Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli
Location: Tirunelveli
Deity known as: Nellaiappar, Venuvana Nathar
Female Deity: Kanthimathi Ammai
Pathikam: Sambandhar - 1
Gallery - Nellaiappar Temple
How to Reach
This Shiva temple, located in Tirunelveli, stands on the sacred banks of the river Tamiraparani. Tirunelveli is well connected by both rail and road.
Temple Address
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli District
PIN - 627006
Temple Hours
Morning: 5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Evening: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Specialities
Pancha Sabha: Tamira Sabha
Special Feature: Musical Pillars
Area: 14 acres
Salient Features
- Pancha Sabha: This temple is home to the revered Tamira (Copper) Sabha, one of the five sacred sabhas where Nataraja is believed to perform His eternal cosmic dance, symbolizing the rhythm of creation, preservation, and dissolution.
- Swayambhu Linga: The presiding deity is a self-manifested (Swayambhu) Shiva Linga, revered for its ancient origin. Remarkably, the Linga still bears the visible mark of an axe from the moment of its discovery, standing as a powerful testament to its divine manifestation and timeless sanctity
- Large Temple Complex: Spread across nearly 14 acres, this magnificent complex stands among the largest and most prominent temples in the Tirunelveli district.
- Musical Pillars: Adding to its architectural and spiritual splendor are the unique musical pillars, which resonate with the seven classical musical notes when gently tapped, leaving devotees and visitors alike in awe.
- Thousand Pillared Hall: The temple is renowned for its magnificent thousand-pillared mandapam, an awe-inspiring hall adorned with intricately carved pillars.
- Unique Deity: The temple also houses Juradevar, a rare and powerful deity depicted with three heads and three legs, revered by devotees for His extraordinary healing powers.
Temple Legend - The Discovery of the Sacred Linga
A milkman who regularly supplied milk to the royal household would invariably stumble upon a particular stone on his way to the palace. Each time he tripped, the milk vessel would overturn, spilling the milk over the stone. This strange occurrence continued for several days, causing him considerable distress and confusion. Troubled by this repeated incident, he finally approached the king and narrated his unusual experience.
The Divine Revelation
Intrigued by the milkman’s account, the king set out with his retinue to the spot where the stone lay. When the king’s men attempted to remove it using their sharp axes, they were astonished to see blood flow from the stone at the very first strike. Startled and filled with awe, the king and his entourage were then addressed by a celestial voice, which commanded them to excavate the very spot where the stone had stood.
The Miraculous Discovery
Upon excavating the ground around the stone, they discovered that it was in fact a sacred Shiva Linga, bearing a distinct cut-mark caused by the axe. Recognizing it as a Swayambhu (self-manifested) Linga, the king reverently consecrated it and commissioned the construction of a temple at that very spot. To this day, the mark left by the axe remains clearly visible on the Linga, bearing silent testimony to the divine revelation.
Temple Legend - Origin of the Name 'Tirunelveli'
The origin of the name Tirunelveli is associated with a fascinating legend centered on Vedha Bhattar, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. With unwavering devotion, Bhattar would diligently collect paddy from the households of the town and offer it to Lord Shiva as an act of sacred service.
The Divine Protection
One fateful day, Vedha Bhattar spread the collected paddy out in the open to dry under the sun and went to bathe in the nearby river. While bathing, he grew anxious as dark clouds gathered and a sudden downpour began, threatening to wash away the paddy. Rushing back in alarm, he was astonished to behold a divine sight — a radiant circle of sunlight shone upon the paddy, keeping it perfectly dry, while rain poured everywhere else beyond its sacred perimeter.
The Divine Miracle
Stunned by this divine marvel, Vedha Bhattar hastened to King Rama Pandiyan and narrated what he had witnessed. The king immediately came to the spot and personally beheld the extraordinary sight — rain falling all around, yet forming a protective fence around the paddy, leaving it completely untouched. Deeply moved by the boundless grace of the Lord, who showered rain upon the world while safeguarding His devotee’s offering, the presiding deity came to be revered as Nelvelinathar — the Lord who protected the paddy. From that sacred day onward, the region, which was earlier known as Venuvanam, came to be celebrated as Nelveli, later known as Tirunelveli.
Historical Note
Historical records and sacred tradition indicate that this place was once known as Venuvanam (the bamboo forest). It is believed that Lord Shiva manifested here as a Shiva Linga, and the four Vedas stood around Him like bamboo trees, offering divine shade and protection. In remembrance of this sacred vision, the presiding deity came to be worshipped as Venuvananathar.
The Anavarata Khan Sannidhi
In the south-eastern corner of the prakaram, there is a Shiva Linga known as Anavarata Khan Lingam, associated with a unique and intriguing historical tradition.
