Thirumanikkoodam
| Thirumanikkoodam | |
|---|---|
  Thirumanikkoodam Location in Tamil Nadu | |
| Name | |
| Other names | Varadaraja Perumal Temple |
| Proper name | Thirumanikkoodam |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 11°10′39″N 79°46′45″E / 11.17750°N 79.77917°ECoordinates: 11°10′39″N 79°46′45″E / 11.17750°N 79.77917°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Nagapatnam |
| Location | Thirunangur |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity |
Varadaraja Perumal, Senkanmal(Vishnu) |
| Consort |
Thirumamagal, Bhoodevi(Lakshmi) |
| Temple tank | Chandra |
| Shrine | Kanaka |
| Poets | Thirumangai Alvar |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
Thirumanikkoodam or Varadaraja Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in the holy city of Thirunangur, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.[1]
It is one of the 11 divyadesams of Thirunangur Tirupathis and is closely associated with Thirumangai Alvar.
The Temple
The temple complex has a single prakaram(outer courtyard) and a single shrine. It is located close to Thirunangur, a small village, 8 km east of Sirkali en route to Thiruvenkadu. Eleven Rudras and the king of celestial deities, Devas, are believed to have worshipped Varadarajar.[2]
Festival
The Thirumangai Alvar Mangalasasana utsavam(festival)[3] in the month of Thai(Jan-Feb) witnesses 11 Garudasevai a spectacular event in which festival images idols from the 11 Thirunaangur Divyadesam shrines in the area are brought on Garuda mounts to Thirunangur. An idol of Thirumangai Alvar is also brought here on a Hamsa Vahanam(palaquin) and his paasurams(verses) dedicated to each of these 11 temples are recited. The utsavar of Thirumangai Alvar and his consort Sri Kumudavalli naachiyar are taken in a palanquin to each of the 11 temples, through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams(poems) dedicated to each of the 11 Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.
Notes
- ↑ Hindu Pilgrimage: A Journey Through the Holy Places of Hindus All Over India. Sunita Pant Bansal.
- ↑ Ayyar 1993, p. 535
- ↑ "Garuda Sevai'". . Retrieved 2011-08-19.
References
- Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1993). South Indian shrines: illustrated (2 ed.). New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0151-3.
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