Located in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, Arulmigu Nellaiappar Temple is a revered Hindu shrine dedicated to Shiva, known as Nellaiappar, represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Kanthimathi Amman. Additionally, the deity Vishnu is honored here, believed to have witnessed Shiva and Parvati’s wedding, making the temple an abhimana kshetram for Vaishnavism. Positioned on the Thamirabarani River’s northern bank, it is mentioned in the 7th-century Tevaram by the nayanmars.
Spanning 5.9 hectares, Nellaiappar Temple has an extensive complex enclosed by rectangular walls, with its central shrines dedicated to Swamy Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi Amman. The temple hosts six daily rituals between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., as well as six annual festivals, notably the Brahmotsavam festival in the Tamil month of Aani. Historically built by the Pandyas, it was later expanded by the Cholas, Pallavas, Cheras, and Madurai Nayaks.
The temple town Tirunelveli is named for its lush forests, particularly Venu groves, which once dominated the area, earning it the name Venuvanam. The original structure, dating back to the Pandyas, was further developed by Nindraseer Nedumaran, who built the musical pillar-adorned mani mandapam in the 7th century. The temple's flag stand was installed in 1155, and its outer wall was built by Kulasekara Pandyan I in the 13th century.
Initially separate, the Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi temples were connected in 1647 by Thiru Vadamalaiappa Pillaiyan through the Chain Mandapam. Later additions include the 100-pillar vasantha mandapam, built in 1756. Numerous stone inscriptions found within the temple highlight its history, with records from rulers like Veerapandiyan, Rajendran I, Kulothunga Chola I, and Maravarman Sundara Pandyan, who referred to the deities as "Woodayar" and "Nachiar."