Miraculous Healing
When the Nawab’s wife was afflicted by a severe illness, she was advised to seek the grace of Nellaiappar. Following this counsel, the queen performed special rituals through the temple priests, and by divine grace, she was miraculously cured and later gave birth to a son named Anavarata Khan. In gratitude and reverence, a separate sannidhi was established in the south-eastern corner of the prakaram, consecrating a Shiva Linga in the name of Anavarata Khan. An opening was also provided in the outer wall of the temple, enabling the Nawab and his son to offer worship without entering the inner precincts.
Temple Layout and Architecture
The Gandhimati–Nellaiappar Temple, located in Tirunelveli, is one of the largest temple complexes in the district, spanning an area of approximately 14 acres. The temple extends about 756 feet from north to south and 378 feet from east to west. It comprises separate shrines for the presiding male and female deities, Lord Nellaiappar and Goddess Gandhimati, which are elegantly connected by a magnificent stone hall.
Temple Entrance
A magnificent white Nandi, towering over 10 feet in height, greets devotees as they enter the temple. Circumambulating the dwajasthambam situated beside Nandi and proceeding further inward, one reaches the sanctum of the presiding deity. On the way, an imposing Ganesha idol standing nearly 9 feet tall captivates devotees, offering a majestic and auspicious sight before entering the sanctum.
Three Prakarams
The sanctum is surrounded by three concentric prakarams:
Inner Prakaram: As in most traditional Shiva temples, the Goshta Murthas—Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, and Durgai—are enshrined around the sanctum. Separate sannidhis for Chandikeswarar, Mahishasuramardhini, and Bhairava are also present within the temple complex. Notably, the sannidhi of Govinda Raja Perumal is located adjacent to the sanctum of the presiding deity, highlighting the harmonious coexistence of Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.
Second Prakaram: Slightly larger in size, this prakaram features musical pillars at its entrance that produce the seven musical notes when gently tapped. The sacred Tamira Sabha is located within this enclosure, along with sannidhis and idols of the 63 Nayanmars, Ashtalakshmi, Saneeswarar, and Sahasralingam.
Outer Prakaram: The outermost prakaram is notably vast and spacious. From this enclosure, devotees can enter the sannidhi of the female deity through a mandapam known as the “Amma Mandapam”. This expansive prakaram also houses an imposing south-facing sannidhi of Muruga, revered here as Arumukha Nainar. The deity is depicted with six faces and twelve arms, seated majestically on a peacock, with Valli and Deivanai standing on either side.
Thousand Pillared Hall
The temple is renowned for its magnificent thousand-pillared hall, where the sacred Kalyana Utsavam of Gandhimati Ammai with Nellaiappar is celebrated annually during the Tamil month of Aippasi (mid-October to mid-November).
Pancha Sabha Sthalam - Tamira Sabha
Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu is distinguished by the presence of two sacred Sabhas where Shiva, in His cosmic form as Nataraja, performs the divine dance. The Gandhimati–Nellaiappar Temple is revered as the Tamira Sabha, while the Kutranathar Temple at Courtallam is celebrated as the Chitra Sabha.
The Copper Hall
The Tamira (Copper) Sabha, one of the celebrated Pancha Sabhas where Nataraja performed His cosmic dance, is situated within a separate enclosure of the temple. In this sacred hall, Nataraja is revered as Thamira Sabapati. The ceiling of the enclosure is adorned with copper plates, while the floor is elegantly tiled with wood. Surrounding Nataraja are divine figures of Rudra, Vishnu, the four Vedas, and revered Rishis, creating a celestial assembly that enhances the sanctity of the hall.
Artistic Excellence
The seven-tiered temple gopuram is adorned with exquisite pictorial and sculptural works. Within this sacred backdrop, the image of Nataraja is revered as Santhana Sabapati, adding to the divine grandeur of the temple.
Juradevar - The Healing Deity
Unique Form
Juradevar, uniquely enshrined in this temple, is depicted with three heads, three legs, and three arms, holding a rod, a bell, and a trident. Devotees believe that anointing Juradevar with a mixture of ground pepper and hot water can help cure fevers, highlighting the deity’s sacred healing powers.
Special Temple Practices
Unique Opening Hours
Unlike most temples, this temple remains closed at dawn during the Tamil month of Margazhi. However, during the Tamil month of Karthikai, the temple opens for darshan at 4:00 AM, allowing devotees to witness the early morning rituals.
Special prayers are conducted on Mondays during the Tamil month of Karthikai, drawing devotees to seek the blessings of the presiding deities.
Gallery - Nellaiappar Temple
