When Shiva gave flood relief in a golden pot to farmers

The small but divine temple of Lord Shiva called as Swarnakadeswarar (Porkudam Koduthu Aruliya Nayagar) is located in Nelvennai village 15 kms from Ulundurpet. This is one of the ancient temples of the erstwhile Thirumunaippadi Nadu. There are stone inscriptions in this temple dating back to the period of the Chola King Kulothungan-I. The lord’s name is inscribed as “Sri Porkudam Kodutharuliya Nayanar” meaning “the lord who gifted a pot full of gold”.

Main deity of the temple is called Sri Swarnakadeswarar - Sri Vennai Appar - Sri Porkudam Koduthu Aruliya Nayanaar and his consort Parvathi is called Sri Neelamalarkkanni - Sri Brakannayaki. The legend is that, once this place was very fertile with paddy fields yielding plentiful harvest. The people were happy and prosperous which made them forget Lord Shiva. Angered by this, the lord directed Varuna, the God of rain, to cause a downpour in the region. Due to continuous rains, the lakes, tanks and all other water bodies began to flood. Fearing for their safety, people ran to the lord to seek his intervention.

Lord Shiva came there disguised as a youth and asked them to bring all the paddy bags from their homes. He built a dam with paddy bags to prevent further calamity. Though the people lost all their possessions, they praised the youth as their saviour. He said that God was the giver of prosperity and they should not be ungrateful to him. The young man informed the people that there was a pot of gold (Por Kudam) in the well and they can take it to recover the loss of their harvest. Thereafter the young man disappeared and, in his place, Lord Shiva appeared as a Swaymabu lingam. There is no temple tank and well water is the Theertham here.

As the lord is believed to have gifted a pot of gold (Swarna in Tamil), he is also praised as Swarnakadeswarar. Since Lord Shiva himself helped to build a dam (Anai in Tamil) with paddy (Nel in Tamil), the place was named Nel Anai which later changed to Nelvennai or Neivanai.

Another legend associated with this temple is that of Saint Gnanasambanthar. During his pilgrimage, he reached this place late in the evening and was having trouble finding the temple. The Lord sent Goddess Parvathi to guide Sambanthar to the temple. Overjoyed that the Goddess herself had come to take him to the temple, Sambanthar danced and sang the praise of Lord Shiva. A beautiful idol of Gnanasambanthar in dancing form can be seen here.

It is believed that every year, Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva in the early morning of Maha Shivarathri day by touching the feet of the Lingam in the sanctum. The wonder is that, on this occasion, the lingam appears in four different colours - blue, green, white and red.

Lord Mahavishnu graces from a separate shrine in the corridor with Goddess Mahalakshmi on his lap as Lord Lakshmi Narayanar. Lord Shiva’s procession deity is in the Arthanareeswara form. He is depicted in a standing form with a trident on his back. This symbolizes the oneness of Shiva and Shakti. In his hymn of this temple, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar mentioned that “My lord resides in this fabled land of Nelvennai. Worshipping him is the duty of the righteous”.

Special pujas are offered to Lord Bhairavar on new moon days (Pournami). Devotees believe that performing poojas by applying white butter on the lingam (Vennaikappu) will remove obstacles from marriage proposals, help them get better job opportunities and relieve them from their debts.