Temples of Tirunelveli
Encyclopedia
Tirunelveli
has a rich Hindu tradition. Though the roots of the city can be traced to associate with Hindu mythology, Tirunelveli is populated by people of all religions, with Hindus
, Christians
, Muslims
and Jains
forming a major proportion of the local people. Despite having a pluralistic population, Tirunelveli in general, enjoys religious, racial and cultural harmony.
Nellaiappar Temple
is famous as one of the largest Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu, steeped in tradition and also known for its sculptural splendours. The temple is situated in the centre of the city at a distance of two kilometres from the railway station. The Temple is situated in Tirunelveli Town. The main Railway station is situtaed in Tirunelveli JUnction.It is a twin temple dedicated to Goddess Parvathi and Lord Shiva
. Even from a considerable distance, one can have a good view of the gopurams (towers). Both the gopurams were built according to the rules laid down in the agama
sastras by Rama Pandyan. It is the largest Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu. Rare jewels, the Golden Lily Tank, Musical Pillars, and the hall of a Thousand Pillars are worth seeing. The temple dates back to 700 AD and contains inscriptions which can be traced to be made around 950 A.D. It is believed there were two distinct temples, built separately for Shiva and Parvati
, the consort to Lord Shiva, by the Pandyan kings. The Sangili Mandapam, a big terraced hall, linking these two was built in the 17th century. The towers also date back to the early 17th century. Vishnu
and Agastya
are believed to have worshipped Shiva here. There is also an interesting legend that there exists a tunnel behind the Ravana
sculpture in the temple corridor that connects Tirunelveli and Madurai
. This tunnel was supposed to have been used by the Pandya kings and their spies on secret missions.
The Nellaiappar temple car
weighs approximately 400 tons and is the third largest temple car in Tamil Nadu. It is also said to be the largest human-powered car in South India. The car's axle was fabricated in steel during the British colonial period. Recently, steel rims were also used to reinforce the gigantic, yet aging wooden wheels. The Aani Car festival is the most popular festival associated with the temple, and the five cars (for Vinayakar, Murugan, Nellaiappar, Kanthimathi and Sandikaeswarar) by themselves are minor landmarks in the city.
Nindrasir Nedumaran (நின்றசீர் நெடுமாறன்), who reigned in the seventh century AD, contributed by constructing and renovating important parts in the temple. A beautiful garden founded in 1756, next to the mandapam, welcomes visitors with many colourful and fragrant flowers. The garden was designed by Thiruvengadakrishna Mudaliar. A square vasantha mandapam with 100 pillars is found in the midst of this garden. The Nellaiappar Temple is bigger than the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
, though the latter is much more popular owing to its historical importance.
A famous Ayyappa temple is situated in karakurichi, Sri Kalakodi Dharma Sastha Temple near a river, people call it koovam. Lord Ayyappa is the main deity, sub deities are Ganapathy,Shiva,Navagrahas and Veera Bhadran. Here Navagrahas are present along with their wives, that is Dampathy Sametha. Kumbhabhisekam of the temple was conducted recently. Two festivals are important here; that is during mandala pooja and panguni utthra. A Laksharchana is conducted during Mandala Pooja with other abhisekhams.
of Tirunelveli, also beside the banks of Thamirabarani river. This temple is also called Thirunankovil.
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
has a rich Hindu tradition. Though the roots of the city can be traced to associate with Hindu mythology, Tirunelveli is populated by people of all religions, with Hindus
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and Jains
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
forming a major proportion of the local people. Despite having a pluralistic population, Tirunelveli in general, enjoys religious, racial and cultural harmony.
