01Neelanakkar’s wife
Tiru Neelanakkar, a Vedic Brahmin of Saathamangai, worshipped the Lord of Ayavanthi by the agamas. The Periya Puranam tells that once, as he worshipped, a spider fell on the linga, and his wife, without thinking, blew it away; he was shocked at the breach and sent her from him. That night the Lord showed him His body blistered everywhere except where she had blown. The blister-like marks are on the swayambhu linga still. When Sambandar came with Tirunilakanta Yazhpanar, Neelanakkar received them, and Sambandar’s hymn honours his host. Appar names the place Ayoganthi in his hymns on other temples. The sculpture of Gowri Leela on the sanctum wall is the finest work here.
About 1 km off the Tirumarugal–Nagore road at the Koil Seeyathamangai stone; some 13 km from Nagapattinam.
