ThiruVaragunamangai Perumal Temple

ThiruVaragunamangai Perumal Temple
ThiruVaragunamangai Perumal Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name ThiruVaragunamangai
Geography
Coordinates 8°38′13″N 77°55′26″E / 8.63694°N 77.92389°E / 8.63694; 77.92389Coordinates: 8°38′13″N 77°55′26″E / 8.63694°N 77.92389°E / 8.63694; 77.92389
Country India
State Tamil Nadu
District Tuticorin
Location Natham
Culture
Primary deity Vijayssana Perumal
(Vishnu)
Consort Varagunavalli
(Lakshmi)
Temple tank Agni
Shrine Vijaykotti
Poets Nammalwar
Architecture
Architectural styles Dravidian architecture

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

Legend

Image of the gopuram from inside the temple

Varagunamangai is referred to in one of the poems of Nammalwar, he must be posterior to Varaguna Pandya from whose name it is assumed Varagunamangai took its name. But there are number of instances where this logic is not pertinent.[3] The temple has a 9-tier rajagopuram amidst lush vegetation around the temple.

The lord here appeared in answer to the prayer of sage Romesar who performed severe penances for several thousand years.[4]

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 Tamil Nadu. M. Rajagopalan
  2. ↑ 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.
  3. ↑ Early history of Vaishnavism in south India.Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar. Page 53.
  4. ↑ Adinathar Alwar thirukkoil Sthala varalaru; Temple publication; Page 3
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