Nellaiappar Temple – Architecture
Nellaiappar Temple was one of the biggest holy places of
Pandya Naadu; the temple is 756 feet in length and 378 feet in breadth. Thirunelveli’s
two temples of Lord Shiva or Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi Ammai, his consort,
are built side by side and a corridor joins both the temples. Both the temple
gopurams were built according to the rules laid down in the Agamasastras by
Raja Rama Pandyan. Nindrasir Nedumaran constructed and renovated important
areas in these temples in 7th century CE.
In the south prakaram of Lord Nelliappar’s temple stand
the stone statues of the Nayak kings who contributed a great deal to develop
this temple complex. In the west prakaram is the beautiful statue of Lord
Arumugam (Muruga) with his two consorts, Valli and Deivanai, sitting on his
mount, the peacock. This statue has been exquisitely carved from single block
of stone.
From the eastern prakaram you have to pass through a
series of mandapams (halls) to reach the sanctum sanctorum of Nellaiappar.
Kanthimathi Ammai’s shrine can be reached from the south prakaram through the
connecting corridor called the Sangili Mandapam (Chain Hall) which is adorned
with lifelike sculptures.
At Nellaiappar Temple, near the sanctum, you can see a
shrine of Lord Vishnu. This is special as there is a belief that Nellai
Govindan (Lord Vishnu) visited Tirunelveli to perform the divine marriage of
Shiva and Kanthimathi. Lord Vishnu is traditionally known to be the brother of
Parvathi and gave her away in marriage in the kannikadaanam (giving away the
virgin) ceremony to Shiva.
Alongside the Sangili Mandapam is a beautiful flower
garden that was set up in 1756 CE and is fragrant with colorful flowers. An
interesting legend says that there is a secret tunnel in the temple behind the
sculpture of Ravana. It supposedly connects Tirunelveli and Madurai and was
used by the Pandya kings and their spies on secret missions.
Nellaiappar Temple has three wide circumambulatory
paths. In the first Praharam there are shrines to Lords Dakshinamurthy,
Brahma, Chandikeswara, Bhairava and Govinda. The goddesses Durga and
Mahishasura Mardhini look benignly on devotees in their own niches.
The 63 Nayanmars (Shaivite saints), goddess
Ashtalakshmi, Lord Shaneeswara and the Sahasra Linga attract devotees. The
third praharam contains the shrines of Shiva’s son, Lord Subrahmanya with his
consorts, Valli and Deivayanai.
Nellaiappar Temple dates back to 700 AD. The gopurams
(towers) also date back to early 17th century. There are inscriptions dating
all the way back to 950 AD in the temple. Thirugnana Sambandar, the great deity
of Lord Shiva, who lived in the 7th century AD, has sung about Nellaiappar.
Hence, if not this temple, at least the idol of Nellaiappar must be older than
7th century AD. However, as per the records, it appears that this temple would
have been built by the Pandya king 'Ninra Seer Nedumaran'. Nedumaran was a Jain
king, who got converted to Saivism by Thirugnana Sambandar in the 7th century
AD.
Lord Shiva is named as Nellaiappar in this temple. Lord
Shiva is also called as Venuvananathar, Veimutha Nathar, Nelveli Nathar, and
Chalivaadeesar. The Goddess of the temple is Kanthimathi. She is also called as
Vadivudai Amman and Thiru Kamakkottamudaiya Nachiar.
Originally, Nellaiappar temple and Kanthimathi temple
were built as two separate temples with space in between. It was in the year of
1647 AD, a devotee named Thiru Vadamalaiappa Pillaiyan linked both the temples
by building 'Sangili Mandapam' (chain mandapa/hall). The Nellaiappar temple is
850 feet long and 756 feet broad. The Kanthimathi temple is almost of the
similar extent. Both the temples have Raja Gopurams (towers) at their
respective entrances. Apart from these two main temple towers, there are three
more small towers in the temple.
