Sri Uchinatheswarar Temple, Thirunelvayil, Chidambaram - 275 Shiva Temples

Sri Uchinatheswarar Temple, Thirunelvayil (Chola Nadu - North of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Uchinathar, Sri Uchinatha swamy, Uchi Nadeswarar
Name of Goddess : Sri Kanakambigai
Holy water (Theertham) : Krupa Samudram.
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Gooseberry (Amla).
Thevaram : Thirugyana Sambandar.
District : Cuddalore.
Location : Chidambaram.
Timings : 06:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 05:00 p.m. to 07:15 p.m.

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This temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of Saint Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 3rd Shiva temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.The temple has one prakara. The Rajagopuram is facing east. Lord is facing east and Ambigai south.

This east facing temple has a five tiered rajagopuram crowning its entrance. Facing the temple is the temple tank. In the outer circumambulatory path are shrines to Ganesha and Murugan, Bhairavar. The Ambal shrine within the temple faces south. There is a shrine housing images of Nataraja and Sivakami. There are inscriptions from the Nayak period here. Five worship services are carried out each day and the annual festival is celebrated on Vaikashi Vishakam as in Tiruvetkalam.

History / Legend:

This is one of the sacred places where Lord Shiva granted darshan to Sage Agasthya. Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi appear in their wedding posture behind the Shivalinga. During his stay in Chidambaram, Sambandar used to come to this temple everyday to worship the Lord. The places around Chidambaram were once green with paddy fields, hence the name of the place Tirunelvoyil, presently called Sivapuri. After Mother Parvathi fed Gnanasambandar with Wisdom Milk (Gnanappal in Tamil), Lord Shiva too offered food to the saint.

Saint Gnanasambandar was born to Shiva devotees Shivapada Hrudayar and Bhagawathi. When he was three years old, the father came to Brahmma Theertha in the Sirkali temple, left the child in the steps and went for bath. The child felt hungry and cried. Lord Shiva asked Mother Parvathi to feed the child which mother did. When Shivapada Hrudayar came back and found milk drops on the face of child, he asked the child who gave him the milk. Child showed the direction of the temple and sung the first hymn “Thodu Udaya Sevian”. Shivapada’s joy knew no bounds when he heard that the Great Mother fed his son.

The wedding of Gnanasambandar was arranged when he was 12. The relatives of both sides and 63 shiva devotees travelled to Achalpuram Shiva temple. It was midday. All in the party were hungry and stayed at Sivapuri. Knowing their suffering from hunger, Lord in the guise of the temple priest fed the party with a delicious lunch. Lord is praised as Uchi Nathar (meaning Midday Lord and Madhyaneswarar in Sanskrit). People of the place call this temple Kanakambal Koil.

Parents perform the Anna Prasana ritual (first rice feeding of the child) in the temple hoping that the child would never face food problem in life.

Location: This Shivastalam is located at Sivapuri - 2 km away from Chidambaram in the vicinity of Tiruvetkalam near Annamalai University. By the side of Annamalai University, reach the main road via Kavarapattu road, go via Perampattu road to reach the temple. Town bus available from Chidambaram bus stand to Sivapuri.

Temple Address & Contact Details:

Arulmighu Uchinatheswarar Temple
Tirunelvoyal, Sivapuri Post
Via Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram Taluk
Cuddalore District, PIN 608002.
Phone: +91 98426 24580.