Vanmeeha Nathar Temple, Thiruneiper, Thiruvarur
Vanmeeha
Nathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Thiruneiper
Village in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Vanmeeha
Nathar and Mother is called as Parameswari. Thiruneiper is the birthplace for Naminandi
Adigal, one of the 63 Nayanmars.
Legends
Naminandi
Adigal, a Nayanmar, hailed from Thiruneiper, not far away from Thiruvarur. He
used to light the lamps at Thiruvarur Temple with ghee. He used to walk all the
way from his place every day to reach Thiruvarur temple for serving the
Almighty. He wanted to light ghee lamps at Achaleswarar Shrine, located inside
the Temple. As he required more ghee for the purpose, he went outside and
approached some houses which were close to the Temple.
Without
knowing that those houses belonged to Jains, he made the request to them. They
laughed at him and refused to give ghee to light the lamps. They even insulted
him to go back and light the lamps by using water drawn from the Temple Tank.
Highly wounded by their words, Naminandhi Adigal went back to the Temple and
prayed at the feet of the Lord. At that time he heard the Divine Voice asking
him to bring water from the tank and light the lamps.
He
obeyed the Lord's advice and brought water from the tank and lighted numerous
lamps. It was indeed a miracle that all lamps burned throughout the night to
the surprise of everybody. He continued to serve the Lord by shifting his
residence from Thiruneiper to Thiruvarur. The Lord even made him realize all
people of Thiruvarur are Shiva ganas. The Nayanar's remarkable service is
praised by Appar in his Thevaram Hymns.
The
Temple
The
birthplace of the Nayanar has a Shiva Temple which is in dilapidated state. The
compound wall has collapsed. Presiding Deity is called as Vanmeeha Nathar and
Mother is called as Parameswari. There is a small Sannadhi for Naminandi Adigal
with folded hands in the prakaram facing the sanctum. There is also a separate
shrine for him on the main road which is of recent origin.
The
front mandapam is in a bad shape. It carries some paintings pertaining to the
life of Naminandhi Adigal Nayanar. In spite of the temple being connected to
one of the 63 Nayanmars with a great legend behind, this small temple is
strangely ignored by the locals and other devotees.
Contact
Vanmeeha
Nathar Temple,
Thiruneiper,
Thiruvarur District
Mobile: +91 9444812040
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 9 Kms from Thiruvarur, 4 Kms from Thirukkaravasal,
10 Kms from Katchanam, 16 Kms from Thirukkuvalai, 22 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi
and 125 Kms from Trichy. This temple is located close to the main road that
leads to Thiruthuraipoondi. Nearest Railway Station is located at Thiruvarur
and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.