Sri Gneeliwaaneshwarar Temple, Padal Petra Temple — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

Thirupainjali or Thirupaigneeli is about 20 Kms away from Trichy. The Neelivaneshwarar or Gneelivaneshwarar temple here is one of the Padal Petra Sthalams. The Shivalingam in this temple is a Swayambhu. The Presiding Deity is Gneelivaneshwarar and His Consort is Visalakshi, Neelnedungannayaki. The Sthala Vruksham here is Kalvazhai or Plantain tree. In tamil this variety of plantain is known as Gneeli. This place was once fully populated with this variety of plantain and hence the Lord here is known as Gneelivaneshwarar. There are seven theerthams in this temple viz. Visalakshi, Yama, Kalyana, Agni, Deva, Appar and Maniankarunai.

Lord Shiva vanquished Yama atThirukadaiyur, after which no deaths occurred. This placed an immense burden on Bhumadevi and she appealed to Lord Shiva to relieve her from the pain of carrying this excess weight. Lord Shiva heed to her pleas and Yama was reborn as a child here and was given back His responsibilities. There is a Shrine in the outer praharam of the temple where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi are present along with Lord Muruga are present. Lord Yama is seen as a child near their feet. This happened in the tamil month of Thai and under Poosam star. It is a custom to first pray at this shrine before entering the main gopuram.

Since Yama himself was brought back to life, people throng the shrine in large numbers and pray for longevity. Just like inThirukadaiyur temple, people celebrate their Sashtiabthapoorthy, Bhimaratha Shanthi and Sathabhishegam here.

The main gopuram is incomplete and the second gopuram known as Ravana Vayil is complete. There is a small shrine for Lord Shiva just outside the first gopuram. The Lord Shiva here is known as Chotrudayaeshwarar. Legend has it that Lord Shiva himself served rice to a tired and hungry Tirunavukkarasar who had come to this temple after a long journey. Lord Shiva had appeared as a priest and offered rice to Thirunavukkarasar. He also offered to lead the Saint to the temple and disappeared on the way. Thirunavukkarasar realised that it was Lord Shiva who had offered him food in the guise of a priest. He prayed to Lord for His darshan. He requested Lord Shiva to be present there in the form of a Lingam.There is a festival at this temple here on the Avittam star day in the Tamil month of Chithirai, to commemorate this event.

There are no Navagrahas in this temple. Instead, they are represented by the 9 steps leading from the Ravana Vayil tower inside the temple. It is understood that the Navagrahas were being controlled by Ravana. One can also find nine small pits near the Nandi in front of the main Lingam. These are worshipped as Navagrahas.

Lord Shiva is also known as Adhikara Vallabhar as He brought back Yama to life and reinstated him. There are separate shrines for Goddess Visalakshi and for Goddess Neela Nedunkann Amman.

Goddess Parvati was performing penance at this temple and desired that there be some shade under which whe could sit. The Sapta Kanyas immediately were transformed into plaintain trees and provided Her the shade. There are seven plaintain trees that once can see at this temple. It is a belief that by praying and performing some special rituals to these seven plaintain trees on Sundays, will remove all hurdles in getting married. The devotees tie yellow threads to the trees as part of the ritual.

Another version is that the Sapta Kanyas viz Brahmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi came here to seek the blessings of Parvathi before their marriage. The Goddess blessed them with suitable matches and a Happy marital life. She also granted a boon that they would be here in the form of the plaintain trees and be able to have Her darshan everyday.

The Sun’s rays directly falls on the Lord in the tamil months of Purattasi which is around September-October and Panguni in March-April.

Tiruppainjali Temple Timings:6.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m....

The Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar Temple, located at Thiruppaingneeli (often written as Thirupanjali) in Mannachanallur Taluk of Tiruchirappalli is one among the most-visited Hindu temples in the region. This antique Hindu temple is one among the 275 Paadal Petra Sivasthalangal and Lord Shiva here offers his blessings in the name of Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar. The Thirupanjali Temple is the 61st sivalayam, situated on the southerly bank of River Cauvery that is named in the Saiva devotional verse of Tevaram. Story: Legend has it that Lord Shiva defeated Yamadharman (Lord of Death) in Thirukadaiyur (Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu), in order to rescue the distinguished rishi Markandeya, from the grip of death. As the 'lord of death' Yamadharma himself lifeless, people were not subjected to death and the world turned overly populated. People stopped going to temple and poojas were stopped all over. Goddess Bhumadevi (Mother Earth) could not endure the burden of the Earth, which is full of immortal population. On the other hand, the Thirupanjali Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar Temple was functioning as was common and daily poojas were not discontinued at all. Hence, Goddess Bhumadevi along with the creator and protector of the universe, Lord Brahma and Lord Mahavishnu and several other devotees of Lord Shiva visited Thirupanjali temple. They pleaded Lord Shiva to give rebirth to Yamadharma. Their prayers were answered that Lord Shiva offered a new birth to Yamadharma on the day of Thaipoosam, through 'pilathuvaram'.

