Allikuzhi was a part of the Gajaprishta Vimana Temples
Visit at Uthukottai and Allikuzhi on 2nd August 2026. This
Gajaprishta Vimana Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple is in the midst of fields, away
from human habitation.
Moolavar : Sri Neelakandeswarar
Consort : Sri Neelayathankshi Ambal / Alliambigai
Some of the salient
features of this temple are….
The temple faces east
with a temple tank in front. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati as
Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the top of the entrance. Two Rishabams
and a Vinayagar are kept in the open mukha mudapam as loose sculptures, at the
base of the three mandapa pillars. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan are on either side of the sanctum
sanctorum entrance. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Agasthiyar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingohbavar, Brahma, Vishnu, and Durgai.
In the praharam, Suryan,
an inscription tablet, Anjaneyar, Vinayagar, Ayyappan, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Maha Vishnu with Sri Devi and Bhudevi (Ramanujar, Maha Vishnu in
sitting posture and Garudan are also in the sanctum sanctorum), Chandikeswarar,
Navagrahas, Nagars. Saniswarar and Bairavar.
Ambal is in a separate
sannidhi and faces south. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
A Saint’s idol is at the entrance of Ambal Sannidhi.
A Saint
Ayyappan
Maha Vishnu - Anjaneyar
Bairavar
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of
sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum
sanctorum is square in shape on a simple adhistanam. No particular architecture
was adopted for the adhistanam and bhitti. The pilasters are of brahma kantha
pilasters with vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The
vimanam over the bhumi desam is with one tala, Gajaprishta greevam and Sigaram
with 3 kalas. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the tala and
greeva koshtas. Stucco image of Saraswati is in the lalada nasi.
Solar and Lunar eclipse
and Lizard bas reliefs are on the ceiling of the mukha mandapam.
Mukha mandapam
Herder - Clown
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the
original temple belongs to the Pallava period and later received contributions from the Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. The open mukha mandapam was constructed during the Vijayanagara period. The temple’s sanctum sanctorum and ardha antarala were
reconstructed in the 20th century.
A 1921 inscription
tablet is installed on the left side of the praharam after the entrance with a
bas-relief of a Shiva Linga and Rishabam on the top. The inscription records
that the mandapam was constructed by Customs Department Inspector Saravana
Mudaliyar’s wife, Kamalatchi Ammal. The inscription mentions that Kamalatchi
Ammal was the daughter of Kandappa Mudaliar and Saravana Mudaliar
was the son of Kanchipuram Gopuram Sabapathi Mudaliar. It also records that
this place was in Chengalpattu District before the Kanchipuram district was formed
and Chengalpattu lost its District Status.
Major renovations were
carried out, which include the construction of a compound wall, Moolavar Sannidhi vimanam,
entrance arch, etc and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 10th Sept
2023, after 100 years.
The temple is under the
control of the HR and CE Department.
LEGENDS
In the process of
churning Thiruparkadal for the Amirth, by the Devas and Asuras, using Manthara
hill as Maththuu and Vasuki (Snake) as a rope. Couldn’t tolerate the pain, the
snake vomits the poison. To avoid mixing the poison with the Amirth, Shiva
drank the poison. Ma Parvati holds the poison at the throat by pressing it with
her hand. Due to this, the throat changed to blue colour. Hence, Shiva is called Neelakandeswarar.
It is believed that the Sun
worships Shiva of this temple. Panguni, Chithirai, Aippasi, and Puratasi months,
sunrays fall on the moolavar.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular
poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri days, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
Since oru kala poojas
are conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The temple at Allikuzhi
is about 400 meters from the village, 13.5 km from Tiruvallur – Uthukkottai
main road, 20.5 km from Uthukkottai, 31 km from Tiruvallur, and 34 km from
Tiruttani.
The nearest Railway
Station is Tiruvallur.
LOCATIONS OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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