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Multi-tiered painted gopuram at dusk, with a white wall and a tree beside it
Swayambu

Thirunelvayil, Chidambaram Sri Uchinatheswarar Temple 3rd of 63 on the north bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Chidambaram

Darshan today7:00 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
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Moolavar
Uchinatheswarar, Madhyaneswarar
Ambal
Kanakambikai
Theertham
Kirupasamudram pond
Sthala vriksham
Nelli tree (Ghooseberry)
Pathigam by
Thirugnanasambanthar

Temple

By V. MuthukumaraswamyVisited 500 words · 2 min

Visited on: 11th March, 2017

Location

Thirunelvayil is located at a distance of about 5 kms from Chidambaram. The temple is 2 kms away from Annamalai University. From the university, take the Kavarapattu road and then take the Perampattu road. The temple is on this road itself.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams near this place are – Chidambaram, Thiruvetkalam and Thirukkazhippalai.

General Information

Moolavar
Sri Uchinatheswarar, Sri Madhyaneswarar
Ambal
Sri Kanakambikai
Theertham (Holy water)
Kirupasamudram pond
Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)
Nelli tree (Gooseberry)
Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar
  • This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 3rd Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
  • Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
  • This east facing temple has a single corridor and it has a 5-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram).
  • The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place on 11.09.2008. Before that, the ceremonies were held on 01.09.1982, 16.06.1957 and 24.05.1928.

History of the Temple

The historical name of this place is Thirunelvoyil. “Thiru”, a respectful prefix, “nel voyil” means “sprawling paddy fields at the entrance of the village”. However, now this place is called “Shiva Puri”.

Tall tiered gopuram with painted figures against a clear evening sky

Legend

It is believed that Saint Thirugnanasambanthar stayed in Thiruvetkalam, a neighbouring Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam, and visited other temples from there. During one of his visits to this temple, he was blessed with food at noon time by Lord Shiva in the guise of the temple priest. Hence, the lord here is praised as “Sri Uchinatheswarar” – “Uchi” means noon, “Nathar” means lord and “Eswarar” is a respectful suffix in Tamil. In Sanskrit, the lord is called “Sri Madhyaneswarar”.

It is also believed that sage Agasthiyar and Kanva Maharishi have worshiped the lord of this temple.

Deities in the temple

Apart from Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy’s shrines, shrines and idols of lords Vinayakar, Murugan, Narthana Vinayakar, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Pancha Lingams, Saneeswaran, Chandiran, Suryan, Thirugnanasaambanthar, Kasi Viswanathar, Navagraham, Bairavar, Durgai and Chandikeswarar can be seen in the corridors.

Carved stone niche with a dark seated figure under a Tamil name board
Small stone shrine with a painted peacock roof and a blue Tamil name board
Small stone shrine topped by a painted Ganesha and two bulls, with a name board
Long hall of carved stone pillars with a stepped pedestal before a lit doorway

Salient Features

Behind the main deity in the sanctum sanctorum, there is a sculpture that depicts Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi in their wedding form.

Saint Arunagirinadhar has sung songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.

The pillars in this temple have beautifully carved reliefs.

Greatness of this temple

Devotees perform the ritual of “Annaprashan” (feeding the child rice for the first time) in this temple with the hope that their child would never have to face food shortage in his life.

Important Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in this temple are –

Vaikasi Visakam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (Mar-Apr),

Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct),

Soma Varams (Mondays) in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec).

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple Timings

From 07.00 AM to 12.00 noon and 04.30 PM to 07.30 PM

Temple Address

Sri Uchinatheswarar Temple,
Sivapuri Post,
Annamalai Nagar Via,
Chidambaram Taluk,
Cuddalore District,
Tamil Nadu – 608002.

Tele: +91 98426 24580.

*
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Today7:00 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Phone+91 98426 24580
Stone relief of a seated couple with a bull below, inside a carved arch
Stone relief of leafy branches, a fruit and a small animal on a pillar
Seated elephant-headed figure under an arch, with a small mouse at its feet
Four-armed dancing figure with a tall crown, with small figures beside it
Standing goddess with eight arms and a flame-like crown carved on a pillar
Stone relief of a crowned figure with many arms seated on a peacock
Wide stone hall with rows of pillars and steps, a dark passage in the centre
Multi-tiered painted gopuram at dusk, with a white wall and a tree beside it
Stepped tank behind an iron railing, with a small pillared mandapam at its centre

Highlights

What makes this temple special

* Cards drawn from the temple write-up and photographs. “Read more” takes you to the full passage.

