14. SRI NELLAIAPPAR TEMPLE TIRUNELVELI

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	258th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Pandiya Naadu
Pandiya Naadu	14th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

HISTORY:

This sivasthalam is one of the Pancha Sabha Temples (Copper) of Lord Shiva. This is one of the big temples in Pandiya Naadu measuring 756 in length and 378 feet in breadth. There are 2 temples at Tirunelveli, one for Lord Shiva who is known as Nellaiappar and the other one for Kanthimathi Ammai. Both the temples are located side by side and a corridor joins both the temples. On the southern prakaram of the presiding male deity's temple, the stone statues of Nayak Kings are found who have made immense contributions for the development of this temple. The beautiful statue of Lord Arumugam (Muruga) with His 2 consorts Valli and Deivaanai sitting on His mount Peacock can be seen in the west prakaram. This statue is beautifully carved from single block of big stone. From the eastern prakaram, one has to enter through a series of mandapams to reach the sanctum sanctorum of Nellaiappar.

The temple of female deity Kanthimathi Ammai can be reached from the south prakaram and passing through the connecting corridor. The 1000 pillar mandapam inside the female deity's temple is very famous and it is here the celestial wedding of Kanthimathi Ammai with Nellaiappar takes place every year during the festival in the Tamil month of Aippasi corresponding to October 15th to November 15th.

There is a story behind the name of the town Tirunelveli. Once there was a poor Brahmin in this town named Veda Sarma who was a great Siva Bhakta. Every day he used to go out begging and the alms thus gathered were used by Veda Sarma for offering to the Lord. One day, when the brahmin was drying the paddy which he had collected for offering to Siva, it rained suddenly and Veda Sarma feared that all the paddy might be washed away due to heavy rains. He became much distressed and prayed for help to the Lord who took pity on him and protected the paddy from the rain by covering it and standing around it like a fence. So this place came to be known as Tiru Nel Veli (Tiru - means beautiful, Nel - means paddy and Veli - means fence). The Lord also came to be known as Nellaiappar.

There is another legend connected with this shrine. In the south-eastern corner of the prakaram, a Siva Lingam, known as Anavarata Khan, has been enshrined. It is said that the wife of one of the Nawabs was suffering from some acute disease and consulted the Brahmins as to how she might be cured of it The Brahmins advised her to worship Nellaiappar and perform some religious ceremonies in the temple. She readily agreed and did the poojas through the temple priests. To the surprise of all, the Muslim queen not only recovered from her disease but also gave birth to a male child. The boy was named Anavarata Khan and the shrine with a sivalingam known as Anavarata Khan was built in a corner of the prakaram in memory of the Muslim queen and the prince. An opening in the outer wall of the prakararn just opposite the shrine was provided so as to enable the Nawab and his son to worship the Lingam, standing outside the temple.

Lord Siva once took the form of a Lingam, came to Tirunelveli and took his abode here. All the four Vedas stood around Him as bamboo trees and provided Him shade. So this Sthalam is came to be known as Venu Vanarn (Venu means bamboo tree and Vanam means forest) and the Lord came to be known as Venuvananathar.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        In reality the temple is a complex of two huge temples for Nellaiappar and Kantimati linked by the Sangili Mandapam which has several life sized sculptures adorning the pillars.

·        The Oonjal Mandapam and the 1000 pillared hall are of great beauty.

·        There is a Nellai Govindan shrine near the sanctum.

·        Periya Sabhapathi and Sandana Sabhapati are the other two Natarajar images enshrined here.

·        This temple is known for its sculptural splendor and its musical pillars.

·        It could take days, if not hours to soak in the grandeur of this temple.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Nellaiyappar, Sri Venuvaneswarar
Ambal	Sri Kantimati
Theertham	Tamraparani Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Moongil

BELIEF:

Devotees pray for to get relief from debt burdens and cure from illness. Devotees pray here to get a good education, Business development and also get relief from the malefic effects of Mercury.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Aani	June-July	Annual Bhrammotsavam
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thirukarthikai
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Arudra Darisanam
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is located in Tirunelveli on the banks of river Taamiraparni. TIrunelveli is well connected by rail network from many important towns in Tamilnadu.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Nellaiappar Temple,
Tirunelveli,
Tamil Nadu – 627006.

LOCATION: