Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Thiruneelakkudi is one of the 275 Thevara
Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva located in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu. In
this temple Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of a self-manifested Linga.
Presiding deity – Thiru
Neelakandeswarar/Thiruneelakkudeeswarar with his consort Goddess Sri
Azhakammai/Anupamasthani / Bakthabhishta Pradayini/Oppillamulaiyal
Mangalasasanam – Thirunavukkarasar
Sthalavruksham – Pancha Vilvam/Jackfruit
tree
Festivals –Maha Shivaratri, Chithirai
Brahmostavam was initiated by Sage Markandeya, Panguni Uthiram, Navaratri,
Aippasi Annabhishekam, Arudra Darisanam, Markazhi Utsavam, Adi Pooram,
Thirukarthikai, Navaratri, Adi Pooram,
Theertham – Devi Theertham, Brahma
Theertham, Markandeya Theertham, Ksheera Kundam,
Worshipped by – Goddess Parvati, Lord
Brahma, Lord Varuna, Sage Vashishta, Sage Markandeya, Virgins of
celestial world, Soorapadman, Kamadhenu,
Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord
Nandikeshwara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddesses Sri Valli &
Deivayanai, Goddess Sri Anupamasthini & Sri Bakthabhishtapradayini,
The legend has that Sage Mrigandu
worshipped Lord Shiva to have a virtuous offspring and underwent severe
austerities. Lord Shiva was pleased at the devotion of Sage Mrigandu and
offered him two sets of boon to choose anyone out it. The two boons were a
child with long life and no intelligence and another one was a virtuous child
with high brilliance but short life. Soon, Sage Brigandu opted for the second
boon. As a result, Sage Brigandu and his wife Madhurmathi had a stunning boy
child. They named him Markandeya. Markandeya was grown into a blameless
brilliant boy. He was a zealous devotee of Lord Shiva from the childhood. The
life span allotted for this virtuous child Markandeya was ended when he
attained the age of 16 years. Lord Yama chased Markandeya with his rope to get
hold of him. Markandeya scurried to this temple and surrendered to Lord hugging
the Linga firmly. Lord Yama followed Markandeya and threw the noose of the rope
on his neck; eventually the noose tightened the Linga as well. The most
infuriated Lord Shiva trampled Lord Yama to death. Thus, Markandeya was saved
from Lord Yama and blessed with immortality. Consequently, Sage Markandeya
remained on Earth until the deluge was taken place.
Another legend has that while churning the
milky ocean by deities and demons at the divine instruction of Lord Vishnu. There
were several precious resources were emerged out of the ocean preceded by
Halahala poison which was gracefully accepted by Lord Shiva to protect the
Universe from its destruction. Hence, Lord Shiva was adorned with
the title Nilkand Mahadev/Thiru Neelakandan. The most important ritual in
this temple is sacred bath to Linga with the sesame oil. The large
quantity of sesame oil poured on the Linga disappears without leaving any trace
on it and the surface of the Linga remains always dry without any oil
substance.
This temple remains open from 6.00AM to
11.30PM in the morning and 5.00PM to 7.30PM in the evenings.
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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