Greatness

The lord and Ambal in wedding form

A sculpture of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi in wedding form stands behind the main deity, and the pillars carry carved reliefs.

  1. Wedding-form sculptureBehind the main deity in the sanctum sanctorum is a sculpture of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi in their wedding form.
  2. Sung in the ThirupugazhSaint Arunagirinadhar sang in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in the Thirupugazh.
  3. Carved pillarsThe pillars in this temple have beautifully carved reliefs.
Significance

A Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam

One of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams, sung by Saint Thirugnanasambanthar.

  1. On the northern bank of the CauveryIt is the 3rd Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.
  2. Sung by Saint ThirugnanasambantharSaint Thirugnanasambanthar rendered the Pathigam on this temple.
  3. Food blessed at noonThe saint was blessed with food at noon by Lord Shiva in the guise of the temple priest.
Why devotees come

Why devotees come here

Devotees come for the Annaprashan ritual for their children and for the festivals and Pradosham.

  1. For children: no shortage of foodDevotees perform the Annaprashan ritual here, hoping their child will never face food shortage.
  2. For festivals: Vaikasi Visakam and NavarathriVaikasi Visakam and Navarathri are among the important festivals celebrated here.
  3. For Pradosham worshipPradosham is observed regularly at this temple.
The Rajagopuram seen above the temple wall
276Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams

Paadal Petra Sthalams

The name Uchinatheswarar

  1. உச்சிnoon
  2. நாதர்lord
  3. ஈசுவரர்a respectful suffix in Tamil

The lord is called Uchinatheswarar because he blessed the saint with food at noon.

Thirunelvoyil

    Legends of this temple

    During a visit to this temple, the saint was fed at noon by Lord Shiva in the guise of the temple priest.

    It is believed that sage Agasthiyar and Kanva Maharishi have worshiped the lord of this temple.

    Saints of this temple

    1. ThirugnanasambantharHe stayed in Thiruvetkalam, visited this temple, and sang the Pathigam.
    2. ArunagirinadharSang in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in the Thirupugazh.

    Festivals through the year

      Vaikasi Visakam, Navarathri and the Mondays of Karthikai are celebrated here.

      Deities

      The deities of this temple

      * Drawn from the temple write-up and photographs. Where there is no photograph, the card shows the name.

      From the sanctum to the corridors
      Moolavarஉ
      Moolavar

      Sri Uchinatheswarar, Sri Madhyaneswarar

      The lord here is praised as Sri Uchinatheswarar; Uchi means noon. In Sanskrit, the lord is called Sri Madhyaneswarar.

      Ambalக
      Ambal

      Sri Kanakambikai

      The Ambal of the temple is Sri Kanakambikai.

      Carved stone niche with a dark seated figure under a Tamil name board
      Shrine in the corridor

      Dakshinamurthy

      Shrines and idols of Dakshinamurthy and other deities can be seen in the corridors.

      Small stone shrine with a painted peacock roof and a blue Tamil name board
      Shrine in the corridor

      Murugan

      Shrines and idols of Murugan and other deities can be seen in the corridors.

      Small stone shrine topped by a painted Ganesha and two bulls, with a name board
      Shrine in the corridor

      Vinayakar

      Shrines and idols of Vinayakar and other deities can be seen in the corridors.

      Visit & map

      Sacred geography
      Thirunelvayil, Chidambaram Thirukkazhippalai, Chidambaram Thiruvetkalam, Chidambaram Nallur Perumanam Mahendirapalli Thiru Naaraiyur Then Thirumullaivasal Thirukkolakka Sirkazhi Thirukkurukavur Thirukurakkukka Thiru Karuppariyalur Thiruppunkur
      You are hereThis temple

      Schematic. Distances as recorded on the visit; directions approximate.

      12a6a12p6p
      Darshan today7:00 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
      7:00 – 12:004:30 – 7:30 pm

      Hours as recorded on the visit. Festival days can differ.

      Plan the day around it

      Address and phone

      Sri Uchinatheswarar Temple, Sivapuri Post, Annamalai Nagar Via, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu – 608002.

