Neelivaneswarar Temple, Thiruppaingneeli – The Temple

Neelivaneswarar Temple, Thiruppaingneeli – The Temple

The Temple is situated in a sprawling 12 acre area and is one of the Saptha Sthanam temples of Thiruvanaikaval. Walls of this temple are built with stones having tiger skin pattern. Inscriptions of Rajendra Chola I and Rajathi Rajan I can be seen in this temple. Lord of this Temple is Swayambu Moorthy. Presiding Deity is called as Neelivaneswarar / Aaranya Vidankan / Kathali Vasanthar / Neelakandeswarar/ Gneelivana Nathar / Viswanathar.  Mother is called as Visalakshi/ Neellnedunkannammal Ammai.

Every year during the Tamil months of Purattasi and Panguni the rays of sun will directly fall on the Suyambhu Shiva Linga is a uniqueness of this temple. There are two Ambicas in the temple. The temple and Yamatharmaraja Sannadhi are 9 steps below the ground level. There is also separate shrine for Ravana. The Vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is called Badra Vimana. 

Vinayaka in the temple is praised as Lord Vasantha Vinayaka. The temple has five prakaras-corridors. Vinayaka in the prakara with Lord Shiva and Lord Perumal Sen Thamarai Kannan and Lord Dakshinamurthy with Nandhi below him are the differences in this temple comparing the general traditions in other Shiva temples. Swayambu Nandhi is near the flag post-Kodimaram.

Rajagopuram:

The Gopuram here also looks incomplete or worn out like the Thiruvellarai temple. It is not fully constructed. It is constructed by Sundara Pandiyan. It is 30 ft. gopuram. Dancing statue on both sides looks beautiful. Information about all donations to maintain this temple was inscribed on 2 Inscriptions in the north and south side of this gopuram.

Ravana Vaayil:

The Temple has another Gopuram called Ravana Vaayil after Rajagopuram. The second tower is intact unlike Rajagopuram.

Sootha Mamunivar Deva Samadhi:

Sootha Mamunivar did tapas in this temple for many years and he attained Sivakathi (Moksha & Mukthi). This Samadhi is located on the south side, on the way from Rajagopuram to Second Gopuram.

Chottrudaya Easwarar Sannidhi:

Saint Thirunavukkarasar was on his way to worship Lord Gneelivana Nathar. He stood exhausted at a place due to hunger. A priest appeared before him with rice-Annam or Choru in Tamil. The priest also assured the saint to lead to the temple but disappeared on the way. The saint was shocked and prayed to Lord Shiva. 

Lord granted darshan to Thirunavukkarasar and told him that he was the priest who helped him. At the request of Thirunavukkarasar, Lord stayed here in the form of Linga named Chottrudaya Easwarar – God with Rice. This shrine is located at the second entrance called Ravana Vaayil of the temple separately. This event is celebrated in the temple on the Avittam star day in Chithirai-April-May.

Kasi Viswanathar Sannidhi:

This Sannidhi is situated without roof in north side from four pillar hall of this temple. It is constructed by Thuraiyur Jamindar.

Yama Shrine:

There is a dedicated Sannidhi for Yama at this temple which in a cave carved style. Yama Shrine is located just before the Ravana Vaayil. This shrine is in a cave under the ground. To save Markandeya from the clutches of Yama, Siva kills him and it is here that the God resurrected him. Yama here is in the form of a child. People offer special poojas for longer life and to ward off ill effects.

Lord Shiva and Mother Ambica with Lord Muruga in Somaskanda form are in this shrine with Yama as a child under their feet. Surya and Chandra are on top to either side with chamaram. People celebrate their 60th birth day and perform longevity prayers in this shrine in large numbers. The rock shrine is said to be created by Mahendra Varma Pallava, otherwise called Gunabaram, during 640 AD.

Navagrahas:

This temple does not have any Navagraha images. There are 9 steps leading from the Ravana Vayil tower inside the temple and this is built with the belief that the Navagrahas themselves were like slaves to Ravana. There are nine small pits in front of the Nandhi and Dwajasthambam in front of the main Lingam and are worshipped as Navagrahas. The Navagrahas are prayed by lighting lamps in the nine stone cavern holes made on the floor.

Vishnu Shrine:

The shrine of Lord Vishnu named Senthamarikanan is present inside the temple.

Chinnandavar and Periyandavar Shrine:

Chinnandavar and Periyandavar, the rural guardian deities are also located in the temple premises.

Sculpture of Sudha Maha Munivar:

The sculpture of Sudha Maha Munivar lies in the outer precinct of the temple.

Other Shrines:

Other minor shrines in this temple are as follows;

·        Vanathayee Amman

·        Then Kailasanathar

·        Saptha Mathakkal,

·        Gajalakshmi,

·        Valli Deivanai samedha Murugan

·        Thakshayini Ambika Samedha Imruthayanjar

Mother Shrines:

There are two Amman shrines, the main one is facing east and has roofing with some special bricks available only in this region. Out of two shrines, one dedicated to Visalakshi and other for Neela Nedunkann Amman. This shrine has a separate Dwajasthambam.

Sanctum:

The Lingam of Neelivaneswarar is very small and is a Swayambu Lingam. Neeli means banana trees and there are lot of banana trees in this temple and is considered as the Sthala Vriksham.  As Lord Shiva gave rebirth to Yama through pilathuvaram on the day of Thaipoosam, he is called as Adikaravallavar (In Tamil, athikaram means power).

Theerthams:

There are seven sacred springs in the temple – Visalakshi, Yama, Kalyana, Agni, Deva, Appar and Maniankarunai. People will conquer their fear of death if they drink the Yama Theertham here. Marriage hurdles can be overcome by drinking Kalyana Theertham. There is also a good fresh water spring, 2 kms north of the temple on the way to Sri Pundarikakshan Perumal temple at Thiruvellarai. At 2 kms from the water spring, a plantain tree is being decorated and worshipped.

Sthala Vriksham:

Neeli, a variety of plantain which is not grown in any other part, is the Sthala Vriksham of this Temple. Parvati had performed penance here and she wished to have some shade during her penance and the sapta Kanyas became the plantain trees to provide shade to her. Hence the Neelivanam, with 7 plantain trees occupies a special place in the temple. Devotees perform special rituals on Sundays to these plantain trees here in belief that this will lead them to matrimony. The plantain trees have yellow threads tied to it as part of the ritual.