SRI NEELAKANDESWARAR TEMPLE, KANJIKOVIL NEAR ERODE – A KONGU TEMPLES HERITAGE VISIT.

04^th February 2019.

As a part of Kongu Temples Heritage visit, Sri Neelakandeswarar temple was the first temple visited on 04^th Feb 2019 at Kanjikovil near Kavindapadi in Erode District. It was a long wish too. It came to true during my recent visit to my native place. As per the inscriptions this place Kanjikoil was called as “Kanjikooval”. Literatures mentions this place as “Kanji Nagar”, “KanjiNallur”, “Thalainja Nallur” and “Kunguma Nallur”. இலக்கியங்கள்  “இல்லறம் வளர்த்துதவு மல்கு காஞ்சிகோயில்” காஞ்சிகோயில் ஊரைப்பற்றியும் “கன்னி பங்காளர் திருநீலகண்டேசுவரர் கவரியுமை கருணையதனால் சிறக்கும் காஞ்சி நகர்” இங்கு இருக்கும் சிவன் கோயிலைக் குறிப்பிட்டும் சிறப்பித்து கூறுகின்றன.

Moolavar   : Sri Neelakandeswarar

Ambal       : Sri Annapoorani

The salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing west with a Garuda thoon or the Deepa Sthamba. On the right, Nagars under a Pepaul tree. There is no entrance arch or Rajagopuram. Both Moolavar and Ambal Sannadhis are separate temples with separate Deepa sthambas. The main Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and a arthamandapa. A metacolour sheet mukamandapa is in front.  Palipedam and Rishabam are in the mukamandapa. The Sanctum is simple with pathabandha adhistana. The original temple was renovated and the period of the original construction is not known. In Koshtam Dhakshinamurthy and Durgai and the rest are empty. 

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for A Shiva Linga with rishabam, Navagrahas, Suryan, Kalabairavar, Vinayagar, Brahma. Ambal is in a separate temple like sannadhi facing west like moolavar.

INSCRIPTIONS AND DETAILS:

Since the original temple was renovated, most of the inscriptions were lost, a fragment of inscription is available on the sanctum wall which is also white washed now. A separate inscription tablet is erected in front of Amman sannadhi, in which letters are difficult to read. Main sanctum was believed to be built during Chera period and arthamandapa was built during Vijayanagara period.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

About 8 KM from Kavindapadi and 10 KM from Perundurai.

Buses are available from Gobichettipalayam, Kavindapadi, Perundurai and Erode.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Ambal sannadhi/ Temple

 A Koshtam

 Ambal Sannadhi

   An Inscription Tablet.. the details are not known since the letters are not legible.

 Inscription stone fragment not kept horizontal-- might be done during the renovation

Thavvai - Jyesta Devi

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---