Arulmigu Viswanathar temple , otherwise called Neelivaneswarar temple lies 20 kms north - west of Tiruchirappalli . The Sorudaieeswarar shrine associated with the divine poet Appar , Athikara Vallavar ( Somaskander ) who gave rebirth to Yama ( god of death ) cave shrine , the Siva rock hewn shrine is said to be done by Mahendravarma Pallava , otherwise called Gunabaran ,during 640 AD .

Plantain tree is workshipd here and poojas are performed to the tree .which has been decorated and worshipped . Both men and women, including Christians and even Muslims perform poojas to the plantain tree especially on the Sundays and Fridays. All the articles needed for the special poojas are also available in the temple campus itself, he added. The temple has preserved hundreds of invitations received from those whose marriages have been solemnized after they performed the poojas.

There is no Navagraha shrine separately as the steps leading to the main shrine is said to be Navagrahas. In front of statue of the Nandhi, the Navagrahas are prayed by lighting the stone cavern hole lamps made on the floor. The name of the goddess is Vishalakshi/ Neelnedunkanni amman.

There are many stone inscriptions in this temple. Rajendra chola - I Rajathi Rajan-I and Chola kings donated for regular daily poojas and maintenance of the temple. Chinnandavar & Periyandavar, rural guardian deities are also located in the temple premises. Karthigai festival is a noted festival here. This temple is also called ' south kailash'. The statue of Suthamahamunivar lies in the outer precincts of the temple. The shrine of lord vishnu named Senthamaraikannan lies inside the temple.

There is also a good fresh water spring 2 kms north of the temple on the way to Arulmigu Pundarikatsha Perumal temple, Thiruvellarai 2 kms from the spring .