| 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 is Perarulaalan in a
standing posture facing east, while the Utsavar is known as Hemarangar or Semponnarangar.
Taayaar here is Allimaamalar Naachiyaar. This temple with a single prakaram faces the
east.
Legend has it that Rama, on his return from Srilanka, after having
vanquished Ravana, resided here in the hermitage of a saint by name Dridanetra and that
upon his advice fashioned a cow of gold, and donated it to a poor devotee, with which, the
devotee built this temple, hence the name Chemponsei Koyil.
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
(the birthplace of Tirumangaialwar) 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. |
