Tirunellikka Sri Nellivananathar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Tirunellikka Sri Nellivananathar Temple, Tirunellikka5, Tiruvarur district- 610 20 Phone: +91- 4369-237 507, 237 438.

Diety

Nellivananatheswarar, Amman: Amlakeswari

Introduction

Nellivananathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Tirunellikka in Thiruvarur district of Tamilnadu. Presiding deity is called as Nellivananathar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Mangala Nayaki. This place is also called as Seruvamani. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar.This is the 234th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 117th Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery. The place is also called Panchaksharapuram and Panchakoodapuram. The Panchakoodapuram shrines of Lord Shiva are: Thirunattiyathankudi, Thirukkarayil, Thiruthecchangur, Thirunellikkaval and Thirunamasivayapuram. The temple is believed to build by Medieval Chola Thala Virutcham : Gooseberry Theertham : Brahmma, Surya theerthams

Puranic Significance

Nellivananathar marrying Mangala Nayaki here: A staunch Shiva devotee residing in Tiruvarur came to this place to worship Lord. He noticed that wild beasts in the place living together in harmony and the Devas from the celestial world visit the temple each day and turn back before dawn. He informed the matter to the Chola king. The king came to the place, cleared the land by destroying the forests, made a city and built a great temple. Amala in Sanskrit means Gooseberry, the sacred tree of the temple. Hence, Lord is also known as Amalakesan. The Chola king who built the temple was also referred to as Amalakesa Chola. Amala Kesa Chola’s son Uthama Chola and his wife Paduma Malai came to the temple and worshipped Lord Shiva seeking child boon. Mother Bharathi as a child of three years appeared there and sat on the lap of the king. A voice from the sky told the King that Mother herself had come to him as the child and should be named Mangala Nayaki. The king followed the advice obediently. After Uthama Chola’s end, child Mangala Nayaki grew under the care of the mother and attained the marriageable age. While worshipping at the Tiruvarur temple one day, Mangala Nayaki heard the voice of Lord telling her that he would come to Tirunellikka on the first Friday of Aavani August-September and marry her. Lord came to Tirunellikka and wedded Mangala Nayaki amid chanting of Vedas. Tiru Nellikka: There are five divine trees in the celestial world as Parijatha, Karpaga, Saanthanam, Hrichandan and Mandhara capable of offering any wish the devotee expects. This power made them proud and grew to the extent of humiliating great Rishi Durvasa too. He cursed the trees to become gooseberry trees on earth whose fruits would be citric in taste as tamarind. With all his mercy, Lord Shiva granted them relief from the curse and enable them return back to their place. He also gave this Nelli-gooseberry tree an importance among trees. These trees thus became lucky of serving the Lord. As Lord stayed under the Nelli tree, he came to be praised as Nellivana Nathar and place as Tiru Nellikka. People worshipped Shiva here: Lords Brahmma, Vishnu, Sun, Moon, Sani Bhagwan, Sage Durvasa, Divyaroopan, Gandharvas and trees of the celestial world had worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. Kushtarogaharapuram: It is also believed that a Gandharva worshipped Shiva here and was relieved of his leprosy, and hence the name Kushtarogaharapuram.

Beliefs

Devotees pray here for removal of delays in marriage, for child boon, conquering anger and cure from leprosy. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother with Vastras and contribute for the renovation of the temple. The beneficial effects men and women get in various places by virtue of their birth; worships, thoughts and death are available to them in this single holy land and temple.

Special Features

The temple is facing west with 5 tier Rajagopuram. The temple inscriptions reveal the existence of this temple from the period of Raja Raja Chozha regime. Presiding Deity is called as Nellivananathar / Thirunellikkavudaiyar / Amalakeswarar with his consort Goddess Mangala Nayaki / Amalakeswari. Theerthams of this temple are Brahma Theertham, Surya Theertham, Sankara Theertham, Chakra Theertham and Roganivarana Theertham. Sthala Vriksham is Nelli (Gooseberry). Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthy in this temple. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord for a week from Masi 18 (February-March) on the Lord during the evenings when Surya Puja is performed in the temple. There is a separate East-facing shrine dedicated to Lord Saneeswarar at Tirunelikkaval and that attracts hundreds of devotees and those impacted by the effects of Saturn make a trip to this sacred spot trying to find solace and security. In the mandapam roof paintings of Navagrahas, 12 Rasi and Ambal Avatharams can be seen. Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Brahma and Durgai are located in Koshta. Sannidhis for Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeswara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddess Sri Valli & Deivanai, Nalvar, Goddess SriGajalakshmi, Lord Saneeswara, Lord Bhairava, Navagrahas, Somaskandar, Lord Nataraja & Goddess Sivakami, Amruthalingam / Amalalingam / Amalakesan Lingam are found in this Temple.

Festivals

The first great 10 day Chithirai festival is celebrated in April-May. Aavani Mother Wedding Festival on the first Friday; Navarathri in September-October; Sashti in Aipasi-October-November; Thai Poosam and Deepam festival (Tiru Vilakku Puja) on last Thai Friday in January-February are the other festivals celebrated in the temple. Maha Shivaratri, Masi Makam, Thiru Karthikai, Panguni Uthiram, Arudra Dharisanam, Margazhi Utsavam, Aippasi Annabishekam,Avani Thirukalyanaustavam, Theppotsavam and Theerthavari Utsavam are the other festivals celebrated here.