DHINAM ORU KOVIL -4

SRI.NEDUNGALA NATHAR TEMPLE, TIRUNEDUNKULAM, THUVAKUDI,TRICHY-15

The temple is situated in Tirunedunkulam near Thuvakudi, Trichy Dt on the TRICHYTHANJAVUR Highways. The temple is 1500 years old. Name of the deity is
Tirunedungala nathar-Nitya Sundareswarar and the female deity is Mangala NayakiOppila Nayaki and the sthala virutcham is Kasthuri-Arali.
The glory of Lord of the temple is sung by Saint Gnana Sambandar in his Thevaram hymns. This is the
8th Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in hymns by four saivite saints. Lord Shiva
in the temple is a swayambumurthi. The rays of Sun fall on the presiding deity from Aadi 7th to 12th
July-August. The temple is facing west with its two prakaras. The tank is before the temple. There is no
tower at the front entrance. It is at the second entrance with aesthetic sculptures. Shrines of Lord
Somaskanda and Chandrasekhara are in the southeast of inner corridor. Saptha Kannikas, Lord
Dakshinamurthi and Aiyanar shrines are in the southern prakara with a shrine for Lord Valampuri
Vinayaka in the Kanni Mooa corner. Shrine of Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai is in the
west prakara. The Shrine of Lord Varadaraja Perumal with His Upa Nachiars is on the southern side
and that of Sage Agasthya is in the north. The Agasthya Theertham is ever perennial. Shrine for
Mother Ambica is in the northeast corner of the outer prakara with a Wedding Hall Tiru Kalyana
Mandapam. Devotees know that Lord Shiva is praised as Artha Nareeswara as He had parted His left
part with Mother Parvathi. While Lord Shiva is seen occupying the central space in the sanctum
sanctorum in temples, He is on a siding to the right leaving the left for Mother Ambica. Though the
sanctum has only a Shiva Linga, it is the belief that Mother too is in formless. Tiru Nedungalam in
Tamil means a vast place in plains. Mother Parvathi performed penance here. Lord, in appreciation of
Her worship came in disguise and took Her hands.
I have visited this temple 2 to 3 times.