Thiru Neithanam (Thillai Sthanam) Sri Neyyadiyappar Temple- Thanjavur

Address

Thiru Neithanam (Thillai Sthanam) Sri Neyyadiyappar Temple, Thiru Neithanam (Thillai Sthanam) Post, Thiruvaiyaru Via Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu – 613 203. Tele: +91 – 4362-260 553.

Diety

Sri Neyyadiyappar, Sri Gruthapureeswarar, Sri Pasupatheeswarar Amman: Sri Ilamangai Ammai

Introduction

Neyyadiappar Temple, Tillaistanam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the village of Thillaistanam also known as Tillaistanam or Thiruneithanam in Tamil Nadu, India. It is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of the Sapthastanam, the seven temples associated with Aiyarappar temple in Thiruvaiyaru. Shiva is represented by the lingam in the form of Neyyadiappar. His consort Parvati is depicted as Piraisoodi Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is believed to have been built by Aditya Chola I during 9th century A.D and with significant additions from later Chola kings and by the ruling kings of Thanjavur Nayaks. It houses five-tiered gateway towers known as gopurams. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Neyyadiappar and Amman being the most prominent. Theertham (Holy water) River Cauveri Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree) Vilvam

Puranic Significance

The historical names of this place are Thiru Neithanam and Thillai Sthanam. There are 51 stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the periods of five Chola kings including Paranthakan-I. In these stone inscriptions this place is referred to as “Rajaraja Valanattu Bainganaattu Thiru Neithanam” and the lord of this temple is praised as Sri Neithanamudaiyar. Most of these inscriptions are related to the endowments and donations made to this temple. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). It is believed that the divine cow, Kamadhenu, was habitually pouring her milk in a particular place in this region. The milk turned into ghee under the influence of natural forces like Sun and rain. Once a shepherd noticed Kamadenu and tried to catch her but she disappeared. Finding the actions of the cow to be very odd, he informed the locals about this incident. They then dug up the place and found a Shivalingam there. When the king was informed about this, he arranged for a temple to be built there. He further made arrangements for abhishekam to be performed there using ghee every day. There is a beautiful relief depicting Kamadhenu worshiping Lord Shiva in the hall. The lord of this temple is praised as “Sri Neyyadi Appar” and this place is known as “Nei Thanam”. This is because Ghee in Tamil is called “Nei”.According to the Sthala puranam, a Shiva devotee used to light lamps in this temple every day. While returning after lighting the lamps, he had the habit of picking some spinach leaves (“keerai” in Tamil) from the temple. Due to his advancing age, he requested the lord to take care of him as he felt that he had performed his duties by lighting lamps every day. It is believed that Lord Shiva told him that the spinach leaves that he had taken every day was the wage for the work he had done. It is believed that a Sri Lankan King by the name of Kayavahu worshiped the lord of this temple as his family deity. He arranged for many festivals to be celebrated here. It is believed that Goddess Saraswathi, Kamadhenu, Sage Gauthama, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) have worshiped the lord here.

Beliefs

It is considered very auspicious to perform “abhishekam” to Lord Shiva here. This abhishekam should be done using cow ghee followed by warm water. By doing so, it is believed that one’s wishes will be fulfilled.

Special Features

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 52nd Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This is one of the “Saptha Sthana” temples of Thiruvaiyaru. This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 09.04.2001. Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Saraswathi, Nagakannigai, Mahalakshmi, Navagraham, Kala Bairavar, Anugraha Bairavar, Chandran and Chandikeswarar can be seen in the main hall and corridors. Idols of Saneeswarar, Suryan, Adhi Vinayakar and Saraswathi are placed in a row. In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Ashtapuja Durgai, can be seen. In the corridor, there are Shivalingams representing all the Sapthasthana temples – Thiruppazhanam, Thiru Neithanam, Thiru Kandiyur, Thiruchotruthurai, Thiruvedhikudi, Thiruppunthuruthi and Thiruvaiyaru.

Festivals

Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan) and Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar). Pradosham is also observed regularly.