There are several others who received blessings of Lord Shiva in this temple, who include Lord Indra (King of the Gods), Kamadhenu aka Surabhi (Mother of Cows), Sheshanaga aka Adishesha (King of all Nagas), Lord Vayu Deva (Lord of the Winds), Lord Agni (god of Fire), Lord Rama, Arjuna (3rd of the Pandava Brothers), Saint-poet Appar, Sage Vashishta, Soothamamunivar and so on. The main temple tower (rajagopuram) of this temple was constructed by the Pandyan king Sundara Pandyan and the tower is not completed fully. The second tower is called as the 'Ravana Vayil' and just before the entrance is the rare shrine of Yamadharma. The lord of death is in the form of a child as he got his new birth here. The Yamadharma sannadhi is in a cave under the ground level. Devotees offer special poojas to Yamadharma, seeking longevity. Another small sannadhi of Lord Shiva is located close to the second temple tower and the deity here is called as Sorudiya Eswarar. Another unique feature of this temple is that there is no separate shrine for Navagrahas is found. The nine steps leading from the second temple tower are regarded as the Navagrahas that were at the dictation of Ravana. Tidbits: Presiding Deity (Moolavar): Arulmigu Gneelivaneswarar Goddess (Amman/Thayar): Visalakshi, Neelnedungannayaki Temple Tree (Sthala Virutcham): Kalvazhai (Plantain tree) Temple Tanks (Theertham): Visalakshi, Yama, Kalyana, Agni, Deva, Appar and Maniankarunai Agamam (Pooja): Kameekam Vimanam (Tower above Sanctum Sanctorum): Badra Vimanam Name of the Vinayagar in this Temple: Vasantha Vinyagar

Temple Timings: 6 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM

Parihara Timings: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 PM to 5:30 PM

Specialty: During three days in the Tamil month of Puratasi (6th, 7th and 8th) and three days of Panguni (6th, 7th and 8th), the sun light will precisely fall on the deity of Lord Shiva

Important Festivals: Chithirai festival, Aadi 18, Aipasi annabishekam, Karthikai deepam, Thiruvathirai, Ekadashi, Thai Theerthavizha, Maasi mahasivaratri, Panguni...

Sacred tree of the temple is plaintain. Those facing delays in their marriage pray here with remedial pujas and tie a mangal sutra for early results.

After Lord Shiva hit Yama the God of Death at Tirukadayur, no deaths occurred in the world thus increasing the burden on earth to unmanageable level. Mother Earth appealed to Lord Shiva of her pain of bearing unbearable weight. On a Thai Poosam day- Poosam star day during January-February, Lord Shiva made Yama appear under His feet as a child, instructed him to discharge his duties with impeccable sense of Dharma and reinstated him in the job. The Yama shrine in the prakara of the temple represents this event. Lord Shiva and Mother Ambica with Lord Muruga in Somaskanda form are in this shrine with Yama as a child under Their feet. People celebrate their 60th birth day and perform longevity prayers in this shrine in large numbers.

There is no Navagraha-nine planets-shrine in the temple as Yama is their Lord. Devotees pray the deepas-lamps before Nandhi as Navagrahas. Rajagopuram of the temple is called Ravana Gate. Below the gopuram are nine steps to reach Lord’s shrine. It is said that these steps represent Navagrahas that were at the command of Ravana obeying his orders. Saint Tirunavukkarasar was on his way to worship Lord Gneelivana Nathar. He stood exhausted at a place due to hunger. A priest appeared before him with rice-Annam or Choru in Tamil. The priest also assured the saint to lead to the temple but disappeared on the way. The saint was shocked and prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord granted darshan to Tirunavukkarasar and told him that He was the priest who helped him. At the request of Tirunavukkarasar, Lord stayed here in the form of Linga named Chottrudaya Easwarar – God with Rice. This shrine is at the entrance of the temple separately. This event is celebrated in the temple on the Avittam star day in Chithirai-April-May.

Sage Vasishta used to worship Lord Chidambaram Nataraja during the Arthajama (night) puja every day. Once he had to stay in this place as he was late. He appealed to Lord to grant his dance darshan to him. Obliging His devotee Lord granted the darshan the sage wished. Remembering this event, Lord Nataraja is in the temple in a painting before the shrine with Sage Vasishta. Hence, the place is also revered as Mela Chidambaram.

Temple History:

Seven virgins-Saptha Kannikas – Brahmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi came to this place before their wedding seeking the darshan of Mother Ambica. Mother appeared before them and said that they would be married with good matches and enjoy a happy life. Mother also granted the boon that they would be in the place in the form of plantain trees enjoying Her darshan. Accordingly, they stayed here. Lord Shiva too graced the place in...