      +91 98426 24580

      *

      A day of darshan nearby

      5 more sthalams within reach, nearest first: 28.9 km in straight lines.

      Map of Thirunelvayil, Chidambaram and the sthalams nearby, in route order: Thirukkazhippalai, Chidambaram, Thiruvetkalam, Chidambaram, Nallur Perumanam, Mahendirapalli, “Then Thirumullaivasal”. Thirukkurukavur · 16.1 km 1 2 Thiruvetkalam, Chidambaram 3 Nallur Perumanam 4 Mahendirapalli 5 “Then Thirumullaivasal” 5 km N
      Drawn from coordinates. Straight-line distances; roads are longer. Faint dots are other sthalams within 50 km.
      1. 1 Thirukkazhippalai, ChidambaramSri Palvanna Nathar Temple0.2 km from the last stop
      2. 2 Thiruvetkalam, ChidambaramSri Paasupatheswarar Temple2.3 km from the last stop
      3. 3 Nallur PerumanamSri Shivalokath Thyagaraja Swamy Temple8 km from the last stop
      4. 4 MahendirapalliSri Thirumeni Azhagar Temple5.6 km from the last stop
      5. 5 “Then Thirumullaivasal”Sri Mullaivananathar Temple12.7 km from the last stop
      Open this route in Google Maps →

      Temple plan

      Multi-tiered painted gopuram at dusk, with a white wall and a tree beside it
      01

      The Rajagopuram

      Thirunelvayil is located at a distance of about 5 kms from Chidambaram.

      1 / 7

      Summary written with AI help from the temple write-up.

      Pathigam

      Saint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam.

      Devotees visiting this temple should make it a practice to recite this Pathigam.

      V. Muthukumaraswamy

      Sung here by Saint Thirugnanasambandar. Verse 1 of 11.

      Puṭaiyi ṉārpuḷḷi kālpo runthiya
      maṭaiyi ṉārmaṇi nīrnel vāyilār
      naṭaiyil nālviraṟ kōva ṇannayan
      thuṭaiyi ṉārema thuchi yārē

      The lord of Nelvayil, among its water channels and gem-clear water, is praised as the one who chose the four-finger loincloth as his garment. He is called our Uchiyar.

      Tap any Tamil word for its meaning

      Verse text and transliteration as given in the write-up. Word meanings and the English meaning are AI-assisted drafts.

      All eleven verses

      1. 01

        புடையி னார்புள்ளி கால்பொ ருந்தியமடையி னார்மணி நீர்நெல் வாயிலார்நடையில் நால்விரற் கோவ ணந்நயந்துடையி னாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Puṭaiyi ṉārpuḷḷi kālpo runthiya / maṭaiyi ṉārmaṇi nīrnel vāyilār / naṭaiyil nālviraṟ kōva ṇannayan / thuṭaiyi ṉārema thuchi yārē

      2. 02

        வாங்கி னார்மதில் மேற்க ணைவெள்ளந்தாங்கி னார்தலை யாய தன்மையர்நீங்கு நீரநெல் வாயி லார்தொழஓங்கி னாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Vāṅki ṉārmathil mēṟka ṇaiveḷḷan / thāṅki ṉārthalai yāya thaṉmaiyar / nīṅku nīranel vāyi lārthozha / ōṅki ṉārema thuchi yārē

      3. 03

        நிச்ச லேத்தும்நெல் வாயி லார்தொழஇச்சை யாலுறை வாரெம் மீசனார்கச்சை யாவதோர் பாம்பி னார்கவின்இச்சை யாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Nicha lēthumnel vāyi lārthozha / ichai yāluṟai vārem mīsaṉār / kachai yāvathōr pāmpi ṉārkaviṉ / ichai yārema thuchi yārē

      4. 04

        மறையி னார்மழு வாளி னார்மல்குபிறையி னார்பிறை யோடி லங்கியநிறையி னாரநெல் வாயிலார் தொழும்இறைவ னாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Maṟaiyi ṉārmazhu vāḷi ṉārmalku / piṟaiyi ṉārpiṟai yōṭi laṅkiya / niṟaiyi ṉāranel vāyilār thozhum / iṟaiva ṉārema thuchi yārē

      5. 05

        விருத்த னாகிவெண் ணீறு பூசியகருத்த னார்கன லாட்டு கந்தவர்நிருத்த னாரநெல் வாயில் மேவியஒருத்த னாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Virutha ṉākiveṇ ṇīṟu pūsiya / karuha ṉārkaṉa lāṭṭu kanthavar / nirutha ṉāranel vāyil mēviya / orutha ṉārema thuchi yārē

      6. 06

        காரி னார்கொன்றைக் கண்ணி யார்மல்குபேரி னார்பிறை யோடி லங்கியநீரி னாரநெல் வாயிலார் தொழும்ஏரி னாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Kāri ṉārkoṉtṟaik kaṇṇi yārmalku / pēri ṉārpiṟai yōṭi laṅkiya / nīri ṉāranel vāyilār thozhum / ēri ṉārema thuchi yārē

      7. 07

        ஆதி யாரந்த மாயி னார்வினைகோதி யார்மதில் கூட்ட ழித்தவர்நீதி யாரநெல் வாயி லார்மறைஓதி யாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Āthi yārantha māyi ṉārviṉai / kōthi yārmathil kūṭṭa zhithavar / nīthi yāranel vāyi lārmaṟai / ōthi yārema thuchi yārē

      8. 08

        பற்றி னான்அரக் கன்க யிலையைஒற்றி னாரொரு கால்வி ரலுறநெற்றி யாரநெல் வாயி லார்தொழும்பெற்றி யாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Patṟi ṉāṉarak kaṉka yilaiyai / otṟi ṉāroru kālvi raluṟa / netṟi yāranel vāyi lārthozhum / petṟi yārema thuchi yārē

      9. 09

        நாடி னார்மணி வண்ணன் நான்முகன்கூடி னார்குறு காத கொள்கையர்நீடி னாரநெல் வாயி லார்தலைஓடி னாரெம துச்சி யாரே

        Nāṭi ṉārmaṇi vaṇṇaṉ nāṉmukaṉ / kūṭi ṉārkuṟu kātha koḷkaiyar / nīṭi ṉāranel vāyi lārthalai / ōṭi ṉārema thuchi yārē

      10. 10

        குண்ட மண்துவர்க் கூறை மூடர்சொல்பண்ட மாகவை யாத பண்பினர்விண்ட யங்குநெல் வாயி லார்நஞ்சைஉண்ட கண்டரெம் உச்சி யாரே

        Kuṇṭa maṇthuvark kūṟai mūṭarsol / paṇṭa mākavai yātha paṇpiṉar / viṇṭa yaṅkunel vāyi lārnañchai / uṇṭa kaṇṭarem uchi yārē

      11. 11

        நெண்ப யங்குநெல் வாயி லீசனைச்சண்பை ஞானசம் பந்தன் சொல்லிவைபண்ப யன்கொளப் பாட வல்லவர்விண்ப யன்கொளும் வேட்கை யாளரே

        The last verse names Gnanasambandar of Sanbai as the singer and says that those who can sing this song of Nelvayil receive its fruit.

        Neṇpa yaṅkunel vāyi līsaṉaich / chaṇpai gñāṉasam banthaṉ sollivai / paṇpa yaṉkoḷap pāṭa vallavar / viṇpa yaṉkoḷum vēṭkai yāḷarē

      Photos

      Photographs

      15 photographs, in the order they appear in the write-up. Captions are AI-assisted.

      Multi-tiered painted gopuram at dusk, with a white wall and a tree beside it
      Tall tiered gopuram with painted figures against a clear evening sky
      Carved stone niche with a dark seated figure under a Tamil name board
      Small stone shrine with a painted peacock roof and a blue Tamil name board
      Small stone shrine topped by a painted Ganesha and two bulls, with a name board
      Long hall of carved stone pillars with a stepped pedestal before a lit doorway
      Stone relief of a seated couple with a bull below, inside a carved arch
      Stone relief of leafy branches, a fruit and a small animal on a pillar
      Seated elephant-headed figure under an arch, with a small mouse at its feet
      Four-armed dancing figure with a tall crown, with small figures beside it
      Standing goddess with eight arms and a flame-like crown carved on a pillar
      Stone relief of a crowned figure with many arms seated on a peacock
      Wide stone hall with rows of pillars and steps, a dark passage in the centre
      Multi-tiered painted gopuram at dusk, with a white wall and a tree beside it
      Stepped tank behind an iron railing, with a small pillared mandapam at its centre