Nellaiappar Temple
Nellaiappar Temple
Nellaiappar Temple is one of the famous Shiva Temples situated at the heart of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.-History:...
is famous as one of the largest Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu, steeped in tradition and also known for its sculptural splendours. The temple is situated in the centre of the city at a distance of two kilometres from the railway station. The Temple is situated in Tirunelveli Town. The main Railway station is situtaed in Tirunelveli JUnction.It is a twin temple dedicated to Goddess Parvathi and Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. Even from a considerable distance, one can have a good view of the gopurams (towers). Both the gopurams were built according to the rules laid down in the agama
Āgama (Hinduism)
Agama means, in the Hindu context, "a traditional doctrine, or system which commands faith".In Hinduism, the Agamas are a collection of Sanskrit scriptures which are revered and followed by millions of Hindus.-Significance:...
sastras by Rama Pandyan. It is the largest Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu. Rare jewels, the Golden Lily Tank, Musical Pillars, and the hall of a Thousand Pillars are worth seeing. The temple dates back to 700 AD and contains inscriptions which can be traced to be made around 950 A.D. It is believed there were two distinct temples, built separately for Shiva and Parvati
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
, the consort to Lord Shiva, by the Pandyan kings. The Sangili Mandapam, a big terraced hall, linking these two was built in the 17th century. The towers also date back to the early 17th century. Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and Agastya
Agastya
Agastya was a Tamil/Vedic Siddhar or sage. Agastya and his clan are also generally credited with uncovering many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in the sense of first having the mantras revealed in his mind by the Supreme Brahman...
are believed to have worshipped Shiva here. There is also an interesting legend that there exists a tunnel behind the Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
sculpture in the temple corridor that connects Tirunelveli and Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
. This tunnel was supposed to have been used by the Pandya kings and their spies on secret missions.
The Nellaiappar temple car
Temple car
Temple cars are chariots used to carry representations of Hindu gods. The car is usually used on festival days, when many people pull the cart....
weighs approximately 400 tons and is the third largest temple car in Tamil Nadu. It is also said to be the largest human-powered car in South India. The car's axle was fabricated in steel during the British colonial period. Recently, steel rims were also used to reinforce the gigantic, yet aging wooden wheels. The Aani Car festival is the most popular festival associated with the temple, and the five cars (for Vinayakar, Murugan, Nellaiappar, Kanthimathi and Sandikaeswarar) by themselves are minor landmarks in the city.
Nindrasir Nedumaran (நின்றசீர் நெடுமாறன்), who reigned in the seventh century AD, contributed by constructing and renovating important parts in the temple. A beautiful garden founded in 1756, next to the mandapam, welcomes visitors with many colourful and fragrant flowers. The garden was designed by Thiruvengadakrishna Mudaliar. A square vasantha mandapam with 100 pillars is found in the midst of this garden. The Nellaiappar Temple is bigger than the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple or Tiru-alavai is a historic Hindu temple located in the south side of river Vaigai in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India...
, though the latter is much more popular owing to its historical importance.
Sri Kalakodi Dharma Sastha Temple Karakurichi
This is near Tirunelveli. Nearest location is Ambasamudram. When travelling towards Karakurichi from Nagercoil, we pass through Thovala, Ervadi, Kalakkad, Cheranmahadevi and next Karakurichi and road goes to AmbaSamudram and from there to Papanasam.A famous Ayyappa temple is situated in karakurichi, Sri Kalakodi Dharma Sastha Temple near a river, people call it koovam. Lord Ayyappa is the main deity, sub deities are Ganapathy,Shiva,Navagrahas and Veera Bhadran. Here Navagrahas are present along with their wives, that is Dampathy Sametha. Kumbhabhisekam of the temple was conducted recently. Two festivals are important here; that is during mandala pooja and panguni utthra. A Laksharchana is conducted during Mandala Pooja with other abhisekhams.
Sri Chekkadi Saasthaa Temple
Between Nellai appar sannadhi and Ghandimathi amman sannadhi there is a small lane near saraswathi ambaal temple. If you go through that lane you will find Chekkadi saastha temple (Lord Ayyappan with poorana, pushkala). It is One of the ancient temple.Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple
Sri Varadharaja Perumal Kovil at Tirunelveli is situated in Tirunelveli junction. This temple is an ancient and reputed Vishnu temple. It lies on the banks of the Thamirabarani river. This area is also known as Veerarahavapuram.Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram Temple
The Mela Thiruvenkatanathapuram temple's sanctum has a Lord Srinivasa statue. The temple is located about 10 km south westof Tirunelveli, also beside the banks of Thamirabarani river. This temple is also called Thirunankovil.