Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1805 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Tiruneelakkudi Neelakandeswarar Temple

Tiruneelakkudi, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu · 10.9854°, 79.4817°

Shiva (Neelakandeswarar), with consort OppilamulaiyalUndetermined
Sacred since
1000 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
dating unrecorded
Undetermined

History & significance

A Shiva temple on the Kaveri in Thanjavur district counted among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, praised in the Tevaram hymns of the Nayanar saints Tirunavukkarasar and Sambandar. Its lingam is unusual, with square projections and a rough surface.

Sthala katha — the legend

The name recalls the churning of the ocean of milk: Shiva swallowed the poison, Parvati held his throat to make him Neelakanta, and she then soothed him with oil here, a rite the temple still performs.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Undetermined