the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

It is believed that sages Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandhana and Sanatkumara have worshipped Lord Shiva here. These four saints are collectively called Kumaras or Sanakadi. These four sages are believed to have roamed the universe in the form of young children. As per Hindu mythology, they are described as the “first mind-born-sons” (Manasaputras) or spiritual sons of Lord Brahma. They are the disciples of Lord Dakshinamurthy. The legend is that once this place was very fertile with paddy fields yielding plentiful harvest. The people were happy and prosperous which made them forget Lord Shiva. Angered by this, the lord directed Varuna, the God of rain, to cause a downpour in the region. Due to incessant rains, the lakes, tanks and all other water bodies began to flood. Fearing for their safety, people ran to the lord to seek his intervention. Lord Shiva came there disguised as a youth and asked them to bring all the paddy bags from their homes and build a dam to prevent further calamity. Though the people lost all their possessions, they praised the youth as their saviour. He said that God was the giver of prosperity and they should not be ungrateful to him. The young man informed the people that there was a pot of gold (Swarna) in the well and they can take it to recover the loss of their harvest. Thereafter the young man disappeared and in his place, Lord Shiva appeared as a Swaymabu lingam. As the lord is believed to have gifted a pot of gold (Swarna in Tamil), he is also praised as Sri Swarnakadeswarar. Since Lord Shiva himself helped build the dam (Anai in Tamil) with paddy (Nel in Tamil), the place was named Nel Anai which later changed to Neivanai. Another legend associated with this temple is that of Saint Gnanasambanthar. During his pilgrimage, he reached this place late in the evening and was having trouble finding the temple. The lord sent Goddess Parvathi to guide Sambanthar to the temple. The place from where she called the child saint is called Ethalavadi. Overjoyed that the Goddess herself had come to take him to the temple, Sambanthar danced and sang the praise of Lord Shiva. A beautiful idol of Gnanasambanthar in dancing form can be seen here. It is believed that every year, Suryan worships Lord Shiva in the early morning by illuminating the lingam in the sanctum on the Maha Shivrathri day in the Tamil month of Maasi. It is said that on this occasion, the lingam appears in four different colours - blue, green, white and red. This is a very unique occurrence. Lord Mahavishnu graces from a separate shrine in the corridor with Goddess Mahalakshmi on his lap as Lord Lakshmi Narayanar. Lord Shiva’s procession deity is in the Arthanareeswara form. He is depicted in a standing form with a trident on his back. This symbolizes the oneness of Shiva and Shakti. In his hymn of this temple, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar mentioned that My lord resides in this fabled land of Nelvennai. Worshipping him is the duty of the righteous. Special pujas are offered to Lord Bhairavar on new moon days.

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and the 10th Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu.This temple has no main tower (Rajagopuram) and Dwajasthambam (flag post). It has a single corridor.

The important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Thirukarthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar) and Arudra Dharisanam in the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan). Pradosham is also observed regularly.