the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

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. 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.

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 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). Goddess Parvathy is praised here as Sri Balambikai. As the name suggests, the goddess is believed to be ever youthful in her appearance. This is the only place where Saint Thirunavukkarasar has praised the beauty of the goddess in his hymn. There are two idols of Lord Dakshinamurthy here - one is portrayed in a standing posture and the other one is sitting in front of him. There is a beautiful idol of Goddess Durgai here where she is depicted with eight hands.

Sapthasthanam (ezhur) festival is celebrated in a grand manner. The most important festivals celebrated here are - Maasi Maham Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar) and the Theerthavari performed in the river Cauvery which flows adjacent to this temple, 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.