KANTHIMATHI SAMETHA NELLAIPPAR, TIRUNELVELI
On the evening of 13th October 2018, went to Nellaippar temple for Darshan. People who had gathered at Tirunelveli for The Pushkaram had turned out in large number in this temple for Darshan and there was a big queue and was told can have darshan only after 3 hours. Hence I could not have darshan at the main deities sannidhis of Kanthimathi and Nellaiappar. Though I had come here a few years before and had darshan, it was not to be this time. I had gone round the temple to other sannidhis.
Kanthimathi sametha Nellaiappar
Sivan here is a Swayambumurthy and known as Nellaiappar and he is also called in Tamil as Vendavalarntha Nathar (வேண்ட வளர்ந்த நாதர்). The temple is one of the Pancha Sabhais and is represented by Tamiram. Legend has it that the place was once bamboo forest and was hence called as a Venu Vanam. A villager by name was giving the milk to the palace. Whenever he crossed the venuvanam, at a particular place, the milk spilled from his vessel. The king was apprised about the milk being brought always was less by that man, the King asked him what was happening to him, that the milk which he supplied was always found to be less. He told the King about the Milk being spilled at the particular place in the Venu vanam and when they dug the place, blood wa coming from the spot, where the milk used to spill and the King also in his dream that day had the vision of the Lord, who asked him to build a temple for him there. Hence the lord was called as Venuvana nathar.
The vinayagar here is Mukkuruni Vinayagar with mothagam in his right hand and broken thantham in his left hand, which is different from other temples.
There is no special Margazhi matha pooja here. But during the month of Karthigai poojas are performed to all sannidhis at 4 AM itself. On all the thirty days of Karthigai, Nellaiappar comes in procession on a Golden Palanquin. Poojas performed to the Nandhi of Amman too during Pradosha kalam. Similarly on the Sivarathri day, 4 jaama poojai is done both to Siva and Amman. Kanthimathi amman also forms part of 51 sakthi peetams.
Manjana Vadivambal, Mahishasurmardhini has a separate sannidhi and is also called as Pandasura Marthini. Special poojas are done during Rahu kalas and Tuesday and Friday poojas are very special.
Manjana Vadivambal
A copper Natana mandapam, known as Tamira Sabha is made of wood work. From here Lord Nataraja and Sivakami give darshan to devotees during Arudra Darisanam. Just behind the Tamira Sabha is the Sandana Sabhapathi shrine, adorned with sandal paste.
In the prakara, there are sannidhis for Kanni Vinayagar, Nandhiillai devar and Pandiya Rajan. Bikshadanar has been sculpted in the Pillar. Here, at a lower level, is the Salvateesvarar, the linga prathistai done by Sage Agasthiar. Potramarai Kulam and theppa mandapam are within the temple precincts. There are mandapams - Unjal Mandapam, Mahamandapam, Navagraha Mandapam, Somavara Mandapam. Sangili Mandapam, Vasantha Mandapam and Ayirangal Mandapam. From the stone inscriptions, it is known that the Pollapillaiyar (பொல்லா பிள்ளையார்) had been contributed to this temple by Munthikottu Veeram Azhagiya Pandiya Thevan. The name has come from the fact this vinayagar has not been sculpted with Uli (உளி) and a swayambu pillaiayar. The Pollapillaiyear sannidhi has a stone window with 12 holes with each hole 12"x9" approximately. Those who have had the blessings from this pillaiyar for progeny, come and pray and show their gratitude by giving the child through these holes and getting back through these window holes.
In the arthajama pooja, kanthimai is adorned with white saree which is changed only next morning Vila Poojai at 7 AM. Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi have separate Raja Gopurams and their sannidhis are connected by Sangili Maindapam. Another interesting aspect is that the 6 kala poojas of Kanthimathi follow Karana Agamam and Nellaiappar Kaameega Agamam. Unique to this temlple also is Uchchi kala pooja neivedyams. Since Kanthimathi amman herself serves the food to Nellaiappar, during the uchchikala pooja, the kurukkal from amman sannidhi bring the food such as Pongal, lemon rice, curd rice etc.,with music played by Nadaswaram group and the kurukkal in the swamy sannidhi after neivedyam here send it back to amman sannidhi for neivedyam.
Govindan, Moolavar, in a separate sannidhi in anantha sayanam, performs pooja for the lingam. The urchavar by the side is having a lingam in his chest. By the side of the Nayanmars sannidhi, is Tamirabarani vighraha. Before her, is Ganga and Yamuna as Dwarabalakis. During Chithra Pournami, Avani Moolam and Thai poosam days, she is taken to Tamirabarani for theertha snanam.
Tirunelveli once was a bamboo vanam and thus known as Venu Vanam. Other names are: Sali nagar, Salivadi, Saliveli, Tharuka vanam, Brahmavirundhapuram and Nellur.
Legend has it that Veda Bhattar, who used to dry the paddy was getting protected from rain by the fence (veli) provided by the Lord and Lord Siva here got the name Nelvelinathar or Nellaiappar and the place Thirunelveli. Lord is also addressed as: Venuvaneswarar and Veymuththeesar. During abhishekam of the lord, the ambigai can be seen at the centre of the lingam. Apart from him, there are two more lingams in the temple. Second is the lingam for which Mahavishnu performs pooja. The third is the one at a lower level known as Thiru Moola Mahalingam and also known as Adhi Moolavar, the pradhistai done by Sage Agasthiar. Pooja is always performed first for this lingam only.
This temple is also known for its famous Musical Pillars and this is in Mani Mandapam.
The Thirukalyanam festival is celebrated in the tamil month of Aippasi (October-November) and this it will be on Sunday, the 4th Novemebr 2018. Picture below is from the Thirukalyanam of 2017.
Temple Car: The temple car (தேர்) weights 400 Tons with steel wheels and is the third largest in Tamilnadu and is a powered vehicle.
Sthala Vruksham: Bamboo Theertham: Swarna Pushkarani and Chandra Pushkarani.
Subbarama Dikshitar's composition on the Goddess Kantimathi:
(from www.rasikas.org)
P: kAntimatI karuNamIra kAntimatIni -osagumu amma||
O mother Kantimati, take mercy, and illuminate my mind[1].
A: shAntarUpamE hrdaya-nishAntamuna bhAvincEda
kAntAra-kAntAra-kAnta-shAlivATi-purI-kAnta-kAntA! vANI-kAnta-vinuta-caraNa! ||
I have enshrined your tranquil form in the mansion of my heart,
O lover of the lord of shAlivAtipurI[2], resplendent with fields of streaked sugarcane;
Your feet are worshipped even by the lord of speech (Brahma).
C: parAku ika nApai saluparAdu ammA - Do not neglect me now,
nE birAna mAnasamunanu ubbirAka kOritinammA|
I beseech you with a mind swelling with emotion[?], and have sought refuge in you anon,
"narAdhamula vEDitivE!" anarAdu sahimpumu ammA
- Do not taunt me by saying “But you went and praised mortal wretches”, please bear with me;
karAmbujamula gUrci golcEdA karAna varamulimmA|
- I am but a plaything sitting in the palm of your hand. Do bestow boons with the same hand.
murAsurAri-sOdari morAlaginca rAdA!
O sister of ViSNu [the foe of MurAsura], won’t you heed to my entreaties?
dharA-dhara-sutA! madhurAdhara! dhArAdhara-kaca ||
O daughter of the earth-bearing mountains, with honey-sweet lips and tresses like the raincloud.
Temple Timings:
5.30 AM - 12.30 Noon
4.00 PM - 09.00 PM
