Neelakandeswarar Temple / Sree Swethaarkavaneswarar Temple / Swedaranyeswarar Temple / திருநீலகண்டேஸ்வரர் கோவில் - Rajendra Pattinam – Erukkathampuliyur, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

The place Rajendrapattinam was called as Erukkathampuliyur during 6th to 7th Century, Thevara periods. How this name was changed to Rajendra Pattinam is not known. This is the 36^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 4^th Sthalam in Nadu Naadu. Erukathampuliyur is on the banks of River Neeva, now called as Vellar.  This is the birth place of Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar, one of the 63 Nayanmar. Sekkizhar mentions that Thirugnanasambandar worshiped Lord Shiva along with his father, Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar & his wife, Mathanga soolamani. 

    இருந்தடங்களும் பழனமும்

        கடந்துபோய் எருக்கத்தம் புலியூரின்

    மருங்கு சென்று உறநீலகண்

        டப்பெரும் பாணனார் வணங்கிக் கார்

    நெருங்கு சோலை சூழ் இப்பதி

        அடியேனேன் பதிஎன நெடிது இன்புற்று

    அருங்கலைச் சிறுமழ இளங்

        களிறு அனார் அங்கி அணைந்து அருள் செய்வார்

Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar requested Thirugnanasambandar, to come to his birth place Shiva Temple and sing hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Sekkizhar mentions that Thirugnanasambandar was very happy and fortunate to visit his birth place temple.

    படையார் தருபூதப் பகடார் உரிபோர்வை

    உடையான் உமையோடும் உடனாய் இடுகங்கைச்

    சடையான் எருக்கத்தம் புலியூர்தகு கோயில்

    விடையான் அடியேத்த மேவா வினைதானே

Moolavar  : Sri Neelakandeswarar, Sri Swethaaranyeswarar,

                  Sri Kumaraswamy

Consort    : Sri Abeethakuja Nayagi, Sri Neelamalar kanni, 

                  Sri Neelorbalambal.

Some of the important features of this temple are....

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram and Temple tank is in front.  Balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam are before the Rajagopuram. Moolavar in the sanctum looks cute. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In prakaram Kodi Vinayagar, Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena, Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Maha Vishnu as srinivasa Perumal, Mahalakshmi, Anjaneyar, Naalvar, Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar and his wife Madhanga Soolamani, Sekkizhar, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Suryan, Chandran, Shaniswarar, Balaganapathy, Balamurugan and Rudrasanmar

Ambal sannathi is on the left side, ( parallel )both Lord Shiva & Ambal are facing the same east direction. A Vesara Vimana is over the sanctum.

Lot of white Erukku ( calotropis gigantea - Sthala  vruksham ) plants grown on the back side of the temple. The temple is is not maintained properly. Lot of weeds and plants are grown on the Vimana and around the Temple and found difficult to  circumambulate during my visit.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1996. The Temple might have existed before 6^th to 7^th Century and reconstructed with stone during Chozha Period. Lord Shiva Might have obtained the name of Sri Neelakandeswarar, since Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar, one of the 63 Nayanmar belongs to this place.

LEGENDS

Munivar  Viyakrapadar (Legs are Tigers leg shape) worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. This is one of the 5 Paadal Petra sthalams, with the name ends with Puliyur. As per the legend, knowing the speciality of the temple, Devas and Rishis worshiped Lord Shiva of this Temple in the form of birds. On seeing this, some Hunter, start hunt the birds. On seeing this Lord Shiva Cursed the hunters to become the Erukku plant- not useful to any body. Hence this place was called as Erukkathan Puliyur.  

When Lord Shiva explains the meaning of Vedas, Parvati was not very much attentive. So Lord Shiva Cursed Parvati to born in a fishermen community. Angered Murugan, throws the 4 Vedas in to the sea. Lord Shiva also cursed Murugan to born as a dumb as Rudrasanmar to Thalapathy and Gunasalini, of a trader community at Madurai. Murugan worshiped Lord Shiva and get relieved from dumbness. There is a idol of Rudrasanmar and lord Shiva is also called as Sri Kumaraswamy   

It is believed that Rajendra Chozha was born to the Chozha King Rajaraja, after worshiping Lord Shiva of this Temple. Hence this place is called as Rajendra Pattinam.

Devotees worship Lord Shiva for Child boon  and to get relieved from dumbness and stammering.

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Mahashivaratri,

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The land line and mobile numbers are : +91 4143 243 533 and +91 93606 37784

HOW TO REACH :

This place is, on the way to Virudhachalam to Srimushnam route via Karuveppilai Kurichi. The Village is on the main road and the temple is about a KM from the main road.

This temple is 13 Km from Virudhachalam On Virudhachalam to Jayankondam Bus route ), 25 KM from Jayankondam, 44 KM from Chidambaram, 32 KM from Ulundurpet and 238 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Virudhachalam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---