Neelakandeswarar Temple,
Thiruneelakkudi – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with single tier Rajagopuram and has two prakarams. Dhwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam and Nandhi can be found immediately after Rajagopuram facing the sanctum. There is another entrance arch in front of the sanctum. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Artha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Manokkiyanatha Swamy / Neelakandeswarar / Vilvaranyeswarar / Brahma Nayakar / Kamadenupuradesar / Thailapriyangeswarar and is facing east.
He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord Shiva is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The Lingam is about 2 ft (0.61 m) high and has an unusual square projections and a rough surface. Despite pots of oil poured on the Shivalinga each day for abishek, the oil is completely absorbed within the Shiva Linga and no drop would be visible and the Shivalinga is never wet with the oil. The most unique aspect is that the Shivalinga always appears as if no oil Abhishek performed on it for a year.
The Shiva Linga is not soft despite abisheks of years. A turf also appears on the Shivalinga. The sanctum sanctorum is of Agazhi type. It is surrounded by a moat like formation on all the 4 sides. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. There is closed corridor with pillars around the sanctum. Vimana over the sanctum is of Vesara type. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. He is seen with his consort Chandikeswari.
There are two separate shrines for Mother Parvathy in the temple premises. One Shrine houses Baktha Beeshta Pradayini / Tapas Parvati / Thavakkola Ammai and the other shrine houses Anoopamasthani / Azhakaambigai / Oppilamulayal. Baktha Beeshta Pradayini attained Lord Shiva here by rigorous penance. She is in penance posture and is about four feet tall. Anoopamasthani nursed Lord Shiva back to health. She is also about four feet tall.
The Lingam worshiped by Lord Brahma (Brahma Lingam) is housed in a shrine called Mukthi Mandapam. Mukthi Mandapam is situated in Artha Mandapam. The Lingam worshiped by Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Lingam) is situated in the prakaram. There is a Navagraha Shrine in the temple premises. All the planets in this shrine faces Lord Surya. It is said that sun rays fall on Navagrahas in the evening during Tamil month of Chithirai.
There are beautiful paintings in the walls of the prakaram depicting Goddess Parvathy performing oil abishekam to Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva & Parvathy and Shiva Leelas (Thiruvilayadal). There are shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Kannimoola Ganapathy, Saneeswarar, Balasubramanya, Neelakanta Nayanar, Kasi Vishwanathar with his consort Visalakshi, Saraswathi, Mahalakshmi, Nalvar, Markandeya, Surya and Bairavar can be seen in the prakaram.
There is a stone mortar and pestle set in the prakaram. It is said that it was used in ancient times to grind gingelly seeds. Theerthams associated with this temple are Veda Theertham, Brahma Theertham, Kamadhenu Theertham, Devi Theertham, Ksheera Theertham, Bharadhwaja Theertham, Markandeya Theertham and Cauvery River. There is big pond in front of the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam tree (Pancha Vilvam). Hence, the place came to be called as Pancha Vilva Aaranya Kshetram.
The Vilwa tree in the temple has five petals while usually it has only three in other Vilwa trees. The jack tree in the temple has also its own sacredness. The fruit should be cut and offered to Lord as nivedhana and then only taken to homes by the devotees. Taking them direct without offering to Lord will end in some punishment. It is proved by experience to those who wanted to test this condition.
