Thiruvali Thirunagari Temple

Introduction to the Thiruvali Thirunagari Temple

Thiruvali Thirunagari Divyadesam is one of the 108 Divyadesams, the special abodes of Vishnu revered by the Azhwar saints. Both these Kshethrams are together worshipped as one Divyadesam. Thiruvali Thirunagari is also one of the Pancha Narasimha Kshethrams.

Thiruvali Thirunagari Temples are also part of the Thiru Nangur Tirupati, a group of 11 Vishnu temples in the Thiru Nangur belt. Both temples are situated in the Mayiladuthurai district, near Sirkazhi, Tamil Nadu. The distance between them is 5 km.

Legend of the Thiruvali Thirunagari Temple

The eleven temples of Thiru Nangur have legends that are closely associated with each other. According to legend, Shiva started dancing furiously at this place after the death of Sati during Daksha's Yagna. Whenever his hairlock touched the ground, eleven other forms of Shiva appeared.

The celestial deities were worried that Shiva's continued dance would destroy the entire creation. So, they requested help from Vishnu, who appeared at this place. Shiva's anger had come down after seeing Vishnu, and he asked Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like him.

Accepting Shiva's request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Thiru Nangur. The places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be the eleven temples in Thiru Nangur.

According to another legend, Shiva requested that Vishnu appear in eleven different forms like him to take control of the eleven forms he created.

The Architecture of the Thiruvali Thirunagari Temple

The Thiruvali Thirunagari temples were originally constructed by the Cholas. The Vijayanagara and Nayak kings later contributed generously to their construction. These two temples are built in the Dravidian architectural style.

The Aḻagiyasingar Temple, or Thiruvali Temple, has a small west-facing shrine. It sprawls over 0.5 acres. Granite walls enclose the Thiruvali Temple in a rectangular enclosure. The sanctum houses the idol of the presiding deity, Aḻagiyasingar or Lakshmi Narasimha. The Thiruvali Temple follows the Thenkalai tradition of worship.

The deity's image is of granite. He is sitting with Purnavalli (Lakshmi) seated on his right lap. This posture is unique, as Lakshmi is usually sculpted on the left side of Narasimha temples.

Thiruvali Nagaralan is the Utsavar, and his idol is enshrined in the sanctum. The Thirumangai Azhwar shrine is outside the temple walls, opposite the Garuda Mandapam. It is believed that the idol of Narasimha in the Thiruvali Temple is among the five original idols of Narasimha worshipped by Thirumangai Azhwar. The Garuda shrine and a four-pillared hall are located axial to the sanctum, outside the compound wall. The Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu administers and maintains the temple.

Vedarajan is the presiding deity of Thirunagari Temple, and his consort is Amirthavalli. Vedarajan of Thirunagari Temple is believed to have appeared before Thirumangai Azhwar, his ardent devotee in Thirunagari.

The Thirunagari temple sprawls over 2 acres and has a stunning 125-foot-high, 7-tier Rajagopuram. The main deity, Vedarajan or Vayali Manavalan, graces the sanctum in a sitting posture facing the West. Ashtanga Vimana (octagonal shape) is above the sanctum, with many striking stucco images of Lakshmi Narayana, Dasavathara, and Lakshmi Narasimha.

The Urchavar is Kalyana Ranganatha, and Amritavalli Thayar is in a separate shrine. Thirumangai Azhwar has a separate shrine with a Dhwajasthambam.

Festivals in the Thiruvali Thirunagari Temple

Thiruvali Thirunagari and the other 11 Thiru Nangur Tirupati Temples celebrate Thirumangai Azhwar Mangala Sasana Utsavam grandly. The temples celebrate it between January and February. Garuda Seva is the main event when the deities of all the temples are brought on their Garuda mounts to Thiru Nangur, including the idol of Thirumangai Azhwar. Azhwar and his wife Kumudavalli Nachiyar's idols are also carried in a palanquin to all the 11 temples of Thiru Nangur. Panguni Uthiram and Pavithrotsavam are some of the other festivals celebrated here.