AlwarThirunagari Temple

AlwarThirunagari Temple
AlwarThirunagari Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Coordinates:
Name
Proper name: Alwar Thirunagari
Location
Country: India
State: Tamil Nadu
District: Tuticorin
Location: Srivaikuntam
Temple Details
Primary Deity: Aathi Nathar
(Vishnu)
Consort: Aathi Natha valli
(Lakshmi)
Temple Tank: Brahma
Shrine: Govinda
Poets: Nammalvar
Architecture and culture
Architectural styles: Dravidian architecture

AlwarThirunagari Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupathi[1], nine Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamilnadu, India in the banks of Thamiraparani river. All these 9 temples are classified as Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu reverred by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.[2]

Legend

Alwar Tirunagari is believed to be the largest town in the time of Pandya kings. The name of the town in Sanskrit is Srinagari; and under this appellation, it is alluded to Brahmananda Purana. The distinguishing name, with azhwar prefixed to Tirunagari, Alwar Tirunagari. The place is believed to be the birth place of Nammalvar. Just as in other avatars, or incarnations, Vishnu is believed to have incarnated as Nammalvar. The reason assigned to the incarnation is that Vishnu has incarnated in all 3 class of castes, but not in the fourth.[3]

Festival

The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi(May-Jun) witnesses 9 Garudasevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from the Nava Tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana(sacred vehicle). An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on a Anna Vahanam(palaquin) and his paasurams(verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are recited. The utsavar(festival deity) of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 9 Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.

References

  1. ^ 15 Vaishnava temples of Tamilnadu. M. Rajagopalan
  2. ^ 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
  3. ^ Annual report of the Archaeological Department, Southern Circle, Madras. By Archaeological Survey of India.