Neyyadiappar Temple

Overview

Tillaistanam is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Thillaistanam, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Tirugnana Sambandar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

About the Temple

Saivite Saints Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar had sung the glory of Lord of the temple in their Thevaram hymns. This is the 52nd Shiva temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in hymns. Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthy. The special feature of the temple is that abishek to Lord is offered with ghee followed by hot water abishek.Mother Balambika, as the name suggests is ever young in appearance. This is the only temple in the hymns of Tirunavukkarasr praising Ambica for Her beauty. Lord Iyarappar visits this temple thrice a year from Tiruvaiyaru. Of the Sapthasthana (seven important temples of the district) Thillaisthanam is the seventh. During festival days, devotees can enjoy the darshan of the seven palanquin processions simultaneously in this place. Saint Sundarar had included this place in his Thevaram hymns. Arunagiriar had praised Lord Muruga of this temple in his Tirupugazh hymns. The place is praised by other poets as Pugazhendi and Ottakoothar. The sculpture of Nardana Ganapathy does need a mention. Lord Dakshinamurthy graces the devotees in a standing form. Pallavas had paid their due share for the renovation of the temple. Kings of Sri Lanka had worshipped Lord as their Kuladeiva-family deity.

Legend and Stories

A cow in this region was habitually pouring its milk at a specific place. The milk impacted by Sun heat and rain changed into ghee. When a shepherd tried to check the cow, it disappeared. He could not know that it was the very divine cow Kamadenu. When people came to the spot and dug the place, they found a Shivalinga here. The news reached the King. He built a temple, performed consecration and arranged abishek with ghee each day.

The ghee abishek is followed even now. Ghee means Nei in Tamil, hence the name of the Lord Neiyadi Appar.

The place has another story too. A Shiva devotee had the habit of picking the palak leaves (keerai in Tamil) while returning after lighting lamps in the temple. He told Lord one day that he was lighting lamps in the temple each day and sought his mercy as he was aging. Lord replied that what mercy remains to be shown to him as he had taken the Palak leaves grown in the temple as wage for the job, according to sthala purana.

Festivals

Masi Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Significance

People pray here for noble characters and to be free of greed not aiming at temple and others’ properties

Nearby Place To Visit

Andalakkum Aiyan

Padikasu Nathar

Gajendra Varadhan

Hara Shaba Vimochana Perumal

Appakudathan

Adhivaraha Perumal

Accessibility

The best mode is taking town buses from Kumbakonam or Tanjore. Thillaisthanam-Tiruneithanam is 2 km from Tiruvaiyaru on way to Tirukattupalli. The closest railways are in Tanjore, and airport in Chennai.

Temple Address

Sri Neiyadiappar Temple,
Thillaisthanam (Tiruneithanam),
Tiruneithanam Post,
Via Tiruvaiyaru,
Thanjavur-613 203