திருநெல்வேலி நெல்லையப்பர் கோயில்Tirunelveli Nellaiappar Temple

Sthala Mahātmyam

The Kanthimathi Nellaiappar temple at Tirunelveli holds the Tamra Sabhai, the Copper Hall, named for its copper-clad roof and adorned with exquisite carved woodwork, where Shiva is revered to have performed the Muni Tandava. He is worshipped here as Nellaiappar, also called Venuvananathar, lord of the bamboo forest, for the site was once the Venuvana where he manifested as a lingam. A beloved legend tells how paddy set out to guard a devotee's offering was shielded from a downpour by a miraculous hedge of water, giving the town its name Tiru-nel-veli, the sacred paddy hedge. His consort is Kanthimathi Amman. Vaishnava tradition holds that Vishnu himself came to Tirunelveli to give away the bride at the divine wedding of Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi, making it an abhimana kshetram. The temple is famed for its musical stone pillars and the connecting Sangili (chain) Mandapam. Chief observances include the Aani Brahmotsavam, the Aippasi Tirukkalyanam celebrating the sacred marriage, and the Margazhi Arudra Darisanam, when Nataraja and Sivakami are worshipped within the Tamra Sabhai.