Erukathampuliyur Neelakandeswarar Temple

Paadal Petra Sthalams – Cuddalore District

God

Neelakandeswarar, (also called Suvedaranyavaneswarar, Thirukumaresar) facing east

Goddess

Neelamalarkanni, neelorbalambal, abithagujanayagi facing south

Other Deities

Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar, Ganesha, Kodi Vinayagar(twin idols), Kasi Viswanadar, Visalakshi, Nalwar, Thiruneelakandar & Madangachoolamani, Sekkizhar

Erukathampuliyur Neelakandeswarar Temple is an east facing temple with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. This is the birth place of Thiruneelakanda Yaazhpaanar (one of the 63 nayanmars). He along with his wife Madangachoodamani and their descendant Valli are credited as the people who composed the tunes, sang, taught the Thevaram songs and later revived them, thus performing a great deed for Tamilnadu. Rajendra Pattinam is the name of this village named after the son of Raja Raja Chola who prayed to the lord for child boon.

Holy water (Theertham) – Neelorpala Theertham, Skanda Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vellerukku (Calotropis gigantea)

History

Rajendra Chola (reign c. 1014 – 1044 CE) is said to have done a lot of service to this village and Erukathampuliyur Neelakandeswarar Temple. Thevaram Hymns have been rendered by Thirugnanasambandar (7th century CE).

Legend

Saint Vyagrapadar prayed in 5 temples (all referred to as ‘Puliyur’). Erukathampuliyur Neelakandeswarar Temple is one of them. Naimisaranya saints performed penance as trees in the forests here and when woodcutters were cutting the trees the lord, in order to save them, converted them to the unwanted plant of Calotropis and thus the name Erukathampuliyur. Muruga is said to have performed penance here at Erukathampuliyur Neelakandeswarar Temple to rid himself of a curse and bathed in the adjoining pond (Theertham) which is called Skanda Theertham.

Directions

Erukathampuliyur Neelakandeswarar Temple is 5 kms on the Vridhachalam to Jayamkondan road and the village is called Rajendra Pattinam.

Stay and Food

Vridhachalam has many restaurants

Padal Petra Sthalams