This Shivasthalam is one of the Pancha Sabha
Temples (Copper) of Lord Shiva. The thousand-pillared hall is of great
beauty. The musical pillars in the Mani Mandapam produce sound in various
pitches when struck and are from the 7th century AD. This is a vast temple with
many unique features such as the Manimandapam near the Nandi mandapam that has
two huge pillars carved out of a single stone. Each giant pillar has 48 small
pillars
which produce musical sounds when struck.
which produce musical sounds when struck.
It is customary to worship Goddess Kaanthimathi first as
in Madurai and Kanchi. Two separate temple view streets (Amman Sannadhi Theru
and Swami Sannadhi Theru) lead the devotees to the respective shrines. In the
sanctum of the Devi shrine, the image of the Goddess is an exquisite sculpture
holding flowers in one hand. Locally she is known as Vadivannai.
There are several sacred Theerthams within the temple
precincts. The beautiful Golden Lotus Tank, where Lord Shiva is said to have
appeared in the water and Brahma as lotus, attracts the visitors' attention.
The 96-pillared Unjal Mandapam, Maha Mandapam and Artha Mandapam are fine
specimens of intricate workmanship. There is a Thousand Pillared Hall where the
Thirukkalyanam (Divine Wedding) festival is celebrated every year during the
month of Aippasi (October-November). In the beautiful Vasanta Mandapam,
Vasantotsavam is held in the month of Chitrai (April-May). In the Mani
Mandapam, there are two major clusters of pillars; each containing 24 smaller
cylindrical pillars, which when struck produces musical notes.
Both Nellaiappar and Kaanthimathi shrines have separate flag
masts. Sculptures of Arjuna, Karna and Veerabhadra arrest the visitors'
attention.. There are separate shrines for Sri Moola Nathar, Lord Vishnu in Anantashayana
posture and Lord Nataraja and Devi Sivakami, both of which are beautiful copper
images. In the south-eastern corner of the outer corridor, a Linga dedicated to
Anavarathar is enshrined. The story goes that once the wife of a Nawab was
suffering from an incurable disease. As advised, she started offering special
worship to Lord Nellaiappar. In course of time, she was cured of the disease
and was also blessed with a male child. The Nawab couple named him Anavaratha
Khan. In later years, a Linga was installed in the temple on the outer corridor.
The Nawab family used to offer worship to the Linga from outside.
According to Hindu belief, devotees who worship the Lord
in this temple will get mental peace and live well. Those who worship
Gandhimathiamman would prosper in life.
A shrine to Sandana Sabapathi (adorned with sandal
paste) is located right behind the Tamra Sabha and to a visitor walking towards
the Tamra Sabha, the combination of these, i.e. the vision of Sandana Sabapathi
seen through the Tamra Sabha presents a brilliant spectacle. There is yet
another shrine to Nataraja here, the Periya Sabapathi shrine. Religious
services are carried out here on special occasions, and this festival idol is
never moved from this shrine. There are rare jewels that adorn the deities in
Nellaiappar Temple that are antiques. The shrine has 32 Theerthams (temple
tanks) out of which 4 Theerthams are located inside the temple; the rest are
located outside the temple.
Nellaiappar Shrine
For Brief details, please refer;
Kanthimathi Shrine
For Brief details, please refer;
Portion connecting Nellaiappar & Kanthimathi
Shrine
For Brief details, please refer;
Thaamira Ambalam
For Brief details, please refer;
Wooden Art
As you enter the Nellaiappar temple, the first thing
that would strike you is the wonderful wooden entrance, in the form of arches,
with intricate carvings. Each wooden sculpture is unique and serves as a
perfect sample for the wonderful art work inside the temple.
Dakshinamoorthy Shrine
The idol of Dakshinamoorthy is commonly found in most
temples in Tamil Nadu. However, the idol is generally placed attached to the
wall. At Nellaiappar temple, one could witness a separate small shrine for
Dakshinamoorthy and one can circle the shrine (do a Pradakshanam)
individually for Dakshinamoorthy.
