Thiru Neelakandeswarar Temple/ திரு நீலகண்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Uthukottai, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Thiruneelakandeswarar Temple at Uthukottai was a part of the Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit at Uthukottai and Allikuzhi on 2^nd August 2026. Thiruneelakandeswarar Temple at Uthukottai is on the banks of the Arani River.

Moolavar  : Thiru Neelakandeswarar

Consort    : Sri Anandavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance on the east and North sides. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati as Rishaba roodar, Sage Agasthiyar, Vinayagar, Murugan, and a saint (Manickavasagar..?) are on the top of the east side entrance mandapam. A stucco image of Natarajar is on the top of the north side entrance. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are immediately after the entrance. Stucco dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Agasthiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam, Vinayagar, Murugan, Ayyappan, Maha Vishnu, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, and Nagar.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi and faces south. Ambal is in a sitting posture (A rare posture) with abhaya varda hastam.

Chandikeswarar

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was built in Gajaprishta style from adhistanam to sigaram with brick and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala/ ardha mandapam, and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built on Gajaprishta adhistanam. The pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. An eka tala Gajaprishta vimanam is on the bhumi desam. The vimanam is eka tala with greevam and Gajaprishta sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the greeva koshtam. Five kalasas are on the top of the sigaram.

Ceiling inside sanctum sanctorum

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that the original temple belongs to the 8th – 9th century Pallava period. Later, the temple received contributions from Chozha and Vijayanagaras. Telugu inscriptions are faintly visible on the beams of the sanctum sanctorum. We couldn’t apply powder/ vibuthi to confirm, due to lack of Trustee’s permission.  

The temple was reconstructed in 1990 century, and Gajaprishta Vimanam was added to the Gajaprishta Vimana sanctum sanctorum. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after attending repair works on 12^th May 1994, 20^th February 2004, and 20^th June 2018.

Believed to be some Telugu inscription

Believed to be some Telugu inscription

 Believed to be some Telugu inscription

LEGENDS

It is believed that the Moolavar was installed and worshipped by the sage Agasthiyar.

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.

Ambal Sri Anandavalli is in a sitting posture. It is believed that before Shiva lay down at Suruttapalli, Shiva kept his head on the laps of Ambal at this temple.

The Moolavar is made of green stone and changes colour from light green to dark green from morning to evening. Further, it was told that Shiva is being worshipped by the Siddhars. As proof, the Gurukkal showed the spot on the avudaiyar, where Vbhuthi appears in the morning.

It is further believed that the devotees worship Shiva and Ambal of this temple for a child boon.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, two days of Kandar Sashti, Amavasya, Kiruthigai, Ashtami Deipirai, etc.

The Gurukal Ilangaovan showed us the termite on the dwajasthambam and the fund required for its replacement and Somavara annadhanam.  The Devotees are requested to perform the above kaingaryams and get the blessings of Thiruneelakandeswarar.

Termite

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukals Ilangovan +918680814853 and R Maharaja +919342598990 may be contacted for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on Kamarajar Street, in Uthukottai, about 200 meters from the Chennai – Tirupati Road, 3 km from Suruttapalli Sri Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple, 17.4 km from Periyapalayam, 28 km from Tiruvallur Railway Station, 50 km from Madhavaram Bus terminus, and 58 km from Koyambedu CMBT bus terminus.  

The nearest Railway station is Tiruvallur.

LOCATIONS OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Moolavar sannidhi

Ambal sannidhi

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---