The Unrivaled Wonders of Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple – A Grand Summary
I have been extensively documenting the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple in Tirunelveli, exploring its detailed architecture, layout, iconography, deities, and other noteworthy aspects. In this episode, I will present a consolidated summary of all the unique or special features of the temple. Although I have covered most of them already, this will serve as a comprehensive overview.
1) The temple spans 14 acres, measuring 850 feet in length and 756 feet in width
2) The longest Sannadhi street of any temple, approximately 3 km long (Sannadhi street is the street facing the sanctum sanctorum.)
3) The temple has 32 sacred water bodies (Teerthams), of which nine are considered the most important. Among them are the Pottamarai, Karumaari, Vairava, and Sarva Teerthams, all located within the temple. Outside the temple, the other five are Kambai, Teppakulam, Sindu Poondurai, Durga Teertham, and Kurukkuthurai.
4) This is one of five primary venues where Lord Nataraja performed his divine dance, known collectively as the Pancha Sabhas. These include the Por Sabhai or Kanaka Sabha (Golden Hall) in Chidambaram, Rajita Sabha or Velli Ambalam (Silver Hall) in Madurai, Ratna Sabha (Ruby Hall) in Tiruvalangadu, Chitra Sabha (Painting Hall) in Courtallam, and Tamra Sabha (Copper Hall) in Tirunelveli.
5) The Sthala Purana offers a slightly different perspective, stating that there are 21 sabhas, with seven being the most significant. These include Veda Sabha in Tirumaraikkadu, Manicka Sabha in Devamaasabha, Kanaka Sabha in Chidambaram, Akasha Sabha in Kanchi, Rajata Sabha in Madurai, Chitra Sabha in Courtallam, and Tamra Sabha in Tirunelveli. Among these, the Tamra Sabha holds the highest importance.
6) It is one of 276 Devaram Paadal Petra Sthalams. Sambandhar has composed 11 verses and Sundarar has composed one verse.
7) The 14th-century poet Arunagirinathar, known for his profound reverence for various Murugan shrines across the country, composed a beautiful song in honor of Nellai Subramanya of this temple.
8) The temple has a magnificent thousand-pillared mandapa
9) Somavara Mandapa with majestic 78 pillars
10) Oonjal Mandapa with 96 Yazhi pillars
11) Mandapa in front of the east Raja Gopura of Kantimati, featuring a Kerala-style roof with wooden panels and hundreds of wooden sculptures
12) Mandapa in front of the east Raja Gopura of Nellaiyappar, with a Kerala-style roof and hundreds of wooden sculptures
13) Personification of the River Tamraparani; Bronze icon of Tamraparani in the prakara of Nellaiyappar
14) The temple has a mandapa with musical pillars, that produce distinct musical notes when struck. Supporting this mandapa are ten such musical pillars. Surrounding the main pillars are 48 smaller stone pillars. Among a very few temples of Tamil Nadu having musical pillars, this is the oldest and most popular.
15) Ganga and Yamuna as Dwara Palikas of Kantimati. It is unusual.
16) Nine small circular structures called Peethams representing Ganesha, Veerabhadra, and Sapta Matas in the southern prakara around Kantimati.
17) Saraswati in a separate shrine
18) Intricate wooden panels of Dakshinamurti shrine
19) Gigantic Shanmukha seated on a peacock, accompanied by his two consorts, with a beautiful Tiruvasi, all made of a single stone - Arumukha Nayinar shrine
20) Massive white-colored Maakkalai Nandi facing Nellaiyappar
21) Navagraha Mandapa adorned with wooden carvings
22) Dharma Shasta with his two consorts in a separate shrine
23) Sangili Bhootattar, the guardian deity of Tirunelveli, outside the temple compound wall
24) Massive wooden sculpture of Bheema on a moving vehicle
25) Dakshinamurti in an unusual posture Utkudi Asana
26) Dakshinamurti with altered leg postures, accompanied with Subramanya, which is completely unique
27) Kankalamurti accompanied by numerous deities, celestials, and sages in a separate shrine; It's unusual to find such massive size images together in a single shrine.
28) Agastya accompanied by nine sages
29) Pandya-era Kubera, now called Muzhuthum Kanda Rama Kon
30) Mahisasura Mardini with lion and deer companions
31) Separate shrine for Ashta Lakshmi
32) Magnificent Panchaloha icon of Nataraja, known as Periya Sabhapati
33) Sahasra Linga, made of one thousand smaller Lingas
34) Massive Ravana lifting Kailasa, with a large shrine of Somaskanda on the top floor
35) The sanctums of Shiva (Nellaiyappar) and Vishnu (Govindan) are situated upon the same platform, sharing a common antaralam. Furthermore, the expansive Ardha mandapa at the front serves as a shared space for both sanctums.
36) The main chariot stands impressively at 82 feet and weighs 45,000 kg. Initially launched in 1505 CE, it has been running continuously every year since then without interruption. It is the third largest chariot of Tamil Nadu.
37) The temple unusually has five chariots for five deities.
38) Beautiful sculptures of Rati and Manmata in Arumukha Nayinar Mandapa
39) Life-sized sculptures on the pillars in the Mukha Mandapa of Nellaiyappar
40) Life-sized sculptures on the pillars in Sangili Mandapa
41) Ganesha in an unusual standing posture in a separate shrine
42) It is a rare occurrence to witness the supreme Goddess appearing as the vanquisher of this malevolent force known as Bhandasura. She is called Bhandasuramardini or Manjanai Vadivambal.
43) The intricate wooden carvings, designs and sculptures of Tamra Sabha
44) Sandana Sabhapati, despite being sculpted from stone, it is traditionally adorned with sandalwood paste, earning it the name Sandana Sabhapati.
45) There are six Sabhas of the temple. Teertha Sabha in Sindu Poondurai, Aacharya Sabha in Manur, Saundarya Sabha in the front of KantimatiTemple, where Shiva performs the Ananda Tandava, Kalyana Sabha in Vilapuram (Tirukalyana Mandapam), Azhagiya Raja Sabha in front of the Swami Temple and Tamra Sabha, located in the temple's western side.
Happy travelling.
This article is Part 47 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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