Sundareswarar Temple, Neikuppai, Thanjavur
Sundareswarar Temple is a Hindu
temple located at Neikuppai, about 25 kilometres from Kumbakonam. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. Sri Tirumangaicheri Varadaraja Perumal and
Sokkanathaswami temples are very near to this temple. There are shrines for
Lord Sri Varadaraja and Lord Sri Narasimha in the temple.
Legends
Lord Shiva wanted to dispatch the Vedas to Earth through
Mother Umadevi. He made the essence of Vedas in the shape of balls representing
the planets. Mother played with these balls throwing them up and down and
spread the Vedic message to all places. The brilliance and brightness of Sun
too dimmed before the light of Vedas. He did not want to create any hindrance
to the playing of the mother and postponed his setting time. This caused many
difficulties in puja timings in temples and other worldly activities.
Pretending to be angry on this change, Lord Shiva
appeared before the Mother Ambika. She stood still. The Vedas, unable to bear
the anger of the Lord simply stayed on the space.
Lord told the Mother that as her playing with Veda balls
changed the timings of Sun set and caused confusions; she must go to Earth and
spread the Vedic message as her feet had the essence of Vedas.
Ambica felt that it could not be possible to undertake
the journey by walk, sought the help of her Brother Lord Vishnu, who has the reputation
of saving the Vedas from demons, as a Varahamurthi. He came to Earth as
Nandagopala with Ambika. The first step that Mother Ambica placed on Earth is
today’s Neikuppai.
During his incarnation as Narasimha, spark spots
(Agnikolam) appeared on earth. When Mother placed her steps on earth, the heat
subsided and lands became cool. Rains too helped. Seeing himself the unbearable
heat that occupied the earth and suffering of beings, Lord Narasimha took the
form Lord Varadaraja to protect lives from the heat. He came to this place.
When Lord left, Sri Mahalakshmi came to Karupathur near
Tiruchi which was a forest then. She performed penance on Lord Shiva to get her
Lord. With the grace of Lord Shiva, Sri Mahalakshmi came to Tirumangaicheri and
had the fortune of seeing her Lord as both Narasimha and Varadaraja.
Neikuppai:
The name appears to be very different. However, the
story goes that when Mother Ambika came here as a cow, She poured the milk in a
well, also called Koopam in Tamil. The milk changed into ghee (Nei). The well
then became to be known as Neikoopam (Ghee well). The name slowly changed as
Neikoopam and is called Neikuppai now.
Greatness of Temple
The temple is about 500–1000 years old and frequented by
childless and unmarried people. Sun God worships the Lord Sundareswara by
placing his rays on the Shivalinga on 19, 20 and21 of Aavani (August-September)
repenting for some wrongs committed by him. The history of the temple and those
of Tirumangaicheri Varadaraja Perumal are boons for the devotees. This is also
a sacred land with an ant-hill offering all relief to those afflicted with Naga
doshas – adverse aspects of snake planets.
It also may be recalled that a Pandya King embraced
Jainism. His queen Mangayarkarasi took all the pains to bring him back to
Saivism. She built the Tirumangaicheri temple, her place of birth. Following
her Chola tradition, she named the Mother Soundarya Nayaki as Meenakshi
belonged to Madurai. Lord is Sundareswarar. This is a very sacred place.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m.to 10.00 p.m. and 5.00
p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Mahasivarathri in February-March, Margazhi Tiruvadhirai
in December-January, and Panguni Uthiram in March-April and Tirukarthikai in
November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Devotees pray for removal of obstacles in marriage
proposals, child boon and progress in education. Devotees perform special
abishek and offer Vastras to Lord and Mother.
Connectivity
Neikuppai is 25 km on Kumbakonam to Panthaloor road. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Kumbakonam & Nearest Airport is located at
Trichy.