Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli

Introduction to the Nellaiappar Temple

The Nellaiappar Temple is also called Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple, one of the most ancient and largest Hindu temples located on the northern banks of the Thamirabarani River, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu. This famous South Indian temple is dedicated to Swami Nellaiappar (Swayambhu) and Kanthimathi Ammai. Venuvananathar is another name for the deity. Nellaiappar Temple is famous for its musical pillars and other excellent sculptural splendors.

Legend of the Nellaiappar Temple

Tirunelveli is the fusion of three words: Tiru – beautiful, Nel - rice paddy, and Veli - fence. There is a beautiful legend about how the place acquired its name. Veda Sarma, a poor Brahmin, was an ardent devotee of Shiva. He used to beg, collect money and food, and offer them to the deity. One day, it suddenly started raining when he was collecting paddy for the offering. Veda Sarma prayed to Shiva to protect the paddy from the rain. Shiva heeded his prayers and protected the paddy by covering and forming a fence around him. That's how the place earned the name Tirunelveli, and the deity received the name Nellaiappar.

According to another legend associated with the Nellaiappar Temple, Shiva once took the Lingam form and reached Tirunelveli to reside there. All four Vedas stood around him as bamboo trees and provided shade to the deity. So this place is known as Venu Vanan ('Venu' refers to bamboo tree, and 'Vanam' refers to forest), and the deity is Venuvananathar.

The Architecture of the Nellaiappar Temple

The Nellaiappar Temple was built during the Pandyan dynasty in the 7th century. Nindraseer Nedumaran constructed and renovated specific areas in the temple in the 7th century. Cholas, Cheras, Pallavas, and Madurai Nayak renovated the temple with present masonry additions. It also has a shrine of Vishnu in a reclining pose along with Shiva and Parvati.

The Nellaiappar Temple is 756 feet in length and 378 feet in breadth. Devotees can see the Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi Ammai temples side-by-side, and a walkway joins both temples. Both temple Gopurams were built based on the Agama sastras laid by Raja Rama Pandyan.

This marvelous temple is spread across 14 acres of land. It features the Dravidian style of Architecture with 5 Gopurams, a 1000-pillared Mandapa, Musical Pillars, Copper Dance Hall (Tamra Sabha), a huge temple tank, an Arumugan statue, a temple chariot, etc. The Maha Mandapa, Artha Mandap, and a 96-pillared Unjal Mandap reflect intricate workmanship. Devotees worship Nataraja and Sivakami in the Tamra Sabha during the Arudra Darshan festival.

Devotees must cross a series of Mandapa (halls) to reach the sanctum sanctorum of the deity Nellaiappar from the eastern prakaram. From the south prakaram through the Sangili Mandap (Chain Hall), they can reach the Kanthimathi Ammai shrine. Several lifelike sculptures adorn the Sangili Mandapa.

There are two stone statues of the Nayak kings in the South prakaram of the Nellaiappar Temple, who contributed hugely to the development of the temple complex. A beautiful statue of Arumugan (Muruga) with his two consorts, Valli and Deivanai, sits on a peacock in the west prakaram, carved from a single block of stone.

Near the sanctum of the Nellaiappar Temple, there is a shrine for Vishnu. There is a belief that Nellai Govindan (Vishnu) visited Tirunelveli to perform the divine marriage of Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi.
The temple has three extensive circumambulatory paths. Devotees can worship Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeswara, Brahma, Bhairava, and Govinda in separate shrines in the first prakaram. Durga and Mahishasura Mardhini look compassionately at devotees from their shrines. Ashtalakshmi, Shaneeswara, Sahasra Linga, and the 63 Nayanmar (Shaivaite saints) bless devotees from their shrines.

In the third prakaram, devotees can worship Subrahmanya with his consorts, Valli and Deivanai. The Nellaiappar Temple is the only temple that has three Moolavar. Moolavar Sri Venda Valartha Nathar (Shri Nellaiappar) is the first Lingam. The second Lingam is believed to have been worshipped by Vishnu. Paadhala Lingam or Adhi Moolava Lingam is the third that lies below the sanctum sanctorum.

Festivals in the Nellaiappar Temple

Brahmotsavam is one of the most significant festivals celebrated at the Nellaiappar Temple. It is held in Chithirai (April-May). The festivity lasts ten days with ceremonies and rituals, including hoisting the temple flag and a procession of the deities on their various divine vehicles (vahanas).

Arudra Darshan is another famous festival in the Nellaiappar Temple. It is held in Margazhi (December-January). The day commemorates the cosmic dance of Shiva, Nataraja Nritham. Women devotees perform the Thiruvathirai Kali dance to honor the deity.

Thaipoosam, Chitra Pournami, Aadi Pooram, Purattasi Golu Darbar, Masi Magam, Panguni Uthram, Visagam, and Navratri are the other major festivals celebrated in the Nellaiappar Temple with great pomp.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Nellaiappar Temple

Devotees strongly believe that worshipping the deities at the Nellaiappar Temple can relieve them from Naga Dosha and Navagraha Dosha, bless them with Vivaha Yogam (marriage), and strengthen the relationship between the couples.