Thiruvali-Thirunagari

Coordinates: 11°13′32″N 79°47′58″E / 11.22556°N 79.79944°E / 11.22556; 79.79944
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Thiruvali-Thirunagari
Thirunagari and Thiruvali temples
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMayiladuthurai
DeityLakshmi Narasimhan, Vedarajan (Vishnu)
Amirtagatavalli, Amirtavalli (Lakshmi)
Location
LocationThirvali, Thirunagari
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Thiruvali-Thirunagari is located in Tamil Nadu
Thiruvali-Thirunagari
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates11°13′32″N 79°47′58″E / 11.22556°N 79.79944°E / 11.22556; 79.79944
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
Temple(s)2

The Thiruvali - Thirunagari Temples are paired

Tenkalai
mode of worship.

Granite walls surround the temple, enclosing all its shrines, while the water tank is located in a street axial to the eastern gateway. The temple has a seven-tiered raja

Vijayanagara and Thanjavur Nayak
kings who commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temples during the 16th century.

Vedarajan and Aḻagiyasingar are believed to have appeared to

Tenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the fourteen-day annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu
.

Legend

The legends of all the eleven temples of Tirunangur are closely associated with each other. According to legend, the Hindu god Shiva started dancing in fury at this place after the death of his consort Sati during the yajna (sacrifice) of Daksha. Each time his lock of hair touched the ground, there were eleven other forms of Shiva who appeared. The celestial deities were worried that if the dance continues, it would result in decimation of entire creations. They prayed to Vishnu for help, who appeared at this place. On seeing Vishnu, Shiva's anger was reduced and he requested Vishnu to appear in eleven forms like he did. On his request, Vishnu appeared in eleven different forms at Tirunangur. The eleven places where Vishnu appeared are believed to be where the eleven temples in Tirunangur are located.[2] It is believed that the celestial deities had an assembly here at the temple.[3] It is also believed that sage Vasishtha is believed to have worshiped Vishnu at this temple.[4] In another variant, Shiva requested Vishnu to appear in eleven different forms like him to control the eleven Shiva forms he created.[5]

Architecture

Shrines of Thiruvali and Thirunagari

The Aḻagiyasingar Temple at Thiruvali has small west facing shrine. The village is where the consort Sri Kumudavalli naachiyar of Thirumangai Alvar were raised. Aḻagiyasingar temple covers an area of about 0.5 acres (0.20 hectares). The temple in enclosed in a rectangular enclosure with surrounded by granite walls. The central houses the image of the presiding deity, Aḻagiyasingar. The image is made of granite is sported in sitting posture, with Lakshmi seated on his lap on the right side. This posture is unique as usually the image of Lakshmi on Narasimhar temples are sculpted on the left side. The festival deity is named Thiruvali Nagaralan and the image is also housed in the sanctum. A south facing shrine of Thirumangai Alvar is located outside the temple walls, opposite to the Garuda Mandapam. It is believed that the image of Narasimhar in the temple are among the five original images of Narasimha worshipped by Thirumangai Alvar.[6] The temple mast, the shrine of Garuda and a four pillared hall are located axial to the sanctum, outside the compound wall.[3]

Thirunagari is the birthplace of

Dashavatara, Lakshmi Narasimha, Lakshmi Narayana and the other avatars of Vishnu. A north facing shrine of Thirumangai Alvar is located in the same elevated enclosure.[7] There is a separate flag staff for the Alvar shrine. It is believed that the two images of Narasimhar in the temple are among the five original images of Narasimha worshipped by Thirumangai Alvar. There is a small image of Chindanaikiniyan, which is also believed to have been worshipped by the Alvar. The shrine of Amruthavalli is located in the basement, in the diagonal corner of the first enclosure.[3]

History and literary mention

The exact history of the temples could not be ascertained. They are believed to have been built by the

Thirumangai Alvar, who was the ruler of a kingdom and also the birthplace of Kumudavalli, the wife of Alvar.[2]

Worship practices and festivals

The temples are open from 8 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnava community, from the Brahmin class. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalahanthi at 8 a.m., Ukshikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 7:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for the deities. During the worship, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.[10]

During the new moon day of the Tamil month

Tirunangur Tirupathis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Tirunangur. The festive image of Thirumangai Alvar is also brought on a Hamsa Vahanam (palanquin) and his pasurams (hymns) dedicated to each of these eleven temples are recited during the occasion. The festival images of Thirumangai Alvar and his consort Kumudavalli Naachiyar are taken in a palanquin to each of the eleven temples. The verses dedicated to each of the eleven temples are chanted in the respective shrines. This is one of the most important festivals in the region which draws thousands of visitors.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ Sunita Pant Bansal, Hindu Pilgrimage: A Journey Through the Holy Places of Hindus All Over India
  2. ^ a b R. 2001, pp. 470-1
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8
    .
  4. ISBN 9788120601512
    .
  5. ^ "திருநாங்கூர் நாராயண பெருமாள் கோவில்" (in Tamil). 21 October 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. ISBN 9788120601512
    .
  7. ISBN 9788120601512
    .
  8. ^ T., Bhashyam Ramanujadasan (2009). Nalayira Divya Prabandam (in Tamil) (6th ed.). Chennai: Sri Vaishnava Peravai.
  9. ISBN 9788122309973
    .
  10. ^ "Sri Deivanayagar temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  11. ^ a b S., Prabhu (12 July 2012). "Shrine dedicated to Arjuna". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  12. ^ "Garuda Sevai" (PDF). Ramanuja.org. Retrieved 19 August 2011.

Sources

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