Neyyadiappar Temple, Tillaistanam

🛕 Lord Shiva | 📍 Thillaisthanam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Temple Tags: Ancient Temple Chola Temple Nayanmar Temple Paadal Petra Sthalam Sambandar Temple South India Temple Tevaram Temple

✔ Verified by Mandirvaas

📍 Open in Maps

⏰ Darshan

Morning: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Evening: 05:00 PM – 07:30 PM

📅 Best Time to Visit

October to March is generally comfortable for pilgrimage.

📸 Photography

Not Allowed

🔱 Temple Significance

Neyyadiappar Temple at Thillaisthanam is an ancient Shiva temple and one of the Tevaram Paadal Petra Sthalams. It is one of the seven Sapthasthana temples associated with Thiruvaiyaru. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Neyyadiappar and Goddess Parvati as Piraisoodi Amman. The temple is traditionally associated with ghee (nei) worship and abhishekam, giving rise to the name Neyyadiappar. The temple also contains important early Chola architectural features and inscriptions.

🏛 Temple History

The temple is believed to have reached its present form during the 9th century under Chola king Aditya I, with subsequent contributions from later Cholas and Thanjavur Nayaks. Inscriptions show contributions from Pandya, Pallava, Chola and other ruling families.

One of the earliest inscriptions is dated to 862 CE, during the reign of the Pandya ruler Marajadaiyan, identified with Varaguna Pandya II. Other inscriptions record gifts of money, gold, lamps and sheep for temple activities.

The temple's architectural character is particularly important. The sanctum is an all-stone structure with a two-tier pyramidal vimana, while the temple complex has five-tiered gateway towers and two major precincts.

Temple Legend
According to the traditional legend, a cow would regularly give milk at a particular location, and the milk was believed to turn into ghee. When villagers attempted to catch the cow, it disappeared. The place was excavated and a Shiva Lingam was found. The king is traditionally believed to have built the temple there. Since ghee was associated with the worship of the Lingam, the temple became known as Neyyadiappar.

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Daily Poojas

Regular temple worship schedule

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No daily poojas available.

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Special Rituals

Sacred offerings and temple rituals

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No special rituals available currently.

🎉 Temple Festivals

No festivals available.

🔔 Darshan Timings & Rules

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Dress Code

Traditional and modest clothing is recommended.

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Photography

Not allowed

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Prasad

Not available

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Prasad Details

Prasadam is available according to temple arrangements.

🧭 Pilgrim Travel Tips

Visit during the current HR&CE opening hours, especially because published older sources show substantially longer timings.
Thillaisthanam is one of the Thiruvaiyaru Sapthasthana temples.
Combine this temple with the other Sapthasthana temples for a dedicated Shiva circuit.
The temple is approximately 3 km from Thirukkandiyur and about 21 km from Kumbakonam.
The temple is located on the Kumbakonam–Thiruvaiyaru–Thanjavur road.
Explore the early Chola architectural details of the vimana and stone sanctum.
The temple has significant Chola-period inscriptions.
Learn about the traditional ghee (nei) legend before visiting.
The Sapthasthana festival is especially important and is celebrated around April each year according to published descriptions.
Expect larger crowds during major Shiva festivals and Sapthasthana celebrations.
Follow temple instructions regarding photography and worship areas.