Nachiyar Koil Temple

Introduction

Nachiyar Koil is a celebrated Vishnu temple of Tamil Nadu. The term 'Nachiyar' refers to the divine consort of the Lord. And as more prominence is given to her here, this temple itself has got the name 'Nachiyar Koil,' the temple of the Goddess. The place is also known as Thirunarayur; hence the Lord here is called Thirunarayur Nambi and the shrine, Thirunarayur Nambi Temple. This is a famous Divydesam, the holy abode of Lord Vishnu, praised by the Azhwar saints in their sacred hymns, and is situated at the outskirts of Kumbakonam town in Tamil Nadu. This temple is dedicated to Srinivasa Perumal and his consort Vanchulavalli Nachiyar. This temple is famous for its 'Kal Garudan,' the mighty bird mount of the Lord that is made of stone. It is believed that Vishnu himself did the religious initiation of Pancha Samskara to saint Thirumangai Azhwar, here. People in big numbers from all over the state and the country visit this temple throughout the year and offer prayers to the Lord and the Goddess.

Temple Legends

It is said in jest that in the present times, it is the wife who dominates the husband, but this seems to be true even in the olden times. For, the Goddess takes precedence over the Lord here, and the worships and poojas are done to her first!

According to the legends, once sage Medhavi was performing penance here when Goddess Lakshmi appeared before him as a child. The sage brought her up in his hermitage as his own daughter. And Vishnu came in search of his consort in his mount Garuda when the giant bird located her presence here. Then Vishnu approached the sage and requested for her daughter's hand. Medhavi, pleased with the proposal, prayed to the Lord and married his daughter to him, but under the condition that his daughter should have a preference in everything! The Lord is also said to have stayed here along with his consort, in deference to the request of the sage. Garuda, too, who played a big role in uniting the divine couple, occupied a prominent place in their abode. It is also said that Medhavi found an idol that had Chakrathazhwar on one side and Yoga Narasimha on the other, and installed it here.

Normally the Vahanams, the vehicles of the Lord, are made only of wood, and only such wooden mounts are used to carry the Gods in processions during festivals. But here, Garuda is made of solid rock, and this stone Garuda itself is used for the Garuda Sevai festival and processions. Also, it is an amazing phenomenon that the weight of this Garuda idol keeps increasing as it is brought out of his shrine, and requires 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 people progressively, to carry it across in processions. And while returning to the shrine, the same thing happens, but just in the reverse order! It is said, too, that when he carries the Lord in procession, sweat drops are witnessed on Garuda.

The History and Architecture of Nachiyar Koil

The temple is believed to have been built by Kochengat Cholan as early as the 3rd century CE, while the medieval Cholas and Vijayanagar kings patronized it later. A granite wall surrounds this temple that has a five-tiered Rajagopuram, the main tower. Lord Srinivasa Perumal or Narayur Nambi can be worshipped along with his consort Vanchulavalli Nachiyar in the sanctum sanctorum. Even in the standing posture, the Goddess can be seen to be a little ahead of the Lord, as if to assert her dominance here! There is a special shrine for Lord Garuda, adjacent to the main shrine. There are separate shrines for Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and Hanuman, Chakrathazhwar and Yoga Narasimha, and the Utsava deities. This is a Mada Koil, where the principal shrines are placed in an elevated structure that can be reached by climbing 21 steps.

Temple Festivals

While the 10-day Brahmotsavam is celebrated during Margazhi (December-January), the Garuda Sevai remains the most important festival here, observed during Panguni (March-April). On these occasions, the processional deities are taken in grand processions on the Kal Garudan. Besides, Kalyana Utsavam, the marriage of the divine couple is celebrated in Aavani (August-September), in the 100 pillared hall of the temple.

Benefits of worshipping the Lord and Goddess at Nachiyar Koil

It is believed that whoever worships the divine couple in this temple with piety will get their abundant blessings, and this can help them overcome obstacles, get good health, and succeed in the domains of finance and career. People also offer worship to Lord Garuda, especially on Thursdays. This, it is believed, can bring relief from the adverse effects of the snake planets Rahu and Ketu, solve marriage delays, and ensure children's welfare.