Tirunelveli Nellaiyappar Temple is hailed as one of the 5 Pancha Sabhas of Nataraja housing Tamra Sabha (the copper hall). This shrine is the 14th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu.
Legends: It is believed that food grains collected for worship at the temple were protected from the floods by a fence of grains and hence the name Nel Veli. Agasthyar and Vishnu worshipped here.
Temple: The temple is a complex of two huge temples for Nellaiappar and Kantimati linked by the Sangili Mandapam. This has life-sized sculptures adorning the pillars. Other mandapams include Oonjal Mandapam and the 1000-pillared hall. There is a Nellai Govindan shrine near the sanctum. Periya Sabhapathi and Sandana Sabhapati are the other two Natarajar images here. This temple is known for its sculptures and its musical pillars. The Manimandapam near the Nandi mandapam has two giant pillars carved out of a single stone. Each has 48 sub pillars, which produce musical notes when struck.
Festivals: The annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aani for an extended period of time. Arudra Darisanam in Margazhi witnesses a lot of festivity.
