ஸ்ரீ நீலகண்டஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில் திருநீலக்குடி

Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple – Thiruneelakudi



God: Lord Shiva

Deities: Neelakandeswarar, Oppilamulayal, Nardanaganapathy

City: Thiruneelakudi near Aduthurai

State: Tamil Nadu












It is in this holy soil, Dakshayini joined the Lord again after returning from Daksha Yaga. Varuna (Lord of rain), angels worshipped here. Brahma, Devaganda, Vasishta, Soorapanma, Kamadenu performed penances here and got relieved of sins. A place praised in the hyms of Appar Swamigal in his Thevaram. When the Jains tied Appar and threw him, he worshipped Neelakandeswara in his celebrated hymn Kallinodu Aman Kaiyar in this temple.

A celebrated Shiva sthala having holy springs Brhmma theertham, Ksheeragundam, Devi theertham and Markandeya theertham. The antiquity of the temple goes back to more than 2000 years.



Rishi Markandeya wanted to lengthen his longevity. Devarishi Naradha advised Markandeya to worship Shiva in Thiruneelakudi which he meticulously followed. The Lord appeared before him and asked him of his desire. Markandeya told the Lord his wish and got back eternity of longevity. The grateful Markandeya took the Lord in a palanquin to Ilandalai, Enadhimangalam, Thirunageswaram, Thirupuvanam, Thiruvidaimarudhur, Maruthuvakudi and other places. The Chithirai Thiruvizha (April-May) is celebrated remembering this event.

Antiquity: 2000 years

Festivals: 15 days Brammotsavam during Chithirai month. Rishi Markandeya initiated this. All these days, the deity is taken in procession. The deity is taken not only within Thiruneelakudi but to all the 18 villages around Neelakudi. Thiruvadirai, Adipooram, Karthikai Deepam, monthly pradosha days, Deepavali, Pongal and New year days of both Tamil and English calendars are observed as important festival days in the temple.

Accessibility: Thiruneelakudi is 13 kms far from Kumbakonam, 55 from Tanjore, 3 from Aduthurai. Thiruneelakudi is situated on the Kumbakonam-Karaikal route. Bus facilities are available from Kumbakonam. The nearest railway station is Aduthurai nearest famous temple iravatheeswarar temple Melamaruthuvakudi.