Thiruneelakandeswarar Temple is located in Thiruneelakudi close to Kumbakonam. There is a small Welcome Arch from the main road leading to this Temple. Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple is also called as Manokkiyanathaswamy Temple. It is one among the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalam and is the 32nd Shiva Sthalam to be located on the Southern Bank of River Cauvery in the Chola Nadu. The Temple has been sung and praised by Saint Appar. The Temple does not have any Rajagopuram. The anterior side of the Temple is instead covered with a tin sheet roofing and has a small Gopuram with a few Idols of various Gods & Goddesses. This small Gopuram is East facing. This Temple is supposed to have been built by the Chola Kings Raja Rajan and Vikrama Cholan. The Presiding Deity is Manokkiyanathaswamy or Sri Neelakandeshwarar who is East facing is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is in the form of a Shiva Lingam. His peculiarity is that He absorbs any amount of oil poured on Him during the Abishekam.His Consort is knwon by two names 1) Bakthapeeshtappradayani or Sri Thavakkola Ammai and 2) Sri Anoopamasthani or Sri Azhakaambigai. Both the Ambals are in two different Shrines in this Temple.  There is a Dwajasthambam, a Bali Peedam and a Nandhi Vaaganam which is placed in a 4 pillared Mandabam facing the Moolasthanam. Beyond this area is a multi pillared Mandabam in which there is another small Mukthi Mandabam in which a Siva Lingam is installed. Close to this are Idols for Suryan and Markandeyar. A Naalvar Sannadhi is seen with the Idols of 4 in it. The Navagraha Sannadhi of this Temple has been built as per the Aahama Vidhi and hence it is said to be very powerful since all the Navagrahams face towards the Suryan. An Idol of Bhairavar is seen close to the Navagraha Sannadhi. In the outer peripheral Sri Kannimoola Ganapathi is seen along with Markandeya Lingam and close to this is Sri Balasubramanyar. In the next Sub Shrine Sri Balasubramanyar is found along with Valli and Devasena. Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Saraswathi and Mahalakshmi too are seen here. There is a Jack Fruit Tree beneath which Naga Devatha Idols are kept and Prayed. There is a Palli Arai available here. The Temple has a small Madapalli or Temple Kitchen. The Sthala Viruksham is a Vilva Tree or a Pancha Vilvam since 5 of its leaves are cojoined and found in the same branch. The Pushkarani or the Sacred Tank which is located near the main entrance of the Temple is called as Brahmma Theertham or Pithru Mukthicharam. This Temple drives away the fear of Death or Yama Bhayam. The Temple comes under the control of Thiruvavaduthurai Aadheenam. Maha Shivarathiri, Pradosham, Thiru Karthigai are some of the festivals celebrated here in a grand manner.  This Temple is also known as a Pithru Dosha Parihaara Sthalam.

Contact Details: Saroja  91501 87524, Kalimuthu  63744 57549, 94428 61634 and 0435 - 246 0660.

Temple Timings: 6 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 8 PM

Distance from Kumbakonam to Thiruneelakudi is 14 Kms

Distance from Karaikal to Thiruneelakudi is 44 Kms

Distance from Swamimalai to Thiruneelakudi is 21 Kms

Distance from Thirunagewaram to Thiruneelakudi is 10 Kms

Distance from Thiruvidaimaruthur to Thiruneelakudi is 8 Kms

Distance from Mayavaram to Thiruneelakudi is 24 Kms

Distance from Thiruvarur to Thiruneelakudi is 38 Kms

Distance from Mannargudi to Thiruneelakudi is 47 Kms

Distance from Vaduvur to Thiruneelakudi is 49 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Thiruneelakudi is 54 Kms

Distance from Srivanjiyam to Thiruneelakudi is 20 Kms

Distance from Thirucherai to Thiruneelakudi is 18 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Thiruneelakudi is 277 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Thiruvidaimaruthur R.S. or Aduthurai R.S

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