Nellai Govindar
Nellaiappar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva (known
here as Nellaiappar) and Goddess Parvati (known here as Kanthimathi). However,
very next to the Nellaiappar shrine, in a separate sanctum, one would find the
idol of Lord Vishnu (known here as Nellai Govindar) in a reclining position (in
Anandha Sayanam). It is a massive idol and the Lord could be seen in
complete rest with his eyes closed. All major pooja practices associated with
Lord Vishnu is performed to Nellai Govindar. It is said that the marriage of
Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi was presided over by Lord Vishnu and hence, he is
provided a special sanctum here.
Murugan Shrine
Nellaiappar temple has a separate hall for Lord Muruga.
Muruga is also known as Arumugam as he is said to have six faces. Generally, we
would not get to see all the six faces of Lord Muruga in any of the temples
that carry the Arumugam idol. However, at Nellaiappar one could move around the
Arumugam idol and can view all the six faces and have a complete darshan. In
fact the priests would raise aarthi twice to the idol, one for the three faces
seen from the front and one for the remaining three faces seen behind.
Pillars of Marvel
Similar to all major temples in Tamil Nadu, Nellaiappar
temple also has extensive corridors adorned with towering pillars carrying
wonderful carvings. In specific, the thousand pillar mandapam (hall) is a
place of great architectural excellence. Also, the temple boasts of musical
pillars, located near the sanctum of the Lordess, that produce musical sounds
of varying pitches when stuck. The pillars are said to date back to 7th century
AD.
Music has always been an important part of culture and
worship in south India. The fine tuned skills of the sculptures have produced
in this temple pillars that produce the seven notes, the Saptasvaras (Sa, Ri,
Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni). These can be found in the second Praharam where the Tamra
Sabha is also situated.
The Golden Lily Tank, the musical pillars in the Mani
Mandapam, Somavara Mandapam (Monday Hall) also called the 1000 pillared
mandapam (hall) inside the temple of Kanthimathi Ammai and the Vasantha
Mandapam is worth seeing.
Kubera Lingam
Nellaiappar temple boasts of a separate sanctum
dedicated for Kuberan. It is widely believed that prayers to Kuberan would
bring one great prosperity and wealth. Kuberan is present here in the form of
a lingam. The entire sanctum is gold-plated and is a wonderful spectacle.
Sandana Sabapathi Shrine
A shrine to Sandana Sabapathi (adorned with sandal
paste) is located right behind the Tamra Sabha and to a visitor walking towards
the Tamra Sabha, the combination of these, i.e. the vision of Sandana Sabapathi
seen through the Tamra Sabha presents a brilliant spectacle.
Sangili Mandapam
Sangili Mandapam built on 1647 by Vadamalaiappa Pillaiyan
connects the Kaanthimathi Amman and Nellaiappar temples.
The Sangili Mandapam, a big terraced hall linking these
two, was built in the 17th century. The towers also date back to early 17th
century.
Sangili Mandapam, the hall connecting Kanthimathi temple
and Nellaiappar temple has a lot of big statues on the either sides such as
Bheema, Arjuna, Vaali, Sugriva, the monkey with kid, monkey, and various Yazhi
(mythological animal). Near Sangili Mandapam, there is a garden called as Nanda
Vanam where Vasanta Mandapam is located.
Periya Sabapathi Shrine
Yet another shrine to Nataraja, the Periya Sabapathi
(large or big Lord of the hall) shrine is unique as religious rituals are
performed here on special occasions. The icon is a bronze one that is usually
associated with an Utsavar murthi, a figure that is taken on processions. This
one is never moved out from this shrine.
Temple Cars
Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi temple has five cars for
Nellaiyappar, Kanthimathi, Ganesha, Muruga, and Chandikeswara. Nellaiyappar car
is the third largest car in Tamil Nadu state. The car festival is one of the
famous festivals celebrated in the Nellaiyappar and Kanthimathi temple.
The Nellaiyappar and Kanthimathi temple is located at
the center and surrounded by four main roads called as North Car Street, East
Car Street, South Car Street, and West Car Street. The temple chariot is a huge
piece of stunning woodwork, second only to the famous car in Tiruvarur.