Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 125th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 8th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
Thiru Nedungalam in
Tamil means vast plains. This place has been described as “Nedungala Maanagar”
in Devaram. It means that it used to be a large city in the olden days.
However, now it is a small village. This place is also known as “Dakshina
Kailash” (Southern Kailash).
The lord here is
praised by many names - Nedungalanatha Swamy, Nedungalathu Mahadevar,
Nedungalathu Nayanar, Kalanthai Nayakar, Kayilayathu Mahadevar and
Sundaramurthy.
Sri
Arthanareeswarar:
Lord Shiva in this
temple is depicted as Sri Arthanareeswarar. Arthanareeswarar signifies a
synergy between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. According to the legend of
this temple, Lord Shiva is not seated in the centre of the sanctum. He is
seated a little bit away from the centre, making way for Goddess Parvathi to
occupy a place near him. Although there is no idol for Goddess Parvathi inside
the sanctum, she is believed to be present there (present as “Aroopam” or
“formless”). Hence, there are two towers (Vimanams) on the sanctum
sanctorum. Such a structure having two Vimanams can only be seen in Kasi.
It is believed that
while Goddess Parvathi was performing penance in this place, Lord Shiva came in
the form of a dacoit to play a prank. Goddess Parvathi was frightened and hid
in a garden of “Thazhai” plants at a place called “Olimadhi Cholai”. Later Lord
Shiva identified himself and took her back to Mount Kailash. A place called
Olimadhi Cholai can still be seen near this temple.
Sage
Agasthiyar:
Sage Agasthiyar created
a well, installed a lingam and worshiped the lord here.
Vankiya
Cholan:
Lord Shiva granted his
wedding darshan to Vankiya Cholan, a Chola King. Hence the lord here is also
praised as “Sri Nithya Sundareswarar”.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This Sthalam is considered to be as
sacred as Kasi.
·
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar’s pathigam of
this temple is very famous and is known as “Idar Kalaiyum Pthigam” (which can
be loosely translated as “the Pathigam that removes obstacles”).
·
This east facing temple with main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
·
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar rendered his
famous “Idarkalayum Pathigam” here.
·
Making offerings of pomegranate to the
lord is considered very auspicious here.
·
Abhishekam is also performed using
pomegranates.
·
This temple’s lord was praised by Saint
Ayyadigal kadavarkon, one of the 63 Nayanmars, in his “Kshethira Thiruvenba”.
He is believed to have lived before Saints Thirugnanasambanthar and
Thirunavukkarasar (Appar).
·
The idol of Lord Yoga Dakshinamoorthy is
beautiful and its posture is quite unique
·
It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun)
worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every
year for six days from 7th to 12th in the Tamil month of Adi
((July-Aug).
·
Sapthamadakkal are housed in two places
in the corridors. In one place, they are depicted individually as separate
idols and in the other place they are beautifully engraved on a granite slab.
·
It is believed that the Agasthiyar
Theertham never goes dry.
·
In this temple’s Navagraham, Suryan is
facing west and can be seen with his two wives. The rest of the planets are
facing Suryan.
·
There is an artistic stone grinder
(“Sirpa Ural”) of the Chola period in this temple.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Nedungalanathar, Sri Nithya Sundareswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Oppila Nayaki, Sri Mangala Nayaki |
|
Theertham |
Agasthiyar
Theertham, Sundara theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Vilvam
& Kasthuri Arali |
BELIEF:
Devotees believe that
reciting the “Idarkalayum Pathigam” will remove all kinds of obstacles faced by
them.
It is believed that
those seeking “Santhana Prapthi” (child boon) can pray to the lord here.
For removal of
obstacles from their marriage proposals, devotees make an offering of turmeric
powder, grinded in the stone Ural here, to Goddess Varahi, one of the
Sapthamadakkal.
Special poojas are
performed on the birth star days of the Nalvar (Saints Thiru Gnanasambanthar,
Thurunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manicka Vasakar).
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Velli on all Fridays |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar Chaturthi |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Annabishekam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thiru Karthikai |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
HOW
TO REACH:
Nedungalam is situated
at a distance of about 4 kms from Thuvakkudi (near Thiruverumbur) on the
Thiruchirappalli to Tanjure route. Thuuvakkudi is about 17 kms away from
Thiruchirapalli and 42 kms away from Tanjure.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Nedungalanathaswamy Temple,
Thiru Nedungalam,
Tuvakkudi Via,
Trichy,
Tamil Nadu – 620 015.
LOCATION:
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