Shri Kayahorana Swami Neelayathatchi Amman Temple

Shri Kayarohana Swami Temple is situated in the town of Nagapattinam. It is one of the prominent Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as Kayarohana. His consort Goddess Parvathi is worshipped here in the form of Neelayathakshi.

Significance of the Temple

  • The temple was built in the 6​th​ century AD by the Lakolisa cult (one of the oldest sects of Shaivism) which has its origin in Gujarat. The only other temple built by this cult in Tamil Nadu is at Kanchipuram.
  • The temple houses the idol of Thyagaraja, a renowned composer of Carnatic music. The uniqueness of this idol is that it is made of lapis lazuli (a deep blue metamorphic rock). · The temple is one of the 275 ​Paadal Petra Sthalams.
  • The temple has been rebuilt by the Pallavas and Cholas.
  • Kayarohana Swamy Temple is one of the temples that depicts the dance styles regarded as Saptha Vidangam or seven dance moves. The temple falls under the category of ​Adhividangar Temple, known for Vilathithaanam dance pose (meaning dancing like waves of sea).
  • The temple is a Shakti Peetam and has been greatly praised by the revered saints Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar in their ​Thevaram
    ​ hymns.

Shri Kayahorana Swami Neelayathatchi Amman Temple Timings

The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

Temple Festivals – Shri Kayahorana Swami Neelayathatchi Amman Temple

The various festivals observed by the temple are:

  • ​Vaikasi Wedding Festival in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June)
  • ​Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-August)
  • Shivarathri in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March)
  • Annabhishekam in the Tamil month of Aipasi (October-November)
  • Tiru Karthigai in the month of November-December

How to reach Shri Kayahorana Swami Neelayathatchi Amman Temple

Nagapattinam old bus stand is very close to the temple, at less than a kilometer away. Nagapattinam Railway Junction is the nearest station at a distance of 1 kilometre from the temple. Trichy Airport is the nearest terminal (147 kilometres). Chennai International Airport is around 297 kilometres away from the temple.

Nagapattinam is well connected by road and railways with all major cities in South India