Thiruneiper Vanmeeha Nathar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Thiruneiper Vanmeeha Nathar Temple, Thiruneiper, Thiruvarur District – 610202. Mobile: +91 9444812040

Diety

Vanmeeha Nathar Amman: Uma Parameswari

Introduction

Vanmeeha Nathar Temple is 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 uma Parameswari. Thiruneiper is the birthplace for Naminandi Adigal, one of the 63 Nayanmars. The temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. The Nayanar’s remarkable service is praised by Appar in his Thevaram Hymns.

Puranic Significance

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.

Special Features

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.