List of Shiva Lingas in Tirunelveli Nellaiyappar Temple
I have been writing a series on the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple in Tirunelveli, covering its architecture, layout, iconography, deities, shrines, and other significant aspects. In this episode, I will list all the Shiva Lingas found in this temple, a documentation style I believe to be unique.
1) Nellaiyappar - The Presiding deity of the temple
2) Moola Maha Linga - The original deity of the temple, currently found in a separate shrine in northeastern part in the prakara around Nellaiyappar
3) Prithvi Linga - in a separate east-facing shrine in the prakara around Nellaiyappar
4) Shiva Linga in Soundara Sabha, which acts as a library nowadays. It is found adjacent to the Kantimati temple tower.
5) Shiva Linga inside Dharma Shasta sub-shrine
6) Vishwanatha on the banks of Pottramarai
7) Sundareswara on the banks of Pottramarai
8) Three Shiva Lingas, all named as Vishwanathar near Pottramarai Vinayaka shrine
9) Another set of three Shiva Lingas in a separate shrine, all named as Vishwanathar near Pottramarai Vinayaka shrine
10) Vishwanatha near the sub-shrine of Saraswati
11) Shiva Linga in a sub-shrine in Sangili Mandapam, behind the statue of female monkey
12) Maha Linga in a sub-shrine in Sangili Mandapa
13) Shiva Linga in Nellai Govindan shrine
14) Two Shiva Linga found along with Sapta Matas in the prakara around Nellaiyappar
15) Teyu Linga in a separate shrine in the prakara around Nellaiyappar
16) Vayu Linga on the western prakara around Nellaiyappar
17) A Shiva Linga inside the sanctum and another Shiva Linga in the Mukha mandapa near Sthala Vruksham
18) Akasha Linga in a separate shrine in the prakara around Nellaiyappar
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19) Kubera Linga in a separate shrine in the prakara around Nellaiyappar
20) Sahasra Linga, a grand Linga adorned with one thousand smaller Lingas, in a separate shrine in the prakara around Nellaiyappar
21) A Shiva Linga at the entrance linking the second and third prakara of Nellaiyappar
22) Madurai Sundareswarar in a separate shrine in the third prakara of Nellaiyappar
23) Shailappa in a separate shrine in the third prakara of Nellaiyappar
24) Shankara Nayinar in a separate shrine in the third prakara of Nellaiyappar
25) Shiva Linga in the Arumukha Nayinar shrine
26) Vishwanatha in a separate shrine in the western third prakara of Nellaiyappar
27) Vayu Linga in a separate shrine in the western third prakara of Nellaiyappar
28) Shiva Linga near Ammaiyappa Ganapati
29) Anawaradanathar in a separate shrine in the outermost east prakara of Nellaiyappar
Thus, there are 35 Shiva Lingas in this magnificent temple of Nellaiyappar. This list excludes other forms of Shiva, relief images, stucco images, icons on pillars, vimanas, towers, or metal icons.
This article is Part 39 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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