This is the seventh Shiva’s temple of the Sapta Sthanam temples around Thiruvarur. It is one of the 276 Padal Pethra sthalam in the northern bank of river Kaveri. This is located very close to Thiruvaiyaru. Shaiva saints Shri Appar and Shri Sambandhar have sung sacred hymns at this place. The shiva linga is a swayambhu shiva linga. Abhishek is done on the shiva linga with pure ghee first and then with hot water. The temple is east facing and has seven tiered rajagopuram. It has two parikramas of which the first one is very large The temple is about 2000 year old.
Mulavar: Shri Neyyadiappar, Shri Pashupathishwarar, Shri Krutpureeshwarar (utsav murti),
Devi: Shri Balambika, Shri Elangai Amman (Young)
Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva
Sacred Teertha: Kaveri
Puranik Name: Thiruneythanam
Present name: Thillaisthanam
District: Tanjavur
The shrine of Shri Balambika Devi is facing south. The idol of devi is very beautiful and she appears ever young. This is the only temple in which Thirunavukkuarasar has praised the devi in his sacred hymns. There are number of stone inscriptions in the temple which help us to know about the work done by various kings. One of inscriptions praises the lord as Shri Neithanamudaiyar. Shri Aiyyaarappar (comes to this temple from Thiruvaiyaru in palanquin three times in a year). This is the only place where we can have the darshan of all the seven palanquins at a time during saptasthanam festivals.
Idols and other shrines:
In the inner corridor, we have the shrines of Shri Vinayaka and Shri Muruga with Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai. In the koshta, we have the koshta murtis - Shri Dakshinamurti, Shri Lingodbhavar, Shri Brahma, Shri Vishnu, Shri Nardana Ganapati and Shri Ardhanarishwarar. Ashtabhuja idol is in a separate shrine. Shri Dakshinamurti is in seating position. In the main corridor we have idols of Shri Saraswati Devi, Shri Nagakannika Devi, Shri Mahalakshmi Devi, Shri Navagraha, Shri Kalabhairav, Shri Anugrahabhairav, Shri Chandra and Shri Chandikeshwarar. Idols of Shri Shani, Shri Adi Vinayaka, and Shri Saraswati Devi are in a row. In the corridor, we have shiva linga of all sapta sthanams. The sculpture depicting a kind of lion known as Yaezhi which is a symbol of Pallava architecture indicates the work done by Pallava kings.
We have the balipeeth, dhwajasthambha and Nandi mandap in front of shiva linga. In the shrine of Devi, we have a separate Nandi facing her.
Those who worshiped here:
Kamadhenu, Sage Gautama and Srilankan king, Kayavahan. Shri Saraswati Devi. The Srilankan king arranged for number of festivals at this temple by creating an endowment and donating wealth.
Kshetra Purana:
According to Kshetra purana, it was observed that cow was shedding milk from it's udder at particular place daily. Later on, milk turned into ghee. Observing this, the cowherd tried to trace the cow. But it had disappeared. It is believed that this cow was celestial cow kamadhenu. When the villagers dug the spot they found a shiva linga. They informed king who built a temple performed praanpratishtha (consecration) and arranged for daily puja with ghee (ghee in Tamil in nei). Hence Shri Shiva is known here as Shri Neiyadiappar.
According to Kshetra puran, a devotee used to pluck spinach leaves on the way back from the temple after lighting a lamp in the temple. He sought the mercy of lord as he was aging and unable to go to temple. The lord told him that he cannot show mercy as he had taken spinach leaves as wages for lighting lamp.
Festivals:
Chitrai (April-May) - Sapta Sthanams festival and Brahmotsav
Avani (August-Sept) - Ganesh chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct) - Navaratri
Aippasi (Oct-Nov) - Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival
Karthigai (Nov-Dec) - Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam
Thai (Jan-Feb) - Makar Sankranti
Masi (Feb-Mar) - Shivaratri.
Besides this the daily rituals, weekly pujas and fortnightly pradosha pujas are conducted. Arudra darshan is also celebrated.
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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