Neelakandeswarar Temple, Erukkattampuliyur

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Location of the temple	Erukkattampuliyur (now known as Rajendrapattinam)
Lord Shiva known as	Neelakandeswarar
Female deity known as	Neelamalarkanni Ammai
Pathigam	Sambandar - 1
How to reach	This temple is located 12 Kms to the south of Tirumudukundram (Viruddachalam), another Paadal Petra Sthalam in Nadu Naadu. One has to travel on the Viruddachalam - Jayamkondaan road for about 12 Kms. and look for a branch road on the left which leads to this sivasthalam. A temple for Lord Vishnu is at Sreemushnam, 7 Kms from here.
Temple address	Arulmighu Neelakandeswarar Temple Rajendrapattinam Rajendrapattinam Post Virudhachalam Taluk Cuddalore District PIN 608703

Route Map from Virudhachalam to Erukathampuliyur (Rajendrapattinam)
Map courtesy by: Google Maps

Erukattampuliyur is one of the 5 shiva temples that are connected with 'puliyur'. The other 4 are Tirupadhiripuliyur, Perumpatra puliyur, Chidambaram and Omampuliyur. Sage Vyagrapaadhar (Sanskrit word 'Vyagra'-meaning tiger. Vyagrapaadhar - The one who is tiger legged) worshipped Lord shiva at chidambaram after hearing the greatness of Him from his father Maadhyandinar.Sage Vyagrapadhar was entrusted with the task of plucking fresh flowers untouched even by honeybees, for offering to Shiva. Doing so , Vyagrapadhar was wounded on account of thorns and stones. Shiva conferred on him the feet of tigers, to enable him to climb the rough trees with ease, to pluck fresh flowers untouched even by honeybees.Erukattampuliyur is one of the places where the Sage Vyagrapadhar venerated Shiva.

This place has the distinction of being the place which bestowed the blessings of a son to King Rajaraja Chola and the boon of marriage to his son Rajendra Chola.King Rajenda Chola has done a lot of renovations to this temple and this place is so also known as Rajendrapattinam.

The gateway tower is 5 tiered. Located axial to the gateway are the flagstaff (dwajasthambam or kodimaram), customary sacrificial altar and Lord Nandi. There is a small shrine for Lord ganesha on the right. On the left are the shrine for navagraha, the nine planetory deities and the shrine for 4 Saints of shaivisam.

This is the birth place of Tiruneelakanta Yazhpaanar (one of the 63 nayanmars). There are images of Thiruneelakanta Yazhpanar along with Mathanga Choodamaniyar. The central shrine is approached after the shrines of Mahaganapathy, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Murugar and Lakshmi. The panels of the walls around the sanctum housed the goshta images of Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodhbhavar, Brahma and Goddess Durga. It is special to note that the ray of the sun fall on the central shirne between the 16th to the 20th of march. A shrine of Lord Muruga, with his consorts Valli and deivanai can be found in inner precinct.

Once Shiva was explaning the meaning of Vedas to Parvathy. She was distracted and an angered Shiva cursed her to be born in earth as a fisher woman. Muruga their son was angered that his father cursed Parvathi and argued with him. Shiva was further angered and he cursed Muruga also to be born as a dumb boy - named Rudhrasanmar, in a trader community. When he attained the right age, he visited many Shiva temples and offered hus prayers. Finally, he came to Erukkathampuliyur and installed a Shivalinga, worshipped and regained his speech. Lord Shiva is also known as Thirukkumarasamy in this temple as Kumaran (Murugan) worshipped him. Image of Rudhrasanmar can be seen in this temple.

Another legend suggest that once the celestial deities (devas) and few Rishis , took the form of birds and trees at this place to venerate Lord shiva. The birds and trees became prey for hunters. The Devas and Rishis appealed to Lord Shiva. He asked them to turn into Erukkam trees whose wood is of no use to anyone. This place was once a dense forest of Erukkam trees, (Calotropis) and the name Erukattampuliyur is so derived. Even today, A sacred erukkam tree near the sanctom sanctorium of the temple.