https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Tiruneelakkudi_Neelakandeswarar_TempleTiruneelakkudi Neelakandeswarar Temple - Revision history2026-08-19T17:39:42ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tiruneelakkudi_Neelakandeswarar_Temple&diff=272848&oldid=prev->BattyBot: Removed non-content empty section(s), performed general fixes2021-12-10T10:19:17Z<p>Removed non-content empty section(s), performed <a href="https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/BP:AWB/GF" class="extiw" title="wp:AWB/GF">general fixes</a></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}<br />
[[File:Tiruneelakkudi nilakandesvarartemple1.jpg|200x200px|right|The temple entrance|thumb]]<br />
{{coord|10.985399| 79.481691|display=title}}<br />
''' Tiruneelakkudi Neelakandeswarar Temple''' <ref name="ta.wikipedia.org">[[:ta:திருநீலக்குடி நீலகண்டேஸ்வரர் கோயில்]]</ref> is a [[Hindu temple]] located at [[Thanjavur district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The historical name of Tiruneelakkudi is Thennalakudi . The presiding deity is [[Shiva]]. He is called as Neelakandeswarar. His consort is Oppilamulaiyal.<br />
<br />
== Significance ==<br />
[[File:Thiruneelakudi Temple.JPG|200px|thumb|right]]<br />
<br />
It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]] - [[Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu#Sthalams|Shiva Sthalams]] glorified in the early medieval ''[[Tevaram]]'' poems by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] [[Tirunavukkarasar]]. Praises of the temple have been sung by [[Sambandar]] in the ''[[Thevaram]]''. The temple is also associated with the life of [[Tirunilakanta Nayanar|Thiruneelakanta Nayanar]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}<br />
<br />
==Legend==<br />
As per Hindu legend, when the celestial deities [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s and demons [[Asura]]s were churning the [[Ocean of Milk]] for ambrosia, poison emerged first. [[Shiva]] consumed the poison, but his wife [[Parvati]] held his throat as he was consuming it. It is believed that Shiva got the name Neelakanta from then on. Parvati anointed Shiva with oil in this place to relieve Neelankata of his pain. The practise of anointing the [[lingam]] in the temple continues in modern times where the whole oil is consumed by the image.<ref>[[#Saiva|Saiva, Pillai, Siva, 1999]], p. 6</ref><br />
<br />
The lingam in the front hall of the central shrine is believed to have been worshipped by [[Brahma]], the Hindu god of creation, to relieve him of the sins committed while coalescing with celestial dancer [[Urvasi]].<ref name=p7>[[#Saiva|Saiva, Pillai, Siva, 1999]], p. 7</ref><br />
<br />
[[Markendeya]] is believed to have worshipped the deity by carrying him in palanquin to attain long life. The Saptastanam festival is celebrated commemorating the event when the festival images of the seven neighbouring temples are brought to this temple. During the festival, the festive images of all the temples are carried around the streets of Tiruneelakudi.<ref name=p7/><br />
<br />
[[Kamadenu]], the holy cow that emerged from churning the Ocean of Milk, is believed to have worshipped Neelakantar in this place to relieve itself of its curse from her master sage [[Vashista]]. Sage [[Durvasa]], [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s and other sages have worshipped the presiding deity here.<ref name=p8>[[#Saiva|Saiva, Pillai, Siva, 1999]], p. 8</ref> The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of [[River Kaveri]].<ref name=Ka>{{cite book|title=River cauvery the most battl(r)ed|last=Ka. Vi.|first=Kannan|page=36|publisher=Notion Press|year=2019|isbn=9781684666041|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CGFDwAAQBAJ&q=thiruvavaduthurai}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Architecture==<br />
The image of [[lingam]] is about {{convert|2|ft|m|abbr=on}} high and has an unusual square projections and a rough surface. The ablution performed during the ''Chittirai'' festival with gingely oil is absorbed by the image.<ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st|page=28}}</ref><br />
<br />
The Saiva saint [[Appar]] is believed to have worshipped and sung praises of the deity here while he was going to [[Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur|Thyagarajaswamy Temple, Tiruvarur]]. He describes the tortures he faced from his [[Jain]] counterparts.<ref name=p8/><br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|3}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{refbegin}}<br />
* {{cite web|title=Neelakandeswarar temple|work=[[Dinamalar]]|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=393}}<br />
* {{cite book|title=Thiruneelakudi Thalavaralaru|publisher=Thiruvavaduthurai Adeenam|year=1999|last1=Saiva|first1=Thamizhmani|last2=Pillai|first2=M. Sivagurunatha|last3=Siva|first3=Tiruchitrambalam|ref=Saiva}}<br />
* {{cite web|title=Neelakandeswarar Temple, Tiruneelakudi|url= http://www.shivatemples.com/sofc/sc032.php|publisher=Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu, Paadal Petra Sivasthalangal}}<br />
{{refend}}<br />
<br />
==Gallery==<br />
<gallery class="center"><br />
File:Tiruneelakkudi nilakandesvarartemple2.jpg|Flagpost, Balipeedam<br />
File:Tiruneelakkudi nilakandesvarartemple3.jpg|Vimana of presiding deity<br />
File:Tiruneelakkudi nilakandesvarartemple4.jpg|Vimanas of goddesses<br />
File:Tiruneelakkudi nilakandesvarartemple5.jpg|Tank in front of the temple<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
[[Category:Shiva temples in Thanjavur district]]<br />
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]</div>->BattyBot