Unveiling the Lesser-Known Marvels Beyond the Main Temple - Tirunelveli Nellaiyappar
I have been diligently crafting a series about the colossal and ancient temple of Tirunelveli - the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar temple. In the previous 13 installments, I thoroughly explored the Kantimati temple. Moving forward, I will now delve into the grander section, the Nellaiyappar temple.
Before we venture into the majestic Raja gopuram and the temple's interior, allow me to share some insights about the mandapas and shrines located beyond the main temple complex.
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Situated at the western end of Swami Sannadhi street and facing the Raja Gopuram of the Nellaiyappar temple, we encounter the Anuppu Mandapam. "Anuppu" in Tamil translates to "to send". This mandapa surpasses the size of the Anuppu mandapam at Kantimati, which I've previously covered. Adorned with exquisitely sculpted carvings, its pillars are a sight to behold. Historians believe that this mandapa was constructed in the 1700s. Regrettably, the true beauty of this structure remains somewhat obscured, as it stands along the Main Road, with heavy vehicles passing through, and rows of shops covering some of its pillars.
On the southern side of the main entrance of Nellaiyappar temple stands a beautiful structure used to hoist the metal icons onto the historic cart. Its top boasts a typical Kerala-style conical wooden roof, adding to its allure. Adjacent to this structure, there is a lesser-known subshrine dedicated to Ganesha.
Moving to the northern side of the main entrance, a vessel shop provides access to two hidden shrines. In one of these shrines, Subramanya stands proudly, flanked by Valli and Devasena. The following shrine holds a distinctive feature, featuring Dakshinamurti facing the usual south direction but portrayed with his left foot resting on Apasmara, instead of his right foot. Moreover, his right foot lies folded on his lap, in contrast to the conventional position on his left leg. This rare depiction of Dakshinamurti showcases a unique variation.
On the southern side of the main entrance, there is a shrine with an unusual depiction of Ganesha in a standing posture.
Atop the grand boundary wall, one can find a massive Bhuta Gana seated, yet he remains largely unnoticed. On the other side of the boundary wall, at the Kantimati shrine, his counterpart is worshiped as Bhootatalvar, the guardian deity. Unfortunately, this poor Gana doesn't receive much attention or recognition from visitors.
I will conclude here for now and continue with the exploration of the temple's tower and wooden carvings in the upcoming post.
Happy travelling.
This article is Part 14 of the series of articles I write about Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple.
The other parts of the series can be accessed through the below-listed links.
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