Tiruneelakkudi Neelakandeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Thanjavur district near Aaduthurai. The chief deity of this temple is Lord Shiva, and he is called as Neelakandeswarar, and his consort is called as Oppilamulaiyal.
It is one of the 275 gloried Shiva temples, and this temple was praised by the great Tamil Shaivite Saint Sri Tirunavukkarasar, and the significance of this temple was sung by Sambandar also in the famous text Thevaram, and Thiruneelakanta Nayanar also worshipped this temple.
As per ancient legend, when the Devas and the demons were once churning the Milk Ocean for getting the divine nectar, huge poison with smokes were emerged from the divine milk ocean. Hence, in order to protect the entire world from the deadly HALA, HALA poison Lord Shiva had wilfully consumed the poison, but since his consort Ma Parvati had made the poison to stay on his throat itself, Lord Shiva’s throat was changed into blue colour, and from the onwards, he is called as “NEELAKANTA”, which means Lord Shiva contains blue coloured throat. In this temple, whenever oil bath is performed to the lingam, we can see that the whole oil is consumed by the holy Shiva Lingam itself!
This Shiva Temple was visited by Lord Brahma, who has once worshipped Lord Shiva in order to get more powers to do his creation activities uninterruptedly. Markendeya also had once worshipped the deity and he also carried the holy Shiva Lingam in a PALLAKU (palanquin) in order to become immortal. Shivaratri, Navaratri, Pradosham and Mondays are being grandly celebrated at this temple. The Divine Cow Kamadenu, had once worshipped Neelakantar at this temple, in order to increase her spiritual powers. This temple is built on the banks of River Kaveri. This temple is very good in architecture, and I am also planning to visit this wonderful Shiva Temple shortly.
“OM SRI NEELAKANTA SWAMY NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR