Thirupaingneeli

Padal Petra Sthalams, Tiruchirapalli District

God

Neelakandeswarar (also Gneeli Vana Nadhar, Kadhali Vasanthar, Aaranyavidangar), facing east

Goddess

Visalakshiammai (two shrines one facing south and one facing east)

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga, Nataraja, Yama

Thirupaingneeli is a large east facing temple. The shrine at the place where the lord is believed to have appeared for Thirunavukkarasar is below the ground level. The old Rajagopuram which is incomplete is very huge and should have either been or planned for 7 tiers and has a lot of stone inscriptions on the sides. Some of the stones used in the construction of Thirupaingneeli temple are of a striped variety which is said to be unique to this area. The plantain tree found here is also said to be an exclusive variety and is not consumed by humans, it is offered to the lord and let off in water. The other names of Thirupaingneeli temple include Gneelivanam, Kadhalivanam, Arambai Vanam, Vimalaranyam, Tharalagiri, Swethagiri, Vyagrapuri, and Melai Chidambaram. There are two goddess shrines, the east facing one is new and the south facing is the original old one.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Appar Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Gneeli (a type of Plantain)

History

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, and Sundarar (7th-8th century CE) have rendered Thevaram Hymns here at Thirupaingneeli. Stone inscriptions from the Chola Period mention the name of the Lord here at Thirupaingneeli as Paigneeli Mahadevar and Paigneeli Udayar.

Legend

The Lord is said to have appeared here at Thirupaingneeli in the form of a Brahmin and given a food packet to Thirunavukkarasar to appease his hunger.

Directions

Thirupaingneeli is about 7 kilometers west of Mannachanallur which is about 10 kilometers northwest of Thiruchirapalli.

Stay and Food

None locally. Mannachanallur has some snack and tea shops but otherwise closest recommended is Srirengam or Thiruchirapalli.

Padal Petra Sthalams