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Location:
Tiruneermalai
(Pallavaram) near Chennai
(Tondai Naadu)
Vishnu: Neervannan, Shanta Narasimhan,
Ranganathar, Trivikrama,
Taayaar: Animamalarmangai,
Ranganayaki
Theertham:Manikarnika Tataakam
Paasuram :Tirumangaialwar
Vimaanam:Toyagiri Vimanam
Travel Base:Chennai
Description This Divya Desam
is located in the outskirts of Chennai, near Pallavaram. It is a complex
of two temples, one on top of a small hill reached through a flight of
stairs, with three shrines, and one at the bottom of a hill, with one
shrine. The Divya Desam in the city of Chennai is Tiruvallikkeni.
Located near Meenambakkam nearby is Tirisoolam, with an ancient temple
(from the Chola period) dedicated to Shiva.
The name Neer malai
arises from the legend that when Tirumangaialwar visited this shrine,
a moat of water surrounded the hill, and that he had to wait in the village
down below for a six month period until the water receded.
Legend
has it that Valmiki worshipped the three forms of Vishnu on the hill,
and upon meditating upon Rama after climbing down the hill, Ranganathar
manifested himself as Rama, Lakshmi as Janaki, Adiseshan as Lakshmanan,
the conch and the discus as Shatrugna and Bhararata, Viswaksena as Sugreeva,
Garuda as Hanuman, and appeared before him.
Deities:
The temple at the bottom of the hill enshrines Neervannan or Neelamukilvannan
in a standing posture facing south, while Taayaar who is in her own sanctum,
is Animaamalar Mangai. There is also a sanctum for Chakravarti Tirumagan
in this temple. The hill temple has three sancta. The first of the Moolavar
images is that of Shanta Narasimhan, in a seated posture facing east.
The second is that of Ranganathar, in a reclining position, facing south.
Taayaar here is Ranganayaki facing east, in her own sanctum. The third
sanctum is that of Trivikraman (Nadandan) in a standing posture facing
east. The Divya Desams enshrining Trivikrama are Tiru Oorakam
(Kanchipuram), Tirukkovilur, Kaazhicheeraamavinnagaram
and Tiruneermalai.
Festivals:
Two worship services are carried out each day here. Annual festivals are
held in Panguni and in Chittirai.
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