| Description: Five
Divya Desam Temples are located in close proximity in the town of Tirunangur 8 km east of Sirkazhi. They are Tiruvanpurushottamam, Tiruttetriambalam,
Tirumanimaadakkoyil , Arimeya Vinnagaram and Vaikuntha
Vinnagaram. Deities: The Moolavar here is Purushottaman
in a standing posture facing east, while Taayaar here is Pusushottama Nayaki enshrined in
a separate sanctum. This temple with a single prakaram and impressive walls faces
the east. The temple tank is located to the north of the temple and the stala vriksham i
sthe neem tree. There are also shrines to Aandaal, Rama, Nammalwar, Hanuman and
Ramanujacharya.
Legend has it that Upamanyu, the son of Vyagrapada, as an infant cried
out of hunger and was fed with milk by Purushottamanayaki - consort of the presiding deity
here.
The Tirunaangur Divya Desams: This is one of the 11 Tirunaangur Divya Desams in the vicinity of
Sirkazhi, glorified by the hymns of - and closely associated with Tirumangaialwar,
whose birthplace Tirunagari,
is located nearby. 11 Divya Desams in the vicinity of Sirkazhi, Tiruvaali and Tirunagari
are associated closely with Tirumangaialwar. Legend has it that Shiva performed the
Ekadasa Rudra Aswamedha Yagam, to rid himself of the blemish of Bhramahatti; Vishnu is
believed to have appeared in his presence with Sree Devi, Bhu Devi and Nila Devi at the
end of the sacrifice, and upon Shiva's request, taken up 11 abodes here in the Tirunangur
area, which correspond to the 11 Tirunaangur Divya Desams held in worship by Rudra.
Only Tirumangaialwar has sung of these 11 Divya Desams. The Tirunaangur Divya
Desam shrines are Kavalampaadi, Tiruvanpurushottamam, Arimeya
Vinnagaram, Chemponseikoyil, Manimaadakkoyil (Narayanan), Vaikuntha
Vinnagaram, Tirudevanaar Togai,
Tiruttetriambalam, Manikkootam,
Tiruvellakkulam, and Parthanpalli.
Festivals: The Tirumangaialwar Mangalasasana utsavam in the month of
Thai (after the new moon night) witnesses Garudasevai - a spectacular event in which
festival images of Perumaal from the 11 (Tirunaangur) Divya Desam shrines in the area are
brought on Garuda mounts to Tirunangur. An image of Tirumangai Alwar is brought here
on a Hamsa Vahanam (from Tirunagari) and the his paasurams (verses) dedicated to
each of these 11 Divya Desams are recited. The image of Tirumangaialwar circumambulates
each of these deities, and at the conclusion of the festival, the images are returned to
their temples. Prior to this, the image of Tirumangaialwar and his consort are taken in a
palanquin to each of the 11 Tirunangur Divya Desams, (trampling) through the paddy
fields in the area, and the paasurams dedicated to each of the 11 Divya Desams are chanted
in the respective shrines. The Ekadasa Garuda Sevai is the most important festivals in
this area, and it draws thousands of visitors. |
