- Special Features
Foundation YearThe oldest stone inscription in the temples is that by Chozan Thalaikonda Veerapandian (946 – 966 A.D.)Sthala TreeTheerthamRathamArchitectureOther SpecialityThere are 161 such small pillars that make music in the Nada Mani Mandapam.
- Sthala Puran
அருள்மிகு நெல்லையப்பர் திருக்கோயில்
The temple of Lord Nellaiappar and Goddess Kanthimathi Ambal is situated in the heart of the city. The river Tamirabharani referred to by poets as "Porunai" flows around the town.
In the distant past, the town was a bamboo forest; hence, it was known in those days as “Venuvanam".
Lord Shiva is said to have been worshipped by Sage Agastya in a bamboo grove and by Lord Rama after having killed Mareecha some 9 miles away at Manoor.
There is also a shrine for Lord Vishnu near the sanctum, signifying the belief that Lord Nellai Govindan (Vishnu) visited Tirunelveli to officiate the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Kanthimathi.
A poor brahmin named Veda Sharma had collected paddy grains by begging to offer them as Neivedyam (Offering) to the Lord and spread them for drying. It started raining very severely and Veda Sharma pleaded to the Lord to save the paddy grains.
Lord Shiva saved the paddy grains by forming a fence and hence, He is known here as “Nellaiappar – One who saved the Paddy grains” and the town is known as “Tirunelveli!. Nel is the Tamil word for paddy grain and Veli is for the fence.
A King named Swetha Kethu was ruling Tirunelveli and he did not have any child. He was worried and prayed to Lord Shiva.
As years rolled by, the king realized that he would die soon and he spent most of his time in the Shiva temple.
One fine day, Lord Yamadharma Raja reached the place to take the life of the King. However, the King was praying to Lord Shiva in the temple at that time. Infuriated by the action of Lord Yamadharma, Lord Shiva attacked him.
Lord Shiva told the King that he need not feel sorry for leaving the world without a child and he could decide his time of death!
This act of Lord Kalasamharamurthy is depicted in the stone image near the sannidhi of Lord Subrahmanyam in the temple.
Lord Shiva once took the form of a Lingam, came to Thirunelveli and took His abode here. All the four Vedas stood around Him as bamboo trees and provided Him with shade.
So this Sthalam came to be known as Venu Vanarn (Venu means bamboo and Vanam means forest) and the Lord came to be known as Venuvananathar.
- Architecture
The oldest stone inscription in the temples is that by Chozan Thalaikonda Veerapandian (946 – 966 A.D.)! There are more than 50 stone inscriptions in the temple.
The Musical Pillars in the Mani Mandapam, which produce sound in various pitches when struck (7th century AD by Nindrasir Nedumaran or Koon Pandyan), the Somavara Mandapam, the 1000-pillared hall, the Tamira sabha with intricate woodwork, and the Vasantha Mandapam are some of the noteworthy points in this temple.
Life-like sculptures adorn several of the Mandapams in the temple, noteworthy ones being in the Sangili Mandapam which links the temples of Lord Nellaiappar and Goddess Kantimathi in this vast temple complex.
Thirunelveli also is one of the five places where Lord Shiva is said to have displayed His dance and all these places have stages/ambalams. Tirunelveli has the Thaamira Ambalam (Copper Stage/Sabha).
The Copper Hall of Dance is a brilliant work of art, and is housed within the inner precincts of the temple.
A shrine to Lord Sandana Sabhapati (Lord Natarajar adorned with sandal paste) is located right behind the Thaamira Sabha and to a visitor walking towards the Thaamira Sabha, the combination of these, i.e. the vision of Lord Sandana Sabhapati seen through the Thaamira Sabha presents a brilliant spectacle.
The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Thevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars.
The temple complex covers an area of 14 and a half acres (631600 sq. Ft) and all its shrines are enclosed with concentric rectangular walls.
The original complex is believed to have been built by Pandyas, while the present masonry structure was added by Cholas, Pallavas, Cheras, and Madurai Nayaks.
The Nandi mandapam has a fairly big statue of Nandi (the bull), similar to those at Tanjore and Rameswaram
The unique feature of the temple is the 'Mani mandapam' located near the Nandi mandapam with two giant pillars carved out of a single stone and each one having 48 sub pillars which produce musical notes when struck.
The fact that a single piece of rock can produce different musical keynotes stands as a testimony to the unique understanding of the “physics and mathematics of sound” by our forefathers.
In all, there are 161 such small pillars that make music in the Nada Mani Mandapam.
The temple Address : Lord Nellaiappar Temple, 162, E Car St, Tirunelveli – 627006, Tamil Nadu.
Tirunelveli is a major city and is 160 km from Madurai and 110 km from Trivandrum. Tirunelveli can be reached by rail or road from Chennai, Madurai, Trivandrum and other major cities of Tamil